Life in the Carmel, spiritual growth, influences, writings, devotions, legacy

1. Saint Therese of Lisieux
2 - Spirituality

2. Mother Marie de Gonzague wrote to the prioress
of Tours, "The angelic child is seventeen and a half,
with the sense of a 30 year old, the religious
perfection of an old and accomplished novice,
and possession of herself, she is a perfect nun".

3. "May creatures be nothing for me, and may I be nothing for
them, but may You, Jesus, be everything! Let nobody be
occupied with me, let me be looked upon as one to be
trampled underfoot […] may Your will be done in me
perfectly… Jesus, allow me to save very many souls; let no
soul be lost today; let all the souls in purgatory be saved…"

4. "When anyone breaks the rule, this is not a reason
to justify ourselves. Each must act as if the perfection
of the Order depended on her personal conduct."

5. "When you stop watching the infallible compass
[of obedience], the mind wanders as quickly in arid
lands where the water of grace is soon lacking."

6. Therese entered
a community
of very aged nuns,
Some odd and cranky,
some sick and troubled,
some lukewarm
and complacent.
Almost all of the sisters
came from the petty
bourgeois and artisan class.
The Prioress and Novice
Mistress were of old
Normandy nobility.
Probably the Martin
sisters alone represented
the new class of the
rising bourgeoisie".

7. the Carmel of Lisieux in 1888 had 26 religious, from very different
classes and backgrounds. For the majority of the life of Therese,
the prioress would be Mother Marie de Gonzague, was 54,
a woman of changeable humour, jealous of her authority

8. “This peace has
remained with
me during the
eight and a half
years of my life
here, and has
never left me
even amid the
greatest trials".

9. Marie de Gonzague, the prioress, had turned the postulant Therese over to her
eldest sister Marie, who was to teach her to follow the Divine Office. Later she
appointed Therese assistant to Pauline in the refectory. When her cousin Marie
Guerin also entered, she employed the two together in the sacristy.

10. She saw her sisters together only in the hours of
common recreation after meals. At such times she would
sit down beside whomever she happened to be near, or
beside a nun whom she had observed to be downcast

11. "Illusions, the Good Lord gave me the grace to
have none on entering Carmel. I found religious
life as I had figured, no sacrifice astonished me."

12. Sister St Vincent
de Paul, the finest
embroiderer in the
community made
her feel awkward
and even called
her 'the big nanny
goat'. Therese was
in fact the tallest in
the community at
1.62 m (5 ft 4 in).

13. “the lack of judgment, education, the touchiness of
some characters, all these things do not make life
very pleasant. I know very well that these moral
weaknesses are chronic, that there is no hope of cure".

14. "Therese deliberately 'sought out the company of
those nuns whose temperaments she found hardest
to bear.' What merit was there in acting charitably
toward people whom one loved naturally?

15. Six years as a Carmelite made her realize how small and insignificant she felt.
She saw the limitations of all her efforts. She remained small and very far off from
the unfailing love that she would wish to practice. She is said to have understood
then that it was from insignificance that she had to learn to ask God's help

16. She read the works of
Saint John of the Cross,
The Ascent of Mount Carmel,
the Way of Purification,
the Spiritual Canticle,
the Living Flame of Love.

17. Father Adolphe Roulland (1870–1934) of the Society of Foreign Missions
requested that a nun of the Carmel should support his work in the French
Indo-China missions by prayer and sacrifice. Theresa corresponded with him.
… She consoles and warns, encourages and praises, answers questions, offers
corroboration, and instructs the priests in the meaning of her little way".

18. Therese prayed without great sensitive emotions, she increased
the small acts of charity and care for others, doing small services.
She accepted criticism in silence, even unjust criticisms, and smiled at
the sisters who were unpleasant to her. She always prayed for priests

19. She chose a spiritual
director, a Jesuit,
Father Pichon.
At their first meeting,
28 May 1888, she made
a general confession.
Later she confided to
her sister, "Father
Pichon treated me
too much like a child;
nonetheless he did me a
lot of good too by saying
that I never committed
a mortal sin.")

20. "My soul was
like a book which
the priest read
better than I did.
He launched me full
sail on the waves of
confidence and love
which held such an
attraction for me,
but upon which
I had not dared
to venture.
He told me that
my faults did
not offend God."

