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Devotion
to St. Thérèse of of Lisieux
St.
Thérèse of of Lisieux Therese
was born on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France. She was one of nine
children. Five children entered the cloister, four died in their infancy.
Their mother and father led extraordinary Catholic lives and were true
Christian models for their children. When Therese was fifteen years old she
entered the Carmel of Lisieux. She made her vows on September 8, 1890. Therese
suffered much during her short life but it was hidden sufferings which she
offered, out of love, for the conversion of sinners. She writes: "I know
of one means only by which to attain perfection: Love! Let us love since our
heart is made for nothing else. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He makes
me understand that He alone is perfect happiness." On
September 30, 1897, Therese died of tuberculosis. Moments before her death
she prayed, looking at the crucifix: "Oh, I love Him! My God I love
You!" She was twenty-four years old. St.
Therese of the Child Jesus, Little Flower, pray for us.
The Statue that Smiled A
little girl named Therese is dying on a cold night in France. Candles
flicker in the brick home, rain splattering against the windowpanes in the
downstairs sickroom. Therese's sisters, Celine, Leonie, and Marie kneel by
ten year-old Therese's bedside, whispering prayers, tears flowing down their
cheeks. Upstairs, in his study Louis Martin struggles to accept God's will.
How could he bear another loss? He and his wife Zelie had lost four children,
his daughter Pauline was gone, having entered the convent, and his beloved
wife...he shook his head, unable to bear the memory of her sudden death. His
footsteps, a sign of his dragging pain, are heavy on the staircase. Yet, in a
strange way it was almost as if Zelie was with him now in his moment of great
sorrow. Therese, the baby of the family...no...he could not bear this alone.
That is why Zelie came to him, joining her husband and daughters in prayer in
the sickroom. Louis,
a gentle, reverent man, strokes her smooth brown bun tied at the nape of her
neck. Her busy hands, those of an accomplished lace-maker, the best in the
lace-making city of Alencon, are stilled in prayer. His attention is
distracted, and Louis is running his fingers through his beard, his gaze
wandering to the blue and white statue of The Blessed Mother on a wooden
table next to Therese's bed. Neither Zelie nor Louis Martin know that a
miracle is about to take place in that obscure tiny place with flickering
shadows dancing into a fast fading night... Therese
was to remember later, that in one of her moments of consciousness she became
aware of her sisters praying beside her, next to the statue of Our Lady.
Therese's feverish red-streaked eyes turned toward the statue, the blue and
white figure taking on a soft, floating form focusing in Therese's gaze into
the beautiful figure of a smiling woman, the movement of her blue gown and
the flow of her veil outlined in a soft white light standing against the
darkness of the night. Therese gasped! Her heavenly Mother was visiting her
graces upon this child and in that moment in the month of May, Therese was
cured of her sickness and fever. Therese
would never forget what her Blessed Mother did for her, and Therese, as one
receiving such a great grace, eventually wanted to pass it on to the whole
world. But the way was not easy for this child who, at the age of 15 wanted
to follow her sisters into the Carmel. Jesus
on Christmas Eve A
little girl named Therese is dying on a cold night in France. On
Christmas Eve, just a few days before Therese's fourteenth birthday, she
underwent an experience, which she ever after referred to as "my
conversion." It was to exert a profound influence on her life. Let her
tell of it-and its moral effect-in her own words: "On that blessed night
the sweet infant Jesus, scarcely an hour old, filled the darkness of my soul
with floods of light. By becoming weak and little, for love of me, He made me
strong and brave: He put His own weapons into my hands so that I went on from
strength to strength, beginning, if I may say so, 'to run as a giant."'
An indelible impression had been made on this attuned soul; she claimed that
the Holy Child had healed her of undue sensitiveness and "girded her
with His weapons." It was by reason of this vision that the saint was to
become known as "Therese of the Child Jesus." Prayer
of St. Therese Lord
Jesus, I see myself as a weak little bird, with only a light down covering. I
am not an eagle, but I have an eagles eyes and heart. In spite of my
littleness, I dare to gaze upon the Divine Sun, the Sun of Love, and my heart
soars like an eagle to fly toward You. Flapping
my small wings, I seek to fly toward the Sun, Climbing upwards toward the
Divine Furnace of the Holy Trinity. What shall I do, with such small wings? I
shall not be troubled. With bold surrender and cheerful confidence, I shall
continue gazing upon the Divine Sun. Nothing will frighten me, -not the wind
nor the rain, nor even dark clouds. For I know that beyond any clouds is Your
Light, and Your Brightness will not be eclipsed for even a single instant. When
tired or hungry or overcome by the burdens of life, I do not hid amid storms,
but turn toward the beloved Sun, presenting my helpless wings to Your
beneficent rays. I shall gaze at the Sun, until I die. I delight in feeling
small and helpless in Your presence, for my heart is at peace. Click on the Links Below for More
Information on the Life and Works of St. Thérèse of Lisieux:
Eternal Word Television
Network The National Shrine of
St. Therese Monastery of St. Therese,
Discalced Carmelite Nuns Archdiocese of Detroit |
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