Saint Therese of Lisieux - The Little Flower

I understood that without love all works are but nothingness, even the most brilliant.

This lens is about MARIE FRANCOISE-THERESE MARTIN, daughter of Louis-Joseph-Stanislaus and Zelie (Guerin) Martin, was born in Alencon, France, January 2, 1873. She was the youngest of nine children, four of whom died in infancy, and of the five others, four became Carmelite nuns.

Therese, was a singularly charming and precocious child that set her heart upon entering the convent at the age of fifteen. Her wish was granted nearly to the letter, for on April 9, 1888, when only at fifteen, she enterered the Carmelite monastery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Immaculate Conception, at Lisieux, France. There she lived for nine years a life of remarkably joyous and childlike — or angelic — holiness; and there September 30, 1897, she died of consumption (tuberculosis).

P.S - if you could kindly rate my lens, it would be very much appreciated. :-)

St. Therese of Lisieux

Thérèse de Lisieux (2 January, 1873 - 30 September, 1897), or Saint Thérèse of the Infant Jesus and the Holy Face, born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, was a Roman Catholic Carmelite nun who was canonized a saint and is recognized as a Doctor of the Church, one of only three women to receive that honor. She is also known as

"The Little Flower of Jesus".CatholicForum.com: Patron Saints Index: Thérèse of Lisieux. Retrieved on October 1, 2006.

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

The Spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux

The Little Way

St. Thérèse and her Little Way

Rev. John F. Russell, O.Carm.
Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. 07079

What is the meaning of "the little way" of St Therese? It is an image that tries to capture her understanding of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, of seeking holiness of life in the ordinary and the everyday. St Therese based "her little way" on two fundamental convictions: (1) God shows love by mercy and forgiveness, and (2) she could not be "perfect" in following the Lord. St Therese believed that the people of her time lived in too great a fear of God's judgment. The fear was stifling and did not allow people to experience the freedom of the children of God. St Therese knew from her life that God is merciful love; many scripture passages in the Old and New Testaments bore out that truth. She loved the maternal images for God in the Old Testament and the love of God for us in Jesus Christ. In fact, St Therese once wrote that she could not understand how anyone could be afraid of a God who became a child. She also knew that she would never be perfect. Therefore, she went to God as a child approaches a parent . . . with open arms and a profound trust.

St Therese translated "the little way" in terms of a commitment to the tasks and to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel; she served in the refectory and in the laundry room; she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. Above all, she tried to show a love for all the nuns in the community. She played no favourites; she gave of herself even to the difficult members. Her life sounds so routine and ordinary, but it was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no breakdown. It is called a "little way" precisely by being simple, direct, yet calling for amazing fortitude and commitment. (cont...)

continued ...

In living out her life of faith she sensed that everything that she was able to accomplish came from the generous love of God in her life. She was convinced that at the end of her life she would go to God with empty hands. Why? Because all was accomplished in union with God.

Catholics and other Christians have been attracted to St Therese's style. Her "little way" seems to put holiness of life within the reach of ordinary people. Live out your days with confidence in God's love for you. Recognize that each day is a gift in which your life can make a difference by the way you choose to live it. Put hope in a future in which God will be all and love will consume your spirit. Choose life, not the darkness of pettiness and greed. St Therese knew the difference love makes by allowing love to be the statement she made each day of her life.

Prayer to Saint Therese

St. Thérèse, please draw me into your great life of love.

Teach me that no act is too small to fill with love. Give me great respect for others. Remind me that everyone is a child of God and is specially loved by God.

Draw me closer to God and allow me to feel God's love for me. Draw me into the heart of God and widen the horizons of my mind and heart. Then I may be able to think nothing, feel nothing, wish nothing, do nothing except those things that will build up others and inspire them to love.

Help me to do this over and over again - to practice with you, being Love in the heart God.

Amen.

Novena to Therese of the Child Jesus

O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus,
please pick for me a rose from the heavenly garden
and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God, today, to grant
the favors I now place with confidence in your hands...
(Mention specific request)

St. Thérèse, help me to always believe, as you did,
in God's great love for me,
so that I might imitate your "Little Way" each day.
Amen.

Miraculous Invocation to Saint Therese of Lisieux

O Glorious St. Thérèse, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your miraculous intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you "Prodigy of Miracles... the Greatest Saint of Modern Times." Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth... of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Thérèse, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea "to be made known everywhere" and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you.

Another Prayer to St. Therese

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

St. Therese's Impact

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Therese - Daily Devotion from Society of the Little Flower

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Reader Feedback

Lensmaster

Clayton wrote

I don't know the power of this saint. Let's just see what happens.
Why would it take the intercession of this saint , instead of the Lord Himself to grant my petitions?
I didn't have my fingers crossed, I meant everything i prayed for.

