Saturday, September 30, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 30 - The Day of Her Death

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"In the morning I watched beside her during Mass. She did not utter a word; she was exhausted, and breathing with great difficulty. Her sufferings, so I divined, were altogether inexpressible. At one moment she joined her hands and, regarding the statue of the Blessed Virgin placed so as to face her bed, said:"
'Oh! how fervently I have prayed to her! But it is all pure agony, without any admixture of consolation'.

"Throughout the day she lay there in torment without one moment's respite. All her strength seemed spent, and yet to our great surprise, she was able to move, to sit up in her bed. She said:"
'See, mother, what strength I have today. No, I am not going to die yet. Perhaps months await me yet. I do not believe it is death, but more suffering for me. And tomorrow it will be worse! Ah, well so much the better!'

'Oh, my God...I love him, the good God!...'
'Oh, my good Holy Virgin, come to my aid...'
'If this is the agony, what then will death be like?'

'Oh, my mother, I assure you that the chalice is full to overflowing today...But God is not going to abandon me...He has never abandoned me!'

'Yes, my God do all you will, but have mercy upon me!'
'My little sisters, my little sisters, pray for me!'
'My God, my God, you are so good! Oh, yes, you are so good! I know it.'

"Towards three o'clock in the afternoon she crossed her hands, and the Mother Prioress placed upon her knees a picture of our Lady of Mount Carmel. She regarded it for an instant, and said to Mother Prioress:"
'Oh, my mother, present me very soon to the Blessed Virgin. Prepare me to die well.'
"The Mother Prioress, answering, told her she had always understood and practised humility, and therefore her preparation had been made already. She reflected for a moment, and then humbly pronounced these words:"
'Yes, it seems to me that I have never sought anything but the truth...Yes, I have understood humility of heart.'
"She repeated once more:"
'All that I have written about my desire for suffering, oh! yes, it is quite true!'
"And with firm assurance:"
'I do not repent of having delivered myself up to Love.'

"From that moment it seemed to be no longer herself that suffered. Many a time, as I watched beside her, I thought of martyrs delivered into the hands of the executioners, yet animated by a power divine. She repeated again with a fervor:"
'Oh! no, I do not repent of having delivered myself up to Love; quite the contrary!'

"A little later on she said:"
'I would never have believed it possible to suffer so much! Never! never! I can only explain it by the ardent desire I have to save souls.'

"Then, with anguish:"
'I cannot breathe, I cannot die...'
"But with resignation:"
'I am very willing to suffer more!'

"Later:"
'All my smallest desires have been realized...Then the greatest of all, to die of Love, must be realized also...'

"Toward five o'clock in the evening I was watching alone, when suddenly her face changed; her agony had begun. The Community came in haste to the Infirmary. She greeted all the Sisters with a sweet smile. She held her crucifix firmly in her hands, and kept her eyes fixed upon it. For more than two hours the terrible death rattle tore her chest. Her features were congested, her hands purple, her feet were icy cold, and she trembled in every limb. She death sweat stood out in great drops on her forehead and coursed down her face. The ever-increasing oppression made her utter feeble involuntary cries in her efforts to breathe. Thinking to moisten her parched lips, Sister Genevieve of the Holy Facel placed a small particle of ice upon them. No one could ever forget the look of heavenly sweetness with which our little saint regarded "Celine" at that moment. It was like a sublime encouragement, a supreme adieu."

"At six o'clock the Angelus sounded, and she raised her eyes pleadingly towards the statue of the Blessed Virgin. At a few moments after seven o'clock, thinking that the end was yet some way off, Mother Prioress dismissed the assembled Community. She signed and said:"
'My mother, is it not yet the agony? Am I not yet going to die?'
"Yes, my child, it is the agony; but perhaps the good God wills to prolong it for some hours. She answered courageously:"
'Ah, well!...So be it; so be it!...Oh, I do not wish to suffer less.'
"Then, looking at her crucifix:"
'Oh!...I love him!...My God!...I love thee!'

"Scarcely had she uttered these words when she gently fell back, her head inclined a little to the right. We thought that all was over, and our mother had the Infirmary bell sounded in haste to call the Community. 'Open all the doors,' she exclaimed (there were three doors in the apartment). Those words seemed to have a singularly solemn significance at such a moment, and I thought that in heaven our Lord was repeating the same words to his angels. The sisters came and knelt around the bed, and were witnesses of that last ecstacy. The face of our saint assumed again the lily-like tint which it had possessed when she was in full health; her eyes remained fixed on high, irradiated and expressing such happiness as surpassed all her desires.
She made certain movements with her head, as if at intervals she was divinely wounded by the shafts of love. After that ecstacy, which lasted for the space of a Credo, she closed her eyes and breathed her last sigh. That was twenty minutes past seven o'clock. Our holy little sister preserved in death an ineffable smile and a ravishing beauty. She held her crucifix so firmly that it was by no means easy to detach it from her hands, to prepare her for her burial. Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart and myself fulfilled that office, together with Sister Aimee of Jesus, the venerable Infirmarian, and we remarked then how very young she appeared, so that we should not have thought her more than twelve or thirteen years old. Later, on the contrary, when her body was exposed in the choir, her countenance assumed a very imposing expression. Her members remained quite supple until her entombment on October 4, 1897...Moreover, throughout the course of her sickness our little saint had affirmed that an unclouded sky should mark the moment of her going forth to God. And so it befell, for the day of September 30 had been overcast and rainy, but towards seven o'clock the clouds all dispersed with surprising rapidity, and soon from a perfectly clear sky the stars appeared, scintillating with that brillancy that always follows rain." Excerpted from Novissima Verba and Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Friday, September 29, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 29

