I read The Story of a Soul while at my first Benedictine monastery working on my first book—during a horrible awful time in life. When he found out why I was there and that I was struggling to write, the guest master pressed the book into my hands. “Let Therese keep you company,” he said. And she did. That week was the shift that allowed me to write This Too Shall Last.
This reflection was beautiful, and also the photo commentary made me silly grin.
The way the right people (here and beyond) show up in our lives when we need them - it never fails to amaze me. We are held by something far beyond ourselves.
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! Another one of my favorite things about Thérèse is that she is RELENTLESS. She wasn't gonna let you go!! The photos are especially wonderful because 1) I love your commentary and 2) I've always wanted to go to Lisieux and I've never been. Thank you for taking me along for the ride!!
Same, sister, same. I think I remember you mentioning this in the past and I felt so seen— Seems like EVERYONE loves the little flower, but my thoughts were similar to yours. Your writings have helped me to love her too :-) (and, as you said, also see my humility and pride). I love these pictures (and of course, your funny commentary). Aren’t we so lucky to be living in a time when it’s so easy to capture such memories. The chapel/Good Shepard — WOW. And the sass of a future saint— LOL.
I love how this part of Ordinary Time with its readings and echoes in nature (in the northern hemisphere at least) has me reflecting on the great harvest and judgement including my own failings and great need for mercy. What perfect timing.
If it makes you feel any better, I overlooked St. Therese at first, too. I think because I was introduced to her by audiobook, I missed a lot of little “gotta think about this one more” moments. But encountering quotes from her in other places made me want to revisit the autobiography on paper.
I don’t know much about the Catholic saints. But I’m getting a taste of it here. Thank you for sharing your disinterest, and then your change of heart. Experience, understanding, time we needed. ❤️❤️❤️
I love this and totally relate! On a walking pilgrimage last year from Paris to Chartres, she made herself known to me in profound ways. I previously had recoiled from what seemed her extreme piety. Wrong! She’s become my saint for doing things I’d rather not, especially in the realm of caregiving. And, like me, she lost her mom as a child. We’re going to France next spring and putting Lisieux on the itinerary.
I love this! A friend recommended this book to me too, and said it helped her in much the same ways: The Love That Keeps Us Sane. Your words are reminding me to pick it back up again. (https://bookshop.org/a/9145/9780809140022)
Even though I love Story of a Soul, I’ve had a hard time with St. Therese before because sometimes I feel like she’s almost the cool girl of Catholic saints? (I know, I clearly have some personal hang ups here). I feel like I always read about perfect Catholic girls finding roses in their hair after asking her for help and thinking, “what would St. Therese want to do with me?” I’m glad someone else can relate!
At first, I hate when I find out I was wrong about something. But eventually, I usually realize that learning I was wrong was the best gift I could have been given. Thanks for this great reminder!
A column I wrote for my church bulletin last year, for the Feast of St Therese:
My parents were immigrants and hard workers, who had little time to read. We received two daily newspapers at our home, which my parents scanned through morning and evening, to keep up with the times...but that was it. There was just one book in our house--a book which, most likely, had been given to my mother after she entered the convent. It was the autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux, entitled “Story of a Soul.” However, this edition was not in English—it was written in French, the primary language we spoke in our family. I recall the cream-colored cover, with the photo of St Therese in her Carmelite habit. As far back as I can remember that book was always around, her photo as common to me as my parents’ wedding picture on the living room wall.
That book must have meant a lot to my mother, for she took it with her when she left the convent, and after she married Dad she brought it to this country. I think it’s fair to say that my mother’s young life was similar to that of Therese. They were both raised within religious households. They both lost their mothers at a very young age (Therese was 4 when her mother died—my Mom was 3.) I eventually read “Story of a Soul” several times--in English!--and in some inexplicable yet ordinary way, Therese’s family life became a part of mine. I’ve prayed to her and pondered her life, to arrive at as realistic and authentic a portrait of her as possible... yet I am not unique in my interest of her, for Therese has been described as “the greatest saint of modern times.” It’s amazing that she became so widely known. She was born into an obscure middle-class family, spending most of her time at home with her four sisters. At the age of 15, she vanished behind the walls of a Carmelite cloister, where she would die 9 years later at the age of 24. How did we come to know so much about her, and how did she become canonized as a saint, just 28 years after her death? I believe there are three reasons for the widespread interest and devotion to her.
