PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to
listen
Tue 26th Week OT
St. Luke’s Institute
October 1, 2013
ST. THERESE +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Today feast of young Carmelite nun, St. Therese, “Little
Flower”
Ø
So for simplicity of hidden, but happy life
behind the walls of her cloister in Liseux, France
Ø
Thru autobiography & letters, became known
for her “little way” to God
Ø
“Llittle way” was modest approach 2 great task of
cultivating holiness
HER “LITTLE WAY” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
In ordinary interactions w/ family &
community, tried 2 find opportunities 2 to cultivate love
Ø
When tired & cranky father scolded her on
Christmas Eve, she resisted impulse to cry & felt charity enter her soul
Ø
When heard that criminal was 2 B executed,
devoted herself 2 praying he would return 2 God in end & he did
Ø
When she bent over laundry trough in the convent
& nun next 2 her kept splashing w/ dirty water, offered up aggravation in
love 2 Jesus
Ø
Notice the emotion was followed by her response
Ø
But “little way” 4 Therese proved 2B neither
simple nor easy
READY FOR HER “BIG
WAY” +++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Her small attempts 2 live vocation of love in
ordinary exchanges w/ others prepared her 2 love in most difficult
circumstances
Ø
Holy Thur night, 1896, Therese had coughing spell
Ø
When she awoke in morning she was covered w/
blood & knew she’d begun 2 die
Ø
At 1st filled w/ joy at thought of
joining J in heaven, but by Easter, joy gone & never returned
Ø
Said ~ living in a country w/ an impenetrable fog
Ø
But even w/ her vision of G's love obscured, she kept
following her little way
Ø
“While I don’t
have joy of faith, I’m trying 2 carry out its works”
Ø
At the age of 24 she succumbed to TB on Sep 30,
1897
CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
The secret St. Therese has to offer us is…
Ø
Be faithful to love in your little ways and
you’ll have the grace and power to face the biggest of trials
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
