Saint Therese de Lisieux († 1897) popularly known as "The Little Flower of Jesus," was a Roman Catholic French Discalced Carmelite nun widely venerated in modern times. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, having fulfilled various offices, and having spent her last eighteen months in Carmel in a night of faith, she died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. Thérèse has been a highly influential model of sanctity for Catholics and for others because of the "simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life". Together with Saint Francis of Assisi, she is one of the most popular saints in the history of the church. Pope Pius X called her "the greatest saint of modern times". She is a holy patron of Gardens of Vatican City, Missionaries; France; Russia; HIV/AIDS sufferers; radio care-a-thons; florists and gardeners; loss of parents; tuberculosis; and the Russicum; Alaska. Therese was beatified in 1923 and canonized on 17 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI, only 28 years after her death. Her feast day is commemorated on 1 October.