Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. At the age of 14, on Christmas Eve in 1886, Thérèse had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love, instead of keeping herself happy. At age 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. We know her better as “The Little Flower.” Living a life of humility, simplicity, and prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in His merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: “My God, I love You!”
In her life and her writings, St. Thérèse shared this “little way of spiritual childhood” showing that the path of holiness is open to all. She understood that what matters in the Christian life is not great deeds, but great love, and that anyone can achieve the heights of holiness by doing even the smallest things well for love of God.
Photo: apparentparent.blogspot.com
This is one of my favorite thought-provoking writings from her:
“You make me think of a little child that is learning to stand but does not yet know how to walk. In his desire to reach the top of the stairs to find his mother, he lifts his little foot to climb the first stair. It is all in vain, and at each renewed effort he falls. Well, be this little child: through the practice of all the virtues, always lift your little foot to mount the staircase of holiness, but do not imagine that you will be able to go up even the first step! No, but the good God does not demand more from you than good will. From the top of the stairs, He looks at you with love. Soon, won over by your useless efforts, He will come down Himself and, taking you in His arms, He will carry you up… But if you stop lifting your little foot, He will leave you a long time on the ground.”
May we always have the willingness and strength to always attempt that first step on our path to holiness. As St. Thérèse once said, “Merit does not consist in doing or giving much. It consists in loving much.”
Rose Novena Prayer to St. Thérèse
O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus
Please pick for me a rose
From the heavenly garden
And send it to me
As a message of love.
O Little Flower of Jesus,
Ask God to grant the favors
I now place with confidence
In your hands.
(Mention your special prayer request here. )
St. Thérèse, help me to always believe
As you did, in God’s great love for me,
So that I may imitate your “Little Way” each day.
Amen.