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit her every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"From early morning, she appeared to be in her agony; she had a very heavy rattle in her throat and was unable to breathe. The community was summoned and gathered round her bed to recite the prayers of the dying from the manual. At the end of an hour, Mother Prioress dismissed the Sisters."

"At noon, she said to Mother Prioress:"
'Mother, is this the agony?...What must I do to die? Never will I know how to die!'

"I read again several passages from the Office of St. Michael and the prayers for the dying. When I came to the part concerning the demons, she made a childlike gesture as though threatening them, and she exclaimed with a smile:"
'Oh! Oh!' (This was said in a tone which meant: I don't fear them.)

"After the doctor's visit, she said to Mother Prioress; 'Is it today, Mother?' "
"She answered:'Yes, my little child."
"One of us said: 'God is very joyful today.'
'I too!'
'If I were to die right now, what happiness!'

'When shall I be totally suffocated!...I can't stand any more! Ah! Pray for me! Jesus! Mary!...Yes, I will it, I really will it...'

"Sister Marie of the Trinity came to see her; after a few minutes, Therese told her very gently to leave. When she had gone, I said: 'Poor little thing! She loves you so much.'"
'Was I wrong in sending her away?'
"Her face took on an expression of sorrow, but I quickly reassured her."

"Six o'clock. Some kind of insect got in her sleeve, and we tried to get it out."
'Leave it alone; it doesn't matter.'
"I said: 'But you might get stung by it.'"
'No, leave it alone, leave it alone; I assure you, I know these little beasts.'

"I had a violent headache and I was closing my eyes in spite of myself when looking at her."
'Go to bed...I, too!'
"But she couldn't sleep, and she said to me:"
'O Mother, what harm this does to the nerves!'

"During the evening recreation:"
'Ah! if you only knew!'
(If you only knew what I was suffering.)

'I'd like to smile at you all the time, and I turn my back on you. Does this cause you any pain?'
(This was during the silence.)

"After Matins, when Mother Prioress came to see her, her hands were joined, and she said in a gentle and resigned tone of voice:"
'Yes, my God, yes, my God, I want it all!'
"Mother said: 'It's terrible, then, what you are suffering.'"
'No, Mother, not terrible, but much, much...just what I can bear.'
"She asked to remain alone throughout the night, but Mother Prioress didn't want this. Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart and Sister Genevieve shared this great consolation. I remained in the cell, close to the infirmary." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come froim joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 28

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

'Mamma!...earth's air is denied to me, when will God grant me the air of heaven?...'
'Ah! never was it this short!...' (her breathing)

"I said: 'My poor little child, you're like the martyrs in the amphitheatre; we can no longer do anything for you!"
'Oh! you can; nothing but seeing you does me a lot of good.'
"All through the afternoon, she smiled at us; she listened attentively when I read her these passages of the Office of St. Michael, the Archangel: 'The Archangel Michael came with a multitude of angels. It is to him that God has entrusted the care of the souls of His saints in order to bring them to the joys of heaven. He said: 'Archangel Michael, I have placed you as prince over all the souls that are to be received....' "
"She made a sign to me with her hand extended towards me, then she placed it on her heart; this meant that I was in her heart." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 27

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit her every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Between two and three o'clock, we asked her if she wanted something to drink; she asked for some Lourdes water, saying:"
'Until three o'clock, I prefer Lourdes water; it's more devotional.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

"One of the novices came for a few moments to the Infirmary. Seeing her there so calm and strong in the midst of such suffering, the novice exclaimed: 'You are an angel of sweetness and patience!'"
'Oh! no, I am not an angel...The angels cannot suffer; they are not so happy as I am.' Excerpted from Novissima Verba

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 26

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a pasage from one of her writings.

"She no longer had any strength:"
'Oh! how crushed I am!'
"Looking out the window at a dead leaf, detached from the tree and suspended in the air by a light thread:"
'See, it's a picture of myself; my life hangs only on a light thread.'
"After her death, in the evening of September 30, the leaf, which until then was still swinging in the wind, fell to the ground. I picked it up along with the spider's web which was still attached to it. " Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining out sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Story of A Soul - The Book That Started It All


Story of A Soul- The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux is the book that started St. Therese's 'shower of roses'. Originally written at the request of her sister Pauline who was Mother Prioress Agnes at her carmelite convent, the manuscript was circulated to other carmelite monasteries according to tradition after the death of a nun. It was copied and circulated outside monastery walls and the world was given a huge gift. The book and many other carmelite titles are available for sale on my website The Little Way. Her Last Conversations, from which we are quoting during September with St. Therese, is also available for sale. I would encourage you to visit the web store for all things carmelite. If you like what you see I would appreciate your referring your friends and family. God bless you for your support. +JMJT

September with St. Therese - September 24

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"For the anniversary of her reception of the Veil, I had a Mass offered for her:"
'Thanks for the Mass!'
"When I saw her suffering so much, I answered sadly:'Ah! you see, you haaven't received any relief!"
'It was to obtain relief for me that you received permission for the Mass?'
"I answered: 'It was for your good."
'My good, then, is to suffer, no doubt...'

