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Showing posts with the label "Little Way"

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love — and only love. Love can do all things. — St Thérèse of Lisieux October 1st, is the feast day of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, more popularly known as St Thérèse of Lisieux, "the Little Flower." Although just an obscure cloistered Carmelite nun, she has achieved universal appeal since her death in 1897. This beloved saint is the patron of foreign missions, missionaries, against tuberculosis, AIDS sufferers, illness and loss of parents. Her perfect trust in God, deep faith and patient suffering is an example for us to follow. Saint Pius X called St. Thérèse the "greatest saint of modern times." Marie Thérèse Martin was born at Alençon, France on January 2, 1873, the youngest of five daughters. Her father, Louis Martin, was a watchmaker, and her mother, Zélie Martin, who died of breast cancer when Thérèse was four, was a lace maker. (On October 18, 2015, Pope Francis canonized

St. Therese of Lisieux. Patroness of Missionaries

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Memorial - October 1st Imagine for a moment that you are in a dimly lit chapel. Candles light the altar as you are engulfed by soft voices praying the Rosary. You promise to focus completely on the prayers. You lift up your heart and… fall asleep. It is just another day in the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux, better known as the “Little Flower.” More than any other saint, Theresa understood and explained the mystery of divine filiation of living as a child of God. She loved the Blessed Virgin Mary but did not enjoy the Rosary. She was a mystic but did enjoy retreats. St. Therese, however, never became upset or discouraged about falling asleep because she was confident that God, like a good parent, loved his children even when they were sleeping. Commenting on the mystery of her vocation St. Therese wrote, “Jesus does not call those who are worthy, but those he wants to call.” For her, this vocation began as a call to Carmel, a cloistered convent, and ultimately led to her b

Why St. Thérèse's 'Little Way' is an Immense Insight

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When a cause of sainthood is opened to determine whether a person is worthy of the approbation "Saint", an exhaustive examination of their lives ensues. Should they be found to have led a life of "heroic virtue" (along with the prerequisite miracle attributed to their intercession) they are thereafter beatified and called "Blessed" (the penultimate step toward canonization). To many, the notion of living a life of heroic virtue seems a daunting if not impossible task. Indeed, we are all called to be saints, or as the Baltimore Catechism succinctly states: Q: Who made you? A: God Q: Why did He make you? A: God made me to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him in this life, so as to live with Him forever in the next. Fortunately, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the 19th century French cloistered Carmelite nun shows us that sainthood is possible for everyone. Six years after entering the cloister, determined to become a saint, Thérèse saw the limita

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, 'The Little Flower' — Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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You ask me a method of attaining perfection. I know of love — and only love. Love can do all things. — St Thérèse of Lisieux October 1st, is the feast day of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, more popularly known as St Thérèse of Lisieux, "the Little Flower." Although just an obscure cloistered Carmelite nun, she has achieved universal appeal since her death in 1897. This beloved saint is the patron of foreign missions, missionaries, against tuberculosis, AIDS sufferers, illness and loss of parents. Her perfect trust in God, deep faith and patient suffering is an example for us to follow. Saint Pius X called St. Thérèse the "greatest saint of modern times." Marie Thérèse Martin was born at Alençon, France on January 2, 1873, the youngest of five daughters. Her father, Louis Martin, was a watchmaker, and her mother, Zélie Martin, who died of breast cancer when Thérèse was four, was a lace maker. (On October 18, 2015, Pope Francis canonized

Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux 2016 | Day 4

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September 25, 2016 Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions… (State your intentions) Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply. Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior. Amen. St. Thérèse of Lisieux Novena Day Four Loving God, You taught St. Therese how to find You through the "little way" of humility and simplicity. Grant that I may never miss the grace hidden in humble service to others. I am humble, Lord.