First and foremost, the writing of her autobiography was paramount in bringing her story to life for future generations. Secondly, the development of photography was just becoming available to those who had an interest, which was the case for her sister Celine who became a camera buff...when Celine became a Carmelite too, she was able to take many photos of Therese, along with other members of her family who had entered the same Carmelite community. The third reason for Therese’s saintly influence was the development of her spiritual doctrine, which she called “The Little Way.” Though simple in tone, it was vast in scope, using a straightforward approach to the spiritual life that seeks to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. All the events of her day—whatever they might have been—were offered in love for God’s glory and the greater good of humankind. Her outlook is obtainable for all of us, as she has written:
“Nothing is an obstacle to holiness.
Different temperaments, situations in which we find ourselves,
and duties in our state of life, can become material for sanctity.”
On the centenary of her death in 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II declared St Therese to be Doctor of the Church; she is the youngest of four women to ever be declared Doctor of the Church, along with Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila.
I love this story! The saints seem to find us. I started joking about praying to St Jude about a year before we converted. This was about the time I started praying the first part of the Hail Mary, mostly because I just knew it was a last chance desperate move that people use in football (could I tell you what it is really? No). Basically, I was desperate. And those two were like, “An opening is an opening!” St. Jude became both my husband’s and my confirmation saint (which, mind you, we did not consult on 😅, because our process into the church was uh, tumultuous)
I read The Story of a Soul while at my first Benedictine monastery working on my first book—during a horrible awful time in life. When he found out why I was there and that I was struggling to write, the guest master pressed the book into my hands. “Let Therese keep you company,” he said. And she did. That week was the shift that allowed me to write This Too Shall Last.
This reflection was beautiful, and also the photo commentary made me silly grin.
The way the right people (here and beyond) show up in our lives when we need them - it never fails to amaze me. We are held by something far beyond ourselves.
Right?!?! It’s undeniable!
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!! Another one of my favorite things about Thérèse is that she is RELENTLESS. She wasn't gonna let you go!! The photos are especially wonderful because 1) I love your commentary and 2) I've always wanted to go to Lisieux and I've never been. Thank you for taking me along for the ride!!
RELENTLESS. In the best way! I hope you get to go to Lisieux someday: it's a beautiful place.
You're so right, she is relentless and tenacious, fierce and tender. Such a great friend! ❤️🔥
Amen! Fierce and tender, to a T.
You had me at "And you were the lost sheep for the millionth time." And thanks for the wonderful pictures of your travel to Lisieux!
"The true wisdom is to be always seasonable, and to change with a good grace in changing circumstances."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
Beautiful quote. Thank you for sharing.
Same, sister, same. I think I remember you mentioning this in the past and I felt so seen— Seems like EVERYONE loves the little flower, but my thoughts were similar to yours. Your writings have helped me to love her too :-) (and, as you said, also see my humility and pride). I love these pictures (and of course, your funny commentary). Aren’t we so lucky to be living in a time when it’s so easy to capture such memories. The chapel/Good Shepard — WOW. And the sass of a future saint— LOL.
Such a lovely reflection. I’ve been wrong many times, and I’m always drawn to that story in others too. Thanks for sharing with us!
I said to a friend the other day, "I'm at the point in my life where if someone doesn't have humility or humor, they aren't for me." With you!
Co-sign! Gotta prove you can evolve AND know that you need to.
I love how this part of Ordinary Time with its readings and echoes in nature (in the northern hemisphere at least) has me reflecting on the great harvest and judgement including my own failings and great need for mercy. What perfect timing.
If it makes you feel any better, I overlooked St. Therese at first, too. I think because I was introduced to her by audiobook, I missed a lot of little “gotta think about this one more” moments. But encountering quotes from her in other places made me want to revisit the autobiography on paper.
We loved your words & pictures of the “ little saint “ thank you very much for sharing your thoughts & words 🙏🙏
I don’t know much about the Catholic saints. But I’m getting a taste of it here. Thank you for sharing your disinterest, and then your change of heart. Experience, understanding, time we needed. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Linda! I never thought I was much of a "saint person" either. It's lovely to be proved wrong.
