St. Therese and her Little Way

Another beautiful post from Rose Costa: 

St. Thérèse and her Little Way Rev. John F. Russell, O.Carm. Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. 07079 What is the meaning of “the little way” of St Therese? It is an image that tries to capture her understanding of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, of seeking holiness of life in the ordinary and the everyday. St Therese based “her little way” on two fundamental convictions: (1) God shows love by mercy and forgiveness, and (2) she could not be “perfect” in following the Lord. St Therese believed that the people of her time lived in too great a fear of God's judgment. The fear was stifling and did not allow people to experience the freedom of the children of God. St Therese knew from her life that God is merciful love; many scripture passages in the Old and New Testaments bore out that truth. She loved the maternal images for God in the Old Testament and the love of God for us in Jesus Christ. In fact, St Therese once wrote that she could not understand how anyone could be afraid of a God who became a child. She also knew that she would never be perfect. Therefore, she went to God as a child approaches a parent . . . with open arms and a profound trust. St Therese translated “the little way” in terms of a commitment to the tasks and to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel; she served in the refectory and in the laundry room; she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. Above all, she tried to show a love for all the nuns in the community. She played no favourites; she gave of herself even to the difficult members. Her life sounds so routine and ordinary, but it was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no breakdown. It is called a “little way” precisely by being simple, direct, yet calling for amazing fortitude and commitment. In living out her life of faith she sensed that everything that she was able to accomplish came from the generous love of God in her life. She was convinced that at the end of her life she would go to God with empty hands. Why? Because all was accomplished in union with God. Catholics and other Christians have been attracted to St Therese's style. Her “little way” seems to put holiness of life within the reach of ordinary people. Live out your days with confidence in God's love for you. Recognize that each day is a gift in which your life can make a difference by the way you choose to live it. Put hope in a future in which God will be all and love will consume your spirit. Choose life, not the darkness of pettiness and greed. St Therese knew the difference love makes by allowing love to be the statement she made each day of her life.

Another Fiat Every Day

believed to be house of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Ephesus (wikipedia)

Here is a quick response to my first post from my beautiful friend, Rose. Thanks be to God for the wisdom she shares with us:

Many times we feel helpless when we see souls bent on living for pleasure alone and still find at the end they can never feel satisfied--always looking for a new pleasure or goal to achieve in their need to give their lives meaning . They want to do something great or important or be admired for who they are, etc. *Yet Mary who is "the single boast of the human race" is Queen of heaven now, and what did she do that was so important ? Feed one baby, change the diapers, clean house, cook meals, and be a good neighbor even to those who thought of her as just another simple, domestic woman. Sometimes doing the simple, ordinary things in life, or the most monotonous things to do, is the hardest and greatest sacrifice a person could give to God to help Him save precious souls from damnation . When you have a special child, who is pure innocence and a victim soul of suffering through no fault of their own, and you watch them not grow normal like other children, it becomes like another Fiat every day at the foot of your hidden daily cross . AWWW but if you join it to Mary's and give it to Jesus at the foot of "THE CROSS" ( at Mass) it all becomes One in God's eyes. Your heart breaking, sufferings become Joy because Jesus takes your offering, which Mary joins to hers also, and with His Pure and Perfect Sacrifice, turns it to a Greater Good to save more souls. 

There is no True Love without sacrifice, so when you embrace yours in full knowledge of it's value, for love of neighbor and Jesus, you become another Mary hidden in the simple, mundane treasure of ordinary chores "Duty a part of Redemptive suffering ...a white martyrdom" even ...you and your special child are partners in "The Plan" of Our Lord and Savior, and because you choose to help Him in that mission Mary will always appeal to His grace to make you strong and totally able to say and love the Holy WILL of God, while still open to the fact that, if He wants to, He can cure your little one if it be the "better thing" for you & your child....God many times wants to give His special friends Greater Eternal things, or Miracles... when you are willing to drink the cup of His Wise and All Knowing LOVE for you . Here, after all things will become clear, TRUST and know He will Never Abandon you.Never. My daughter, too, who was only supposed to live a year, is 36 yrs. old now, and she is helping to save me, and we are both helping Jesus to Save her family, as well as and especially those who are handy capped "Spiritually" ... a much, much more serious sickness !

Love to you Cami, From Rose and my little Teresa Avila, a child like your Sophia. (We are truly blessed to have our "Burdens of Love".