21. Therese had a sudden inspiration that she must
offer herself as a sacrificial victim to merciful love

23. Her devotion to
the devine face
"The words in Isaiah:
'no stateliness here,
no majesty, no beauty,
[…]
one despised, left out
of all human reckoning;
How should we take any
account of him, a man
so despised (Is 53:2–3) –

24. these words
were the
basis of my whole
worship of the
Holy Face.
I, too, wanted
to be without
comeliness
and beauty,
ignored by all
creatures."

27. Therese wrote two plays in honour of her childhood heroine,
saaint Joan of Arc, the first about Joan's response to the
heavenly voices calling her to battle, the second about her
resulting martyrdom…. they "are scarcely veiled self-portraits".

28. The piety of her time
was fed more on
commentaries, but
Therese had asked Céline
to get the Gospels and
the Epistles of St Paul
bound into a single small
volume which she could
carry on her heart.
Over time Therese
realised that she felt no
attraction to the exalted
heights of "great souls".
She looked directly for the
word of Jesus, which shed
light on her prayers and
on her daily life.

29. “The fear of God, which she found in certain sisters,
paralyzed her. "My nature is such that fear makes
me recoil, with LOVE not only do I go forward, I fly".

30. “I close the learned book
which is breaking my head
and drying up my heart,
and I take up Holy
Scripture. Then all seems
luminous to me; a single
word uncovers for my
soul infinite horizons;
perfection seems simple;
I see that it is enough
to recognize one's
nothingness and to
abandon oneself, like a
child, into God's arms”

31. "Yes, I have found my place
in the Church and it is you,
O my God, who have given
me this place: in the heart
of the Church, my mother,
I shall be love. Thus I shall be
everything, and thus my
dream will be realised."

32. she wrote,
"If through weakness
I should chance to
fall, may a glance
from Your Eyes
straightway cleanse
my soul, and
consume all my
imperfections – as
fire transforms all
things into itself".

33. She refered to herself as a grain of sand, an image
she borrowed from Pauline… 'Always littler, lighter,
in order to be lifted more easily by the breeze of love'.

34. "Jesus raised us above all the
fragile things of this world
whose image passes away.
Like Zacchaeus, we climbed a
tree to see Jesus and now let
us listen to what he is saying
to us. Make haste to descend,
I must lodge today at your
house. Well, Jesus tells us
to descend?" "A question
here of the interior,“
[our hearts] are already
empty of creatures, but,
alas, I feel mine is not
entirely empty of myself,
and it is for this reason that
Jesus tells me to descend."

35. Therese found a passage from Proverbs
that struck her with particular force:
"Whosoever is a little one, let him
come to me" (Proverbs 9:4).

36. "you shall be
carried at the
breasts, and upon
the knees they
shall caress you.
As one whom the
mother caresseth,
so will I comfort
you." (Isaiah 66:12–13)
She concluded that
Jesus would carry
her to the summit
of sanctity.

37. “I will seek out a means
of getting to Heaven by
a little way – very short
and very straight little way
that is wholly new.
We live in an age of
inventions; nowadays
the rich need not trouble
to climb the stairs, they
have lifts instead.
Well, I mean to try and
find a lift by which I may
be raised unto God, for
I am too tiny to climb
the steep stairway
of perfection.

38. Your arms, then,
O Jesus, are the lift
which must raise
me up even
unto Heaven.
To get there I
need not grow.
On the contrary,
I must remain little,
I must become
still less”.

39. "Love proves itself by
deeds, so how am I to
show my love? Great
deeds are forbidden me.
The only way I can
prove my love is by
scattering flowers and
these flowers are every
little sacrifice, every
glance and word, and
the doing of the least
actions for love."

40. Her devotion to the Blessed sacrament
was since her childhood

41. Therese was
devoted to
the Blessed
Virgin Mary,
and the
Child Jesus

42. “I throw to my little birds the good grain that God
places in my hands…..But God tells me: 'Give, give
always, without being concerned with the results”

43. On Good Friday 1896
she awoke to find her
hankerchief soaked
in blood, a sign of
tuberculosis, and
wrote in her diary -
Ah! my soul was
filled with a great
consolation; I was
interiorly persuaded
that Jesus, on the
anniversary of His
own death, wanted
to have me hear
His first call!"

44. she said, "I would
never have believed it
was possible to suffer
so much, never, never!"
On her deathbed, she is
reported to have said,
"I have reached the
point of not being able
to suffer any more,
because all suffering
is sweet to me."
Her last words were,
"My God, I love you!"