"She had a visit from Doctor de Cornire, who was more edified than ever. He said to Mother Prioress: 'She's an ange! She has the face of an angel; her face hasn't changed, in spite of her great sufferings. I've never seen that in others before. With her general state of getting thinner, it's supernatural."

'Soon I shall speak only the language of angels.'

"You will go to heaven among the Seraphim."
'Ah!, but if I go among the Seraphim, I shall not do as they do! All of them cover themselves with their wings before God; I will be very careful not to cover myself with my wings.'

"You don't have any intuition about the day of your death?"
'Ah! Mother, intuitions! If you only knew the poverty I'm in! I know nothing except what you know; I understand nothing except through what I see and feel. But my soul, in spite of this darkness, is in an astonishing place.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

September with St. Therese - September 25

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit her every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a pasage from one of her writings.

"I had told her what was said in recreation regarding Father Youf (the Chaplain), who had a great fear of death. The Sisters were speaking about the responsibility of those who were in charge of souls and those who lived a long life."
'As far as little ones are concerned, they will be judged with great gentleness. And one can remain little, even in the most formidable offices, even when living for a long time. If I were to die at the age of eighty, if I were in China, anywhere, I would still die, I feel, as little as I am today. And it is written: ''At the end, the Lord will rise up to save the gentle and the humble of the earth." It doesn't say "to judge" but "to save".'

"She had said to me on one of those last days of suffering:"
'O Mother, it's very easy to write beautiful things about suffering, but writing is nothing, nothing! One must suffer in order to know!'
"I had retained a painful impression from this statement of hers, when that same day, appearing to remember what she had told me, she looked at me in a very special and solemn way, and pronounced these words:"
'I really feel now that what I've said and written is true about everything...It's true that I wanted to suffer much for God's sake, and it's true that I still desire this.'

"Someone said: 'Ah! it's frightful what you're suffering.'"
'No, it isn't frightful. A little victim of love cannot find frightful what her Spouse send her through love.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 23

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

'Oh! how much I owe you!...Also, how I love you!...but I don't want ot talk about it anymore because I would cry...'
"(It caused her great pain when she cried.)"

"Tomorrow is the anniversary of your reception of the Veil, and it will undoubtedly be the day of your death," I said:
'I don't know when; I expect it always, but I do know it won't be very long from now.'

"She often smiled at us, but sometimes we didn't notice it, and she said:"
'Very often I give beautiful smiles that are lost on 'Bonbonne' and the others.'

"In the evening we heard the cooing of a bird at the closed window, and we asked what this could mean. One said: "It's a turtledove," another: "It's probably a bird of prey."
'Well, it it's a bird of prey, so much the better! Birds of prey come to eat the flesh of the martyrs.'

"With reference to an unimportant confidence a Sister had made to her, when she was asked about it:"
'If the Sisters forbid it, it's a secred trust...Even when this is for the least thing, we must not tell it.'

"After a very long silence, when gazing upon Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart and myself, who were alone with her:"
'Little sisters, it's you who raised me!...'
"And her eyes filled with tears." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Friday, September 22, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 22

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"After having recalled several circumstances of her religious life in which she had been terribly humiliated, I added: "Oh! how many times I felt sorry for you!'"
'It wasn't necessary, I assure you, to be so sorry for me. If you only knew how I floated above all those things! I was going along strengthened by humiliations; there was no one as brave as I in the line of fire.'

"She wanted to talk to me but was unable to do so:"
'Ah! how hard it is to be in such a state of weakness! With you! It was so nice when I could talk to you! This is what is the most difficult to take.'

"I was saying when looking at the picture of Theophane Venard: There he is hat in hand, and to top it all, he doesn't come to get you!"
"With a smile she said:"
'I myself don't make fun of the saints...I love them so much!...They want to see..."
"What? I asked, "If you're going to lose patience?" With a mischievous but grave look, she said:"
'Yes...But especially if I'm going to lose confidence...and how far I'm going to push my confidence....'

"She called Sister Genevieve her 'bonbonne', Sister Marie of the Trinity, her 'doll', and she did this simply to distract us, and not because of any dissipation or childishness on her part. We began going too far in this matter, and she said:"
'We should not call ourselves by all sorts of names. After all, it isn't being religious!'

"Time must seem long to you."
'No, time doesn't seem long; it seems like yesterday that I was following community acts, writing my copybook.' (her Life)

"What a terrible sickness and how much you're suffering!"
'Yes! What a grace it is to have faith! If I had not had any faith, I would have committed suicide without an instant's hesitation...' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 21


Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"I'd just emptied her spittoon without saying a word, and I set it near her, