remembering Thérèse, on her feast day

Icon of Thérèse hanging in my bedroom

"Outside the Divine Office, which I am very unworthy to recite, I do not have the courage to force myself to search out beautiful prayers in books. There are so many of them it really gives me a headache! and each prayer is more beautiful than the others! I cannot recite them all and, not knowing which to choose, I do like children who do not know how to read, I say very simply to God what I wish to tell him, without composing beautiful sentences, and He always understands me."

~Thérèse of Lisieux, 

from "The Prayers of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux" 

(ICS Publications) 

I love Thérèse's humor, and above all, I love and I'm grateful for her example as a heart completely open and genuine with God. 

Even her personal definition of "prayer" emphasizes interior authenticity and spontaneity: "For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to Heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me with Jesus."

Teach me your way of confidence and trust, Saint Thérèse! 

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A few pictures from our visit to the Lisieux Carmel last year on our French pilgrimage:

To see the rest of the post, click here, and also here!

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One final NOTE: 

   I highly recommend Heather King's book, "Shirt of Flame:                                                                               a year with St. Thérèse of Lisieux,"                                                                   an insightful and provocative reflection on this timeless saint! 

the Little Flower and me

St Thérèse at Amiens Cathedral

"[Y]ou know my weakness, Lord. Every mornng I make a resolution to practice humility and in the evening I recognize that I have committed again many faults of pride. And I am tempted to become discouraged but I know that discouragement is also pride. Therefore, O my God, I want to base my hope in You alone. Since you can do everything, deign to bring in my soul the virtue I desire. To obtain this grace of your infinite mercy I will very often repeat: 'O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, make my heart like yours!'"

~St. Thérèse of Lisieux (†1897), 

The Prayers ofSaint Thérèse of Lisieux (ICS Publications)

Although completely out of our way, the visit to Lisieux was one of the highlights of our French pilgrimage earlier this year. 

Set deep in northwest France, the town of Lisieux is generally uninteresting—and not highlighted or recommended in any of our tour books! That’s because two-thirds of the town was destroyed in 1944 by allied bombs and few of its historical monuments and landmarks remain.

But the visit to Thérèse's Carmel was well worth the effort to get there. Much in the spirit of the Little Flower, the Carmel chapel, her grave, and the adjacent display on Saint Thérèse and her life was simple, reverent, and exceptionally inspiring.

"The Imitation of Christ," book of devotion in the Lammenais translation that Thérèse knew by heart

Last picture painted by Thérèse

"It is confidence and nothing but confidence 

that must lead us to love"

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Note: If you want to learn more about her, I highly recommend Heather King's book, "Shirt of Flame: a year with St. Thérèse of Lisieux"-- a powerful and provocative contemporary reflection on this timeless saint!