45. The figure of Therese in the glass coffin is not her actual body but a gisant statue based on drawings and
photos by Céline after Therese's death. It contains her ribcage and other remnants of her body
Thérèse died at the age of 24 from tuberculosis.

46. Therese was buried on 4 October 1897, in the Carmelite plot,
in the municipal cemetery at Lisieux, where her parents had
been buried. Her body was exhumed in September 1910 and the
remains placed in a lead coffin and transferred to another tomb

47. In March 1923, however, before she was beatified, her body
was returned to the Carmel of Lisieux, where it remains.

48. Pope Pius X1 declared St Thérèse the
Universal Patroness of the Missions in 1927

49. Thérèse has been a highly influential model of sanctity for
Catholics and for others because of the simplicity and
practicality of her approach to the spiritual life

50. Shrine of Saint Therese in Lisieux, Normandy, France

51. Shrine of Saint Therese in Lisieux – interior of the basilica

52. LIST OF PRESENTATIONS IN ENGLISH
Revised 20-9-2022
Advent and Christmas – time of hope and peace
All Souls Day
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – In the Light of the Word
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – The Experiences and Challenges of Families
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 - Looking to Jesus, the Vocation of the Family
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - Love in Marriage
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Love made Fruitfuol
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Some Pastoral Perspectives
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Towards a better education of children
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Accompanying, discerning and integrating weaknwss
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – The Spirituality of Marriage and the Family
Beloved Amazon 1ª – A Social Dream
Beloved Amazon 2 - A Cultural Dream
Beloved Amazon 3 – An Ecological Dream
Beloved Amazon 4 - An Ecclesiastical Dream
Carnival
Conscience
Christ is Alive
Fatima, History of the Apparitiions
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – Church and Family today
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - God’s plan for the family
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – family as a Community
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – serving life and education
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – mission of the family in society
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - Family in the Church
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Football in Spain
Freedom
Grace and Justification
Haurietis aquas – devotion to the Sacred Heart by Pius XII
Holidays and Holy Days
Holy Spirit
Holy Week – drawings for children
Holy Week – glmjpses of the last hours of JC
Human Community
Inauguration of President Donald Trump
Juno explores Jupiter
Kingdom of Christ
Laudato si 1 – care for the common home
Laudato si 2 – Gospel of creation
Laudato si 3 – Human roots of the ecological crisis
Laudato si 4 – integral ecology
Laudato si 5 – lines of approach and action
Laudato si 6 – Education y Ecological Spirituality
Life in Christ
Love and Marriage 12,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Lumen Fidei – ch 1,2,3,4
Mary – Doctrine and dogmas
Mary in the bible
Martyrs of Korea
Martyrs of North America and Canada
Medjugore Santuario Mariano
Merit and Holiness
Misericordiae Vultus in English
Moral Law
Morality of Human Acts
Passions
Pope Franciss in Thailand
Pope Francis in Japan
Pope Francis in Sweden
Pope Francis in Hungary, Slovaquia
Pope Francis in America
Pope Francis in the WYD in Poland 2016
Passions
Querida Amazonia
Resurrection of Jesus Christ –according to the Gospels
Russian Revolution and Communismo 3 civil war 1918.1921
Russian Revolution and Communism 1
Russian Revolution and Communismo 2
Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr
Saint Albert the Great
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Francis de Sales
Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint James, apostle
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint Joseph
Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Mary Magdalen
Saint Mark, evangelist
Saint Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Saint Martin of Tours
Sain Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta
Saints Nazario and Celso
Saint John Chrysostom
Saint Jean Baptiste MarieaVianney, Curé of Ars
Saint John N. Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Saint John of the Cross
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcuta
Saint Patrick and Ireland
Saing Peter Claver
Saint Robert Bellarmine
Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, parents of John Baptis
Signs of hope
Sunday – day of the Lord
Thanksgiving – History and Customs
The Body, the cult – (Eucharist)
The Chursh, Mother and Teacher
Valentine
Vocation to Beatitude
Virgin of Guadalupe – Apparitions
Virgin of the Pillar and Hispaniic feast day
Virgin of Sheshan, China
Vocation – mconnor@legionaries.org
WMoFamilies Rome 2022 – festval of families
Way of the Cross – drawings for children
For commentaries – email – mflynn@legionaries.org
Fb – Martin M Flynn
Donations to - BANCO - 03069 INTESA SANPAOLO SPA
Name – EUR-CA-ASTI