I love this and totally relate! On a walking pilgrimage last year from Paris to Chartres, she made herself known to me in profound ways. I previously had recoiled from what seemed her extreme piety. Wrong! She’s become my saint for doing things I’d rather not, especially in the realm of caregiving. And, like me, she lost her mom as a child. We’re going to France next spring and putting Lisieux on the itinerary.
I love this! A friend recommended this book to me too, and said it helped her in much the same ways: The Love That Keeps Us Sane. Your words are reminding me to pick it back up again. (https://bookshop.org/a/9145/9780809140022)
Even though I love Story of a Soul, I’ve had a hard time with St. Therese before because sometimes I feel like she’s almost the cool girl of Catholic saints? (I know, I clearly have some personal hang ups here). I feel like I always read about perfect Catholic girls finding roses in their hair after asking her for help and thinking, “what would St. Therese want to do with me?” I’m glad someone else can relate!
At first, I hate when I find out I was wrong about something. But eventually, I usually realize that learning I was wrong was the best gift I could have been given. Thanks for this great reminder!
Very interesting. You’ll are an amazing writer.
A column I wrote for my church bulletin last year, for the Feast of St Therese:
My parents were immigrants and hard workers, who had little time to read. We received two daily newspapers at our home, which my parents scanned through morning and evening, to keep up with the times...but that was it. There was just one book in our house--a book which, most likely, had been given to my mother after she entered the convent. It was the autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux, entitled “Story of a Soul.” However, this edition was not in English—it was written in French, the primary language we spoke in our family. I recall the cream-colored cover, with the photo of St Therese in her Carmelite habit. As far back as I can remember that book was always around, her photo as common to me as my parents’ wedding picture on the living room wall.
That book must have meant a lot to my mother, for she took it with her when she left the convent, and after she married Dad she brought it to this country. I think it’s fair to say that my mother’s young life was similar to that of Therese. They were both raised within religious households. They both lost their mothers at a very young age (Therese was 4 when her mother died—my Mom was 3.) I eventually read “Story of a Soul” several times--in English!--and in some inexplicable yet ordinary way, Therese’s family life became a part of mine. I’ve prayed to her and pondered her life, to arrive at as realistic and authentic a portrait of her as possible... yet I am not unique in my interest of her, for Therese has been described as “the greatest saint of modern times.” It’s amazing that she became so widely known. She was born into an obscure middle-class family, spending most of her time at home with her four sisters. At the age of 15, she vanished behind the walls of a Carmelite cloister, where she would die 9 years later at the age of 24. How did we come to know so much about her, and how did she become canonized as a saint, just 28 years after her death? I believe there are three reasons for the widespread interest and devotion to her.
First and foremost, the writing of her autobiography was paramount in bringing her story to life for future generations. Secondly, the development of photography was just becoming available to those who had an interest, which was the case for her sister Celine who became a camera buff...when Celine became a Carmelite too, she was able to take many photos of Therese, along with other members of her family who had entered the same Carmelite community. The third reason for Therese’s saintly influence was the development of her spiritual doctrine, which she called “The Little Way.” Though simple in tone, it was vast in scope, using a straightforward approach to the spiritual life that seeks to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. All the events of her day—whatever they might have been—were offered in love for God’s glory and the greater good of humankind. Her outlook is obtainable for all of us, as she has written:
“Nothing is an obstacle to holiness.
Different temperaments, situations in which we find ourselves,
and duties in our state of life, can become material for sanctity.”
On the centenary of her death in 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II declared St Therese to be Doctor of the Church; she is the youngest of four women to ever be declared Doctor of the Church, along with Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila.
St Therese, pray for us,
~Joy Jennings
I think I like the photo captions best in this post 😍
I love this story! The saints seem to find us. I started joking about praying to St Jude about a year before we converted. This was about the time I started praying the first part of the Hail Mary, mostly because I just knew it was a last chance desperate move that people use in football (could I tell you what it is really? No). Basically, I was desperate. And those two were like, “An opening is an opening!” St. Jude became both my husband’s and my confirmation saint (which, mind you, we did not consult on 😅, because our process into the church was uh, tumultuous)