9/20/2019 0 Comments The Story of a SoulThis autobiography has been on my proverbial bookshelf for years (see why here) and I finally dove into it with some lovely ladies from my parish as we met and discussed chapter by chapter over some Panera treats week by week. It was great. It was fun. We were LOVing St. Therese. Then life happened and the bookclub more or less fell apart and it's taken me a couple more months to finish up this masterpiece of our Faith. And I am so happy I did. Maybe you're like me. Maybe you're addicted to buying more books and starting more books but not so much reading them through to the end. Just in case this is you, I've compiled a collection of quotes from the last third of St. Therese's little book to give you the kick in the pants needed to pick it back up and finish it (or maybe just let you feel like you have finished it but if you do read it yourself, I am sure different lines will pop out at you than me so you should FINISH. THE. BOOK). Here we go: I was not like those grand souls who practice all kinds of penances from childhood. My mortification consisted in checking my self-will, keeping back an impatient word, doing little things for those around me without their knowing, and countless things like that. (I cheated... this is halfway through but it might be my favorite) How sweet the way of Love, Mother! One can fall, I know; there may be infidelities, yet Love knows how to turn all things to profit, quickly consuming everything which might displease Jesus, and leaving at the bottom of one's heart nothing but deep and humble peace. Under the Old Law, when God told his people that they must love their neighbor as themselves, it was before He had come upon earth Himself; knowing how much man loved himself, it was the best He could ask. But when Jesus gives his Apostles a New Commandment His Own Commandment, He asks them to love one another, not only as they love themselves, but as He Himself loves them and will love them even unto the consummation of the world! I have not the courage to make myself search for wonderful prayers in books; there are so many of them and it gives me a headache. In any case, each one seems more beautiful than the one before. As I cannot say all of them, and do not know which to choose, I just act like a child who can't read; I tell God quite simply, all that I want to say, and He always understands. Whenever my soul is so dry that I am incapable of a single good thought, I always say an Our Father or a Hail Mary very slowly, and these prayers alone cheer me up and nourish my soul with divine food. My story is nothing but a tangled skein, but it is the best I can do. (gotta love a knitting reference!!!) Just as a mighty river carries with it all it meets into the ocean's depths, so, my Jesus, a soul which plunges into the boundless ocean of Your love bears all her treasures with her. Jesus does not ask for glorious deeds. He only asks for self-surrender and for gratitude. He thirsted for love, and He is more thirsty than ever now. Indifference and ingratitude are all He finds among the world's disciples; even among His own. He finds so few surrendering themselves without reserve to the tenderness of His infinite love. Love proves itself by deeds, and how shall I prove mine? The little child will scatter flowers whose fragrant perfume will surround the royal throne, and in a voice that is silver-toned, she will sing the canticle of love. So, my Beloved, shall my short life be spent in Your sight. I can prove my love only by scattering flowers, that is to say, by never letting slip a single little sacrifice, a single glance, a single word; by making profit of the very smallest actions, by doing them all for love. I want to suffer and even rejoice for love, for this is my way of scattering flowers. If my desires are overly bold, then take them away, because they are my greatest martyrdom. For as long as You wish, I will stay with my eyes fixed on You, longing to be fascinated by Your divine gaze. What were your favorite lines from The Story of a Soul? Have you ever received a rose from St. Therese?
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Let me tell you a little something about St. Therese the Little Flower. I was complaining in the confessional about the state of the "dating world" yeeeeeeeears ago. The priest handed me a prayer card of St. Therese and told me to ask her to send me a husband. After all, she has promised to spend her eternity sending roses down to earth. So I did. A few times. But never with great devotion (to my shame). A few years later, on October 1st, I had a picnic in the rain with handsome guy I had met through CatholicMatch.com. I was the first woman he had ever met up with via the website. It was a good first date even though I clumsily busted my own pinky in his car door. Less than two years later, we were married. It wasn't until marriage year two (or three) that I realized our First date Anniversary is also St. Therese's Feast Day. *cue the goosebumps* GOD IS GOOD. Her novena starts on September 22nd. You can get daily reminders with the prayers via Pray More Novenas and I will also be posting the prayers and a reminder on Instagram daily. Have you received a rose of St. Therese? How can I pray for you during her novena this year? |
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February 2020
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