Quote of the day, 9 June: St. ThÊrèse of Lisieux
I desire, in a word, to be a saint, but I feel my helplessness and I beg You, O my God! to be Yourself my Sanctity!
St. ThÊrèse of Lisieux, Prayer 6
Seeing how little Godâs love was known on earth, she was inspired to offer herself as a victim to this merciful love. By this, she meant to offer her heart to God as a vast abyss, one she longed to see enlarged enough to contain all the flames of divine charity rejected by most peopleâand to be consumed by them unto death.
Before making this act of offering, she came to ask my permission, since I was prioress. As she made the request, her face was radiant; she appeared to be aflame with love. I granted her desire, though without much enthusiasm or appearing to attach great importance to it.
It was then that she composed the text of her offering, showed it to me, and asked that I have it reviewed by a theologian. Reverend Father Lemonnier, superior of the Missionaries of Notre-Dame de la DĂŠlivrande, examined it and replied that he found nothing contrary to the faithâthough he advised changing the phrase âI feel in my heart infinite desiresâ to âI feel in my heart immense desires,â since a creature possesses nothing infinite.
Sister ThÊrèse of the Child Jesus offered herself as a victim to Merciful Love on 9 June 1895. This Act of Oblation was later published as Prayer 6.
Only two novices knew about the offering: first, Sister Geneviève [CÊline], then Sister Marie of the Trinity. The Servant of God explained to them the benefits of this offering and the glory it could give to God. They both made it themselves and received great spiritual benefits.
Sister ThĂŠrèse affirms that all âlittle soulsââthose weak and imperfect soulsâmay aspire to become victims of love. This accessibility, in her view, is a consequence of the âlittle way of spiritual childhood.â
Mother Agnès of Jesus (Pauline Martin)
Testimony (excerpt), Apostolic Process
Translation from the French text is the bloggerâs own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.
Featured image: Photographer photogolfer captures the rear triptych mosaic in the Basilica of St. ThĂŠrèse in Lisieux, France. In the central panel, St. ThĂŠrèse is shown seated in glory, radiating light over St. Peterâs Basilicaâa posture that visually anticipates her 1997 proclamation as Doctor of the Church. She is flanked by four popes who advanced her cause:
â St. Pius X, who called her âthe greatest saint of modern timesâ;
â Benedict XV, who deepened understanding of her âlittle wayâ;
â Pius XI, who canonized her and named her Patroness of the Missions; and
â Pius XII, who declared her secondary patroness of France.
Image credit: photogolfer / Adobe Stock. Asset ID#: 283908752
⏌ Reflection Question ⏌
St. ThĂŠrèse believed the path of offering oneself to Merciful Love was open to âlittle souls.â How can we help one another recognize that even in weakness, we are capable of great love?
⏌ Join the conversation in the comments.
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