St. Therese lived through a severe influenza epidemic.  Erupting in 1889, it circled the globe in only four months.  During its second recurrence, it reached the Carmel of Lisieux at the end of 1891. Of the 25 Carmelites, the three oldest died within six days.  Only the three youngest, including Therese, remained on their feet.

To introduce a series about the pandemic at the Lisieux Carmel, I have prepared this timeline to show the chief external happenings.  Later in the series, I will explore in detail the events of the pandemic at Carmel, Therese's experience of it, and how her experience is relevant to us today.