53. LISTA DE PRESENTACIONES EN ESPAÑOL
Revisado 27-6-2022
Abuelos
Adviento y Navidad, tiempo de esperanza
Amor y Matrimonio 1 - 9
Amoris Laetitia – ch 1 – A la luz de la Palabre
Amoris Laetitia – ch 2 – Realidad y Desafíos de las Familias
Amoris Laetitia – ch 3 La mirada puesta en Jesús: Vocación de la Familia
Amoris Laetitia – ch 4 - El Amor en el Matrimonio
Amoris Laetitia – ch 5 – Amor que se vuelve fecundo
Amoris Laetitia – ch 6 – Algunas Perspectivas Pastorales
Amoris Laetitia – ch 7 – Fortalecer la educacion de los hijos
Amoris Laetitia – ch 8 – Acompañar, discernir e integrar la fragilidad
Amoris Laetitia – ch 9 – Espiritualidad Matrimonial y Familiar
Carnaval
Conciencia
Cristo Vive
Dia de todos los difuntos
Domingo – día del Señor
El camino de la cruz de JC en dibujos para niños
El Cuerpo, el culto – (eucarisía)
Encuentro Mundial de Familias Roma 2022 – festival de las familias
Espíritu Santo
Fatima – Historia de las apariciones
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 1 – iglesia y familia hoy
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 2 - el plan de Dios para la familia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 1 – familia como comunidad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 2 – servicio a la vida y educación
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 3 – misión de la familia en la sociedad
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 3 – 4 - participación de la familia en la iglesia
Familiaris Consortio (FC) 4 Pastoral familiar
Fátima – Historia de las Apariciones de la Virgen
Feria de Sevilla
Haurietis aquas – el culto al Sagrado Corazón
Hermandades y cofradías
Hispanidad
La Iglesia, Madre y Maestra
La Comunidad Humana
La Vida en Cristo
Laudato si 1 – cuidado del hogar común
Laudato si 2 – evangelio de creación
Laudato si 3 – La raíz de la crisis ecológica
Laudato si 4 – ecología integral
Laudato si 5 – líneas de acción
Laudato si 6 – Educación y Espiritualidad Ecológica
Ley Moral
Libertad
Lumen Fidei – cap 1,2,3,4
María y la Biblia
Martires de Corea
Martires de Nor America y Canada
Medjugore peregrinación
Misericordiae Vultus en Español
Moralidad de actos humanos
Papa Francisco en Bulgaria
Papa Francisco en Rumania
Papa Francisco en Marruecos
Papa Francisco en México
Papa Francisco – mensaje para la Jornada Mundial Juventud 2016
Papa Francisco – visita a Chile
Papa Francisco – visita a Perú
Papa Francisco en Colombia 1 + 2
Papa Francisco en Cuba
Papa Francisco en Fátima
Papa Francisco en la JMJ 2016 – Polonia
Papa Francisco en Hugaría e Eslovaquia
Queridas Amazoznia 1,2,3,4
El Reino de Cristo
Resurrección de Jesucristo – según los Evangelios
Revolución Rusa y Comunismo 1, 2, 3
Santa Agata, virgen y martir
San Alberto Magno
San Antonio de Padua
San Francisco de Asis 1,2,3,4
San Francisco de Sales
Santa Maria Goretti
Santa María Magdalena
San Marco, evangelista
San Ignacio de Loyola
San José, obrero, marido, padre
San Juan Ma Vianney, Curé de’Ars
San Juan Crisostom
San Juan de la Cruz
San Juan N. Neumann, obispo de Philadelphia
San Mateo, Apóstol y Evangelista
San Martin de Tours
San Mateo, Apostol y Evangelista
San Maximiliano Kolbe
Santa Teresa de Calcuta
Santos Marta, Maria, y Lazaro
San Nazario e Celso
San Padre Pio de Pietralcina
San Patricio e Irlanda
San Pedro Claver
San Roberto Belarmino
Santiago Apóstol
Santos Zacarias e Isabel, padres de Juan Bautista
Semana santa – Vistas de las últimas horas de JC
Vacaciones Cristianas
Valentín
Vida en Cristo
Virgen de Guadalupe, Mexico
Virgen de Pilar – fiesta de la hispanidad
Virgen de Sheshan, China
Virtud
Vocación a la bienaventuranza
Vocación – www.vocación.org
Vocación a evangelizar
Para comentarios – email – mflynn@lcegionaries.org
fb – martin m. flynn
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