Posted July 02, 2009

Lensmaster

kamakshi wrote

i pray that abhi would call me on the second of july and would reconcile with me.

Posted June 26, 2009

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Josephine wrote

Thanx St. Theresa for favors asked. I'll keep on praying even after the shower of roses on the weekend

Posted May 19, 2009

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gkygrl wrote...

Praying for my Dad who passed away this morning and is in Heaven today. His passing was peaceful and he was happy and resolved. We feel blessed but I wanted to pray to my favorite saint for a little oomph! Go Dad!

Posted May 13, 2009

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jimb1234

this is so good. great lens.

rate my body

Posted May 03, 2009

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J. wrote

I have had so many signs from you today. Please let it means there is a daisy on the way. Je t'aime.

Posted April 14, 2009

Lensmaster

Katie wrote

in reply to Judy I am too praying to St Therese daily for our relationship to one day be restored. I love him so much and he needs help with overcoming his grief. I pray that God helps his heart so we can try again. I love him so much I don't want to give up. I pray that I can see a sign from St Therese to know it will all be ok.

Posted April 13, 2009

Lensmaster

John wrote

Oh St Terese please bring Angela back into my life i really miss her and still love her so much,

Posted April 06, 2009

Please leave a prayer intention below ... and I will pray to St. Therese for you.

There is little that beats the awesome power of prayer. After having spent 7 years in religious life and being called outside into the world, I understand that faith is the stuff that gets us through the day -- rocky or smooth. I wanted to share my little spot in cyberspace to offer a prayer for you. If you can remember, say one for me too :-)

Lensmaster

kama wrote

pleasw send abhi back to me.i love him very much

Posted June 26, 2009

Lensmaster

Beth wrote

Saint Theresa I want to so much be like you in the little ways. Please pray for my husbands dementia and back.My son being led in the right way spiritually.K dong what he is suppose to do for us.Also my dental needs. I love you so so much.

Posted June 22, 2009

Lensmaster

collette wrote

St Therese, I believe in you and need to gain a small home for myself and three children near to a beach. I will continue to pray to you daily. Thank you.

Posted May 24, 2009

Lensmaster

josephine wrote

Please, St. Theresa pray for my son that he gets jobs for his pressure washing business, so that he can repay all the debts. I thank you. ////////with love.

Posted May 19, 2009

Lensmaster

Margot wrote

My precious Saint Therese, please ask the Holy Face and our Lady of Mount Carmel to bring peace to this world so filled with hate, within my husband's divided family, and within the soul of God's beloved children.

As the Feast of the Pentecost grows nearer, may the Holy Spirit revive, restore, and renew our relationship with our Divine Creator. By the power of the Spirit of Jesus, may true Christians become bright lights for all mankind.

I praise and thank the Lord in advance for all the graces granted and other answered prayers. In his divine mercy, I know that the Sacred Heart of Jesus will not turn a deaf ear to my cries that his justice and righteousness prevail. Amen!t

Posted May 17, 2009

The Little Flower - Patroness of

Feast Day - October 1st

African missions
AIDS sufferers
air crews
aircraft pilots
Australia, aviators
Belgian air crews
black missions
bodily ills
diocese of Fairbanks Alaska
diocese of Fresno California,
diocese of Juneau Alaska
diocese of Pueblo Colorado
florists
flower growers
foreign missions
France
illness
loss of parents
missionaries
parish missions
restoration of religious freedom in Russia
Russia
sick people
sickness
Spanish air crews
tuberculosis

My Song of Today

one of Therese's poems

Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee -
And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
Come reign within my heart, smile
tenderly on me,

Today, dear Lord, today.

But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings -
That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,

But only for today!

O sweetest Star of heaven!
O Virgin, spotless, blest,
Shining with Jesus' light, guiding to Him my way!
O Mother! 'neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,

For this brief passing day!

Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
And then my lips shall sing, to heaven's angelic lyres,

The eternal, glad today!

Therese of Lisieux & Vocation Links

The following list of links are quality sites that deal with Therese and her Carmelite spirituality/foundation.

The Official Site of Saint Therese: This website is maintained for the promotion of the life and spirituality of St Thérèse of Lisieux.
Society of the Little Flower: The Mission of the Society of the Little Flower is to promote devotion to St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Carmelite Nun and Doctor of the Church. Through prayers and donations, friends of St. Therese enable Carmelites to continue her "Shower of Roses" in their ministries and in the education of seminarians.
Vision Vocation Network: Feel called to religious life?

Vision has many exciting features to help you discern your life's calling. Whether
you are interested in consecrated life-such as becoming a nun, brother, priest, or
monk-or simply looking for ways to deepen your faith through volunteer and study
opportunities, you've come to the right place!