Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most venerated saints of the Church, but her life was centered on becoming humble and small for love of Christ. Learn four lessons from her Little Way in this beautiful excerpt.
The Beloved’s Garden
I saw that every flower He has created has a beauty of its own, that the splendor of the rose and the lily’s whiteness do not deprive the violet of its scent nor make less ravishing the daisy’s charm. I saw that if every little flower wished to be a rose, Nature would lose her spring adornments, and the fields would be no longer enameled with their varied flowers. So it is in the world of souls, the living garden of the Lord.
–STORY OF A SOUL, CH. 1
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens. As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved.
–SONG OF SONGS 2:1–3
Meditation
In the spiritual life, souls who are roses or lilies are rare. Most of us are daisies. But look on the bright side: daisies are lovely, they grow in abundance, and among garden flowers they are low-maintenance. Furthermore, better to be a daisy in Christ’s garden than the most exotic lily outside it.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, I praise you and give you thanks for the talents and blessings you have showered upon me. Teach me to strive to do better where I can, to accept my limitations, and to recognize that these limitations are also gifts from you. And give me the grace of humility, Lord. St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, pray for me!
Different Gifts
But then I realized that we cannot all be alike; there must be different kinds of holiness to glorify the divine perfections.
–STORY OF A SOUL, CH. 8
His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
–EPHESIANS 4:11–12
Meditation
No matter what your state of life may be, you have gifts that can be of use to the Church and your neighbor. Make an honest assessment of your God-given talents and consider if you are doing all that you can to build up the body of Christ.
Prayer
Teach me to be grateful, Lord, for the gifts you have given me, and not to resent or mourn the gifts you gave to others. Help me to see what I can do to help my neighbors, my parish, and the Church at large, and give me the resolve to do those things as well as I am able. St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, pray for me!
Trust the Little Way
She told her novices that if she found she was wrong about her “Little Way” she would make sure they ceased to follow it. “I would come back to earth at once and tell you to go another way. If I do not come back, then believe that this is true: ‘We can never have too much confidence in our God, who is so mighty and merciful.
–STORY OF A SOUL, EPILOGUE
I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
–JOHN 14:6
Meditation
Have no fear of following St. Thérèse’s Little Way. The Church has endorsed it, particularly Blessed Pope John Paul II. In 1997, when he proclaimed St. Thérèse of Lisieux a Doctor of the Church, he said that in her Little Way “we can discern an enlightened witness of faith which, while accepting with trusting love God’s merciful condescension and salvation in Christ, reveals the mystery and holiness of the Church.”
Prayer
St. Thérèse, as I begin to follow your Little Way, pray for me that I will be faithful so that everyday I may grow a little more holy, a little more patient with tiresome people, and a little more obedient to the will of God. St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, pray for me!
Humbly Submit to Christ
To remain little—it is to recognize our nothingness, to expect everything from the good God, not to be too much afflicted about our faults . . . in fine, it is not to make one’s fortune, nor to be disquieted about anything.
–COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES THOUGHTS OF ST. THÉRÈSE, P. 113
Bud like a rose growing by a stream of water; send forth fragrance like frankincense, and put forth blossoms like a lily. Scatter the fragrance, and sing a hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all his works; ascribe majesty to his name and give thanks to him with praise, with songs on your lips.
–SIRACH 39:13–15
Meditation
Humility and simplicity of heart are the hallmarks of St. Thérèse’s Little Way. It calls upon you to stop obsessing about your sins, to trust in the goodness of God, to recognize that true contrition coupled with love for God and neighbor can make your soul bud like a rose.
Prayer
Intercede for me, St. Thérèse, so that I can be more like you: content to be modest, not looking for praise and attention, delighting in offering to God the countless little things that make up my day. St. Thérèse, the Little Flower, pray for me!
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This article is taken from a chapter in 30 Days with Saint Thérèse by Thomas J. Craughwell which is available from TAN Books.
