Recently I attended a presentation about St. Therese of
Lisieux by Sr. Judith Sutera at Sophia Center. St. Therese lived only 24 years
and accomplished no great works during her short time on earth, so it might
seem surprising that she has been named a Doctor of the Church. However, the
simplicity of her approach to life with God offers a path of love and service
that is accessible to all people, not only those blessed with wealth,
education, and/or extraordinary gifts of intelligence or leadership. In the
midst of our complex world, St. Therese reminds us that loving God is not a complicated
process.
Although the piety of her writing can seem quaint, St.
Therese addresses truths that we continue to try to instill into our lives
today:
• “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” (Modern
translation: live mindfully/live in the present moment)
• “The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do
not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If
every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness” (Modern
translation: live with humility/be true to yourself)
• “Prayer is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a
simple glance darted upwards to heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of love in
the midst of trial as in the midst of joy” (Modern translation: always maintain
an attitude of gratitude)
I’m grateful for St. Therese’s reminder that the “little
ways” of kindness to others and fidelity to prayer hold great power to draw us
closer to God and extend God’s love to the world.
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