Feast of the St. Therese of Lisieux

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

This Sunday, October 1, is a special day for all members of the Discalced Carmelite Religious Order throughout the world: it is the feast of the St. Therese of Lisieux. She was permitted to join a Carmelite convent of sisters at the age of 15. She reached great heights of sanctity during her life on earth and yet died at the very young age of 24 in the year 1897. She was canonized in the year 1925.

St. Therese has been named a (Spiritual) Doctor of the Church and is known for her ‘little way’ spirituality. Her diary, ‘The Story of a Soul’ is considered classic reading for those wishing to grow in trust in our good Lord Jesus.

Here are two excerpts from her diary, ‘The Story of a Soul’.

On finding her Vocation or Calling in the Church

“Since my longing for martyrdom was powerful and unsettling, I turned to the epistles of St. Paul in the hope of finally finding an an-swer. By chance the 12th and 13th chapters of the 1st epistle to the Corinthians caught my attention, and in the first section I read that not everyone can be an apostle, prophet or teacher, that the Church is com-posed of a variety of members, and that the eye cannot be the hand. Even with such an answer revealed before me, I was not satisfied and did not find peace. I persevered in the reading and did not let my mind wander until I found this encouraging theme: "Set your desires on the greater gifts. And I will show you the way which surpasses all others." For the Apostle insists that the greater gifts are nothing at all without love and that this same love is surely the best path leading directly to God. At length I had found peace of mind. When I had looked upon the mystical body of the Church, I recognized myself in none of the members which St. Paul described, and what is more, I desired to distinguish myself more favorably within the whole body. Love appeared to me to be the hinge for my vocation. Indeed I knew that the Church had a body composed of various members, but in this body the necessary and more noble member was not lacking; I knew that the Church had a heart and that such a heart appeared to be aflame with love. I knew that one love drove the members of the Church to action, that if this love were extinguished, the apostles would have proclaimed the Gospel no longer, the martyrs would have shed their blood no more. I saw and realized that love sets off the bounds of all vocations, that love is everything, that this same love embraces eve-ry time and every place. In one word, that love is everlasting. Then, nearly ecstatic with the supreme joy in my soul, I proclaimed: O Jesus, my love, at last I have found my calling: my call is love. Certainly I have found my place in the Church, and you gave me that very place, my God. In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love, and thus I will be all things, as my desire finds its direction.

On living her ‘little way’ in Community life: ascetical friendship

There is in Community a Sister who has the faculty of displeasing me in everything, in her ways, her words, her character, everything seems very disagreeable to me. And still she is a holy religious who must be very pleasing to God. Not wishing to give in to the natural antipathy I was experiencing,

I told myself that charity must not consist in feelings but in works; then I set myself to doing for this Sister what I would do for the person I loved the most. Each time I met her I prayed to God for her, offering Him all her virtues and merits… I wasn’t content simply with praying very much for this Sister who gave me so many struggles, but I took care to render her all the services possible, and when I was tempted to answer her back in a disagreeable manner, I was content with[:]

[1] giving her my most friendly smile, and with

[2] changing the subject of the conversation… One day at recreation she asked in almost these words: “Would you tell me, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus, what attracts you so much towards me; every time you look at me, I see you smile?” Ah! What attracted me was Jesus hidden in the depths of her soul.” (Chapter 10, Clarke 222-223) “I see now that true charity consists in[:]

[1] bearing with the faults of those about us,

[2] never being surprised at their weaknesses,

[3] but edified at the least sign of virtue.

I see above all that charity must not remain hidden in the bottom of our hearts: `nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.’ It seems to me that this lamp is the symbol of charity; it must shine out not only to cheer those we love best but all in the house”

Through the intercession Mary, Our Lady of Smiles, St. Joseph, St. Paul,

St. Michael and St. Therese, may God bless you, your families and our parishes!

In Christ through Mary,

Fr. Kasel