The Feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux: Littleness, Confidence, and Abandonment

October 1st: the Feast of Saint Therese of Lisieux. Saint Therese, living in a time riddled with the heresy of Jansenism (fearing God as an angry God that sought to punish us and unleash his wrath on mankind because of our sinfulness), proposed a new way of holiness and sainthood. She called it The Little Way. It is really the heart of the Gospel, a call to become like little children in the arms of a good and loving Father. It is all about becoming small, abandoning ourselves totally into the merciful, loving Heart of God, and trusting Him entirely to not only make us great Saints, but to care for our every need along the way. It is letting go of our fears that we are not doing big enough things for the Lord to love and delight in us, but focusing on the love with which we do all things, knowing love alone gives value to our deeds, even the smallest. Therese lived her life in the Carmelite cloister, embodying her Little Way through hidden acts of love, sacrifice, and surrender. Her writings and spirituality are so powerful when lived to the full that the Church has declared her a Doctor of the Church -- an "expert" for the entire Church to learn from in a particular way.

The best writings by or on Therese are her autobiography, Story of a Soul, The Way of Trust and Love by Fr. Jacques Philippe, I believe in Love by Jean C. J. d'Elbée, or a dive into the Lisieux archives where you can all of her letters.

And now for some wisdom from Therese herself. And be sure to drop your email on the main journal page or home page to subscribe for future feast day blogs, reflections based off the theme of the month, and exclusive announcements and discounts for subscribed members only.

"God's thoughts are not our thoughts, if they were, our life would only be a hymn of gratitude!”

“I cannot fear a God who made himself sosmall for me... I love him!... because he is only love and mercy!”

"May your life be full of humility and love so that soon you come where I am going; in the arms of Jesus!..”

“Jesus points out to me the only way which leads to Love’s furnace – that way is self-surrender – it is the confidence of the little child who sleeps without fear in its father’s arms.”

“When one loves, one does not calculate.”

“We who run in the way of love shouldn’t be thinking of sufferings that can take place in the future: it’s a lack of confidence, it’s like meddling in the work of creation.”

“Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else.”

“My strength lies in prayer and sacrifice; they are invincible weapons, and touch hearts more surely than words can do, as I have learned by experience.”

“Let us not grow tired of prayer:confidence works miracles.”

“It is good to serve God in darkness andtrial! We have only this life to live by faith.”

“No harm can come to me since, in whatever happens, I see only the tender hand of Jesus”

“To limit your desires and your hopes is to misunderstand God’s infinite goodness!”

“We can never have too much confidence in the good God… As we hope in Him so shall we receive.”

“Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer.”

“If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”

“The world's thy ship and not thy home.”

“Do you realise that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you – for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart… go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love.”

“If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient; but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.”

“ I understood that all we accomplish, however brilliant, is worth nothing without love.”

“Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.”

“Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be and becoming that person.”

“In trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.”