Next Book: The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux

Continuing along the lines of prayer and devotion to God and others that I referred to last week in Mother Teresa, I plan to go through the classic, The Little Way of Saint Therese of Lisieux, as our next book. I'll begin this in May. The edition I'm using is this one: (http://www.amazon.com/The-Little-Saint-Therese-Lisieux/dp/0764801996/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365603740&sr=8-1&keywords=the+little+way+of+saint+therese+of+lisieux)

Some years ago my dad gave me a quote from Mother Teresa that had struck him, and it has always stayed with me: "We do no great things; we do small things with great love." I have since come to realize that Mother Teresa was strongly influenced by Therese of Lisieux who said something along these lines: "I strive, not to do big things for God, but to do everything as an act of love for God."

The following is a brief biography of Therese (http://www.littleflower.org/abouttherese/learn/LifeStory.asp) who lived to be only 24 years old and lived her short life hidden away in a convent; yet she powerfully influenced many well-known and little known people over the years since her death: 

"Therese Martin was the last of nine children born to Louis and Zelie Martin on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France... 

"At the age of 14, on Christmas Eve in 1886, Therese had a conversion that transformed her life. From then on, her powerful energy and sensitive spirit were turned toward love, instead of keeping herself happy. At 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Living a hidden, simple life of prayer, she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in His merciful love. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: 'My God, I love You!'

"The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, "Story of a Soul". She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love." Therese lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She believed that just as a child becomes enamored with what is before her, we should also have a childlike focus and totally attentive love. Therese's spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love.

"Her inspiration and powerful presence from heaven touched many people very quickly...'My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death,' she said. 'I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.' Roses have been described and experienced as Saint Therese's signature. Countless millions have been touched by her intercession and imitate her 'little way.' She has been acclaimed 'the greatest saint of modern times.'" 

In the weeks left in April, I will share little thoughts about Therese and quotes by her. I think we'll discover how she practiced loving God and others in the most down-to-earth ways that are within the reach of all of us!