St. Therese of Lisieux
On The Grapevine 54
St. Therese of Lisieux was a French Discalced Carmelite nun who lived from 1873 to 1897. As a young girl, she was pampered, emotional, and overly sensitive. Her parents were holy, devout Catholics, and instilled in her a great love of God. She wanted to become a nun, and prayed for help. At Christmas when she was 14, Christ flooded Therese's heart with grace, transforming her self-centered sensitivity into a deep love and sensitivity for the people around her. She had a strong will, and joined the convent very early - when she was only 15.
At the convent, Therese adopted what she called "the little way." She saw herself as little and incapable of the great deeds of her namesake, St. Teresa of Avila. She said, "Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love." Instead of becoming great and climbing to Jesus, she strove to become smaller and smaller, to make less and less of herself, and to reach her arms out to Jesus, so that He might lift her up and to Himself. She continually humbled and sacrificed herself for her Beloved Lord, undergoing a period of deep suffering and emptiness in prayer towards the end of her life. Therese wrote her autobiography at the request of her Mother Superior, and died of Tuberculosis at the age of 24. Her simple autobiography has inspired generations of Catholics, and she was made a Doctor of the Church for her "little way." You can read more about her HERE, and see our other St. Therese comic HERE.
- Meg
At the convent, Therese adopted what she called "the little way." She saw herself as little and incapable of the great deeds of her namesake, St. Teresa of Avila. She said, "Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love." Instead of becoming great and climbing to Jesus, she strove to become smaller and smaller, to make less and less of herself, and to reach her arms out to Jesus, so that He might lift her up and to Himself. She continually humbled and sacrificed herself for her Beloved Lord, undergoing a period of deep suffering and emptiness in prayer towards the end of her life. Therese wrote her autobiography at the request of her Mother Superior, and died of Tuberculosis at the age of 24. Her simple autobiography has inspired generations of Catholics, and she was made a Doctor of the Church for her "little way." You can read more about her HERE, and see our other St. Therese comic HERE.
- Meg