Good Morning Ladies! God has granted me the wonderful privilege of re-reading The Story of a Soul, the Autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux. I thought I would just skim through it, picking out passages I had highlighted years ago when I first read the book; only to find out years ago when I first read the book I did not highlight or take any notes. Blessed be God because now instead of skimming through, I am re-reading along with you all!
Sixteen years ago I went to our parish priest for spiritual direction, my very first. He inquired about my patron saint. Now, being a convert, as a child, in the 80′s…yeah, no patron saint for me. As a matter of fact, when we were confirmed, we didn’t even choose a saints name! But that is all beside the point…
Father recommended I read Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux 
I understood that if all the
lowly flowers wished to be roses, nature would lose its springtide
beauty, and the fields would no longer be enamelled with lovely
hues. And so it is in the world of souls, Our Lord’s living
garden. He has been pleased to create great Saints who may be
compared to the lily and the rose, but He has also created lesser
ones, who must be content to be daisies or simple violets
flowering at His Feet, and whose mission it is to gladden His
Divine Eyes when He deigns to look down on them. And the more
gladly they do His Will the greater is their perfection.
–St Therese the Little Flower
Speaking of the ‘Little Way’…I love how St Therese makes so many references to flowers. I can see flowers. I can touch flowers, smell flowers and even grow flowers. These are something I can physically know. So from the very beginning of her writing, she makes it–the spiritual life–accessible. I think most of us can easily shake our head as we read the above quote because we are visually picturing her writing. What a gift she gave to us; to be able to see her words. I can see the roses or daisies and violets and fields of flowers and know exactly what St Therese is talking about.
If a little flower could speak, it seems to me that it would tell
us quite simply all that God has done for it, without hiding any
of its gifts.
–St Therese the Little Flower
My sisters, that is our aim. That sums up our theme for this month of January…to tell all that God has done for us without hiding any of our gifts…because they all belong to Him.
?How do we proclaim the goodness of God without sounding like we are bragging?
?Does that make you uncomfortable to praise God openly for blessing you abundantly in the presence of one who appears to be still waiting for that answered prayer?
Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
†Ephesians 4:25
Pop in the comments below and let me know if you’re reading along. Also, who would like to lead the discussion next week? Email me using the icon over there to the right and let me know.
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I have read some of it a while back but St.Therese is one of my favorite saints. I need to work on being more open with people away from God and also to use those “little ways” more with my husband, who sometimes takes the brunt of my grumpies.
Though I am not reading along, I have read this autobiography and love her thoughts and views. There are many times that her book would help my husband more than me sometimes because he feels he is never able to hold up to what he considers his wife’s “saintly ways”. The little things he does for God and for Christ’s Church are just as powerful and great as what little things I do.
Nikita recently posted..Dinner Recipes: Brats and Kraut Strudel with German Potato Salad
Interesting Nikita. I wonder how often our husbands feel that way? Thanks be to God that you recognize, so early in your marriage, his love for God and Holy Mother Church.
Jenny recently posted..Book Club::Story of a Soul
Haven’t picked this up in a while but have read it many times. I love the fact that Therese even said that if all she had was nothing to offer God, she would still offer that. Our poverty…nakedness of spirit…our emptiness…this is a pleasing offering to God.
I think I need to praise God more~honestly. I do it easily when I am within my spiritual friendships but find it harder with family or people who are away from God. I will have to reflect on that.
Theresa recently posted..Epiphany…of every moment {revisited}
Theresa, ‘Praising God more honestly’ that’s something Id definitely like to improve on.
And, Jenny, both of your questions have me thinking +
Caroline recently posted..A Surprisingly Good Read
I agree Theresa. It seems so natural and easy to speak of God and His truths around spiritual friendships. Now to translate those same conversations to those other encounters we may have.
Jenny recently posted..Book Club::Story of a Soul
TOTALLY reading along. It’s been too long since I’ve read this.
Emily recently posted..For the musicians among us…
Yeah Emily! I agree about being too long. It’s not one I just walk by and grab when I need something to read.
Jenny recently posted..Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
I started reading this book from the library and then I had to return it because it was due back….i need to get it back now. lol. I used to feel like I was being pretentious talking about God’s goodness in front of those who are suffering in some way. Now, I find myself as I get a little older more comfortable just being me. I find the words prayer, Lord, forgive, and worship are showing up more on my facebook with more ease from me… I know that sounds funny. Praising God more openly has opened doors for people to ‘see’ my faith, ask questions or just accept me as I am. I don’t worry about it anymore. COmes with maturity i think. I love Therese’s little way. She saw God in the small. She was so childlike because essentially she was still a child. How innocent. We all need to be like this with our Lord. He doesn’t care for big words. Just that we love him and others through our ‘little way’. I more often tell people now that I am praying for them and God is with them then I used to. I will continue to read this book! I love the memorization verse for this month. I just keep it close to my heart and I have shared it with others.
Samantha, I linked to a free online version. I know it may be harder to read that way though.
Yes, maturity. I see this in my self. I also think it is a comfortableness we eventually have in our self and our relationship with God.
I am so happy to hear you are enjoying the memory verse! I took a great deal of time trying to pick what I thought would be a good fit for each month and all of us here.
Jenny recently posted..January Memorization Helps
I forgot about the audio! (short memory) I can try listening to a little with my morn coffee.
thanks!