FROM "LITTLE FLOWER" 

TO “CHURCH DOCTOR”

St. Therese of Lisieux

Feast Day: October 1, 2019

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX, THE LITTLE FLOWER

There is much “newness” of life and passionate wisdom to be found when we take a look at the short life of St. Therese of Lisieux. (She died in 1897 at the age of 24.) To begin with, hers was not a life intended for public viewing. She lived unheralded in a quiet corner of France, in a Carmelite cloistered convent in the late 1800’s. 

This “Doctor of the Church” —who delighted in being hidden and “little”— only wrote her autobiography under obedience to her Carmelite prioress. Because of this obedience, we have, on record, a gentle but vivid glimpse into a life tapping deeply into the core of God’s love and His ways of holiness.

HOLINESS IN WEAKNESS-- HIDDEN AND HUMBLE

From a young age, Therese exhibited an earnest desire to achieve sainthood. She grew in understanding just how God works with us in that regard. Earlier in her life, she thought that she would achieve holiness by her own power—through the diligence of her strong determination and willingness to sacrifice. 

"You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint or not a saint at all." 1 

Very early, she had put aside the seeking of approval and attention that Jesus spoke of in regard to the Pharisees’ form of ‘righteousness’. Modern culture and human inclination lead us to collect ‘brownie points’ and gather glory for ourselves. As many people do, she worked toward sanctity with constant scrutiny toward herself.

Later, her approach to holiness changed. In a brief time, Therese grew greatly in rare wisdom.

She came to be concerned less about how she felt or appeared in ‘goodness’ or ‘ability’—even to herself—but, instead, ‘thirsted’ to love her Lord, and find the sweetness of His great love for her (and every other child of His). Therese then came to realize (as others seeking to love God find) that it was impossible to please God and be full of “self” at the same time. As the Psalm 62 says, “Only in God will my soul be at rest… In Him comes my salvation”…

“At last Therese… understood… her fundamental task is one of being receptive and completely, widely open to the saving, caring and nurturing love of God…” 2

Her focus became, not ‘self’ and her extreme efforts, but the work and grace, kindness (mercy) and ever-faithful love of her Beloved.

Few come to know what Therese came to realize: that, even with an ocean of willpower and commitment, it would be God, Himself, whom she would come to lean on. It was His infinite mercy and grace that would and could change, lead and empower her. With a truly humble perspective, she saw that it was God’s action toward, in and through her that would help her succeed.

Those religious words: “humility…trust…abandonment…detachment from” (particularly from her own “gain” or others’ approval/ attentions..) were terms that she came to deeply know and understand. They brought new life to her inner journey.

Therese did all she could do in seeking what was right and in doing good, and taught others to do the same. Nevertheless, she would come to know—securely and peacefully— that God alone could carry her to her desired destination of true holiness. Even her most dedicated and self-sacrificing efforts would fall short, yet her Beloved Jesus— who simply asked for her whole-hearted surrender— was quite willing to carry her to the finish line… Therese’s passionate search for sanctity started out as a focus on what she should do. Her intense journey ended up making her more receptive toward what GOD would do. She found real joy in just how much He was willing and able to do for and with her.

"Prayer is an aspiration of the heart, a glance in the direction of heaven, a cry of gratitude, and love and joy in the middle of trials." 3 

“If only you knew how great my joy not to have anything with which to please Jesus! It is a refined joy… but in no way felt…”4 

It was a deep, quiet inner gladness of heart, not an emotional feeling of happiness.

“What an unspeakable joy to carry our crosses feebly…” 5 

HUMILITY, GRACE AND PERFECTION

Like so many other Christians, she sought “perfection”. But—akin to “holiness”—she came to focus on what God would do in the process, and how much she would receive and be open to His love providing what she lacked—what she could not do in her own strength and wisdom. 

‘Perfection’ came to mean “being what God wants us to be” 6 and becoming what He wants us to become…. as we seek to let Him work in and through us by His mercy and grace. God would make up for any way she found herself helpless or failing. He was mighty enough and good enough and loving enough as her Father to make up the difference.

In a letter to her sister Celine in 1893 she stated, “It is Jesus who is doing all in me and I am doing nothing.” 7  Some have thought that she was going overboard on humility in making such a statement. Others, who have known the humility and generosity of God Himself, in His power and mercy, realize that her words speak a vital truth that modern arrogance and self-righteous thinking find quite difficult to grasp.

Therese had discovered living truths evident throughout scripture, but too often overlooked. God pours His wisdom and grace into those who need and ask and seek. In order to be and do (in serving and loving God and others) all that God asks of us, we need so much more than our own wisdom and power and strength can provide. And God’s loving care—ever flowing—is received best by the least, the humble, the weak. His glory is demonstrated in the most powerless parts of our lives.

Therese was reflecting the truth spoken in II Cor 12:9: “ ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me”. She also wrote—like many Christian thinkers throughout time have discovered—that “all is grace”. 8 

MERIT, MOTIVATION AND LOVE

Therese expressed that she had lost the desire “to accumulate merits”. In the same letter to Celine in 1893, she said, “Jesus teaches me NOT to count up my acts [but] to do all through love…” 9

“Without love all works are nothing…” 10

"My director, Jesus, does not teach me to count my acts, but to do everything for love, to refuse him nothing..." 11

The “Little Flower” became aware that hidden ambitions to be a religious ‘hero’ of sorts was feeding her pride, and such grandeur became, instead, the joy of doing hidden, loving acts.

“[D]o not let your left hand know what your right [hand] is doing… And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” [Mt 6:3b]

Therese learned that Jesus was looking at the love in her heart connected with even the smallest actions, not at how grand they seemed to be.

LITTLE AND SMALL

Therese became gladly focused on how big God was in love and care, and how “little” she could gladly be before Him. Like John the Baptist, she understood that “He must increase, and I must decrease”… 12 She saw herself as similar to a grain of sand in the desert. Therese would reach the “summit” (as she saw in her mind the height of holiness) as a weak and feeble follower/ child of God her Father.

"As the sun shines simultaneously on tall cedars, as well as on each little flower, as if each flower was the only one on earth, in the same way our Lord is concerned particularly for every soul as if there is no other one like it." 13

Therese had a “missionary” heart from an early age. Not long before her final illness, she asked to be sent to Asia. Due to her frail condition, superiors turned down her request. The Lord led her to understand that she could be a missionary exactly where she was, at any given time…by loving tasks, little sacrifices, kind attentions and prayers for others, (etc.), on a daily basis.

THE “LITTLE WAY” SUMMARIZED

It is difficult to condense all the meanings of Therese’s “little” way, and still do it justice. But for brevity’s sake, a few points will be made. It would be like Therese to advise us to:

~Be little before God. Be glad to humbly depend and rely on Him. He is our Father, but also like a mother tending her infant. Our cares, our needs, and paltry, loving gestures are never too small for God to notice with loving appreciation. We choose to do all we can in loving God and others. Then, we can peacefully, securely rest in His loving care, kindness, grace, and mercies.

~See God in the smallest events and in the littlest good things others do.

~Love God and others, even without the act or intention of ourselves being noticed or the deeds being counted… even when it seems too small to matter.

~Do little things for others… patient, small attentions and kindnesses.

May we all find continuous “little ways” in our own paths to live the love that was Therese’s passion.

In just a few days, we celebrate St. Francis of Assisi's feast day (on October 4th). Watch for our loving tribute to his life and passion for God.

PLEASE NOTE: General sources were many, both from past and present learning through the years, including THE STORY OF A SOUL, by St. Therese Lisieux (autobiography), Paraclete Press, 2006

FOOTNOTES:

1. MY YEAR WITH THE SAINTS FOR KIDS, compiled by Peter Celano, Paraclete Press, Brewster, Mass. 2019, p. 2

2. WITH EMPTY HANDS, by Conrad de Meester, translated from the French by Mary Seymour, ICS Publications, Washington, D.C., 2002, p. 61

3. MY YEAR WITH THE SAINTS FOR KIDS, p. 10

4. WITH EMPTY HANDS, p. 28

5. Ibid., p.19.

6. Ibid., p.68

7. Ibid., p.54

8. Ibid., p. 69

9. Ibid., p. 54

10. Ibid., p. 114

11. MY YEAR WITH THE SAINTS FOR KIDS, p. 14

12. WITH EMPTY HANDS, p. 18

13. MY YEAR WITH THE SAINTS FOR KIDS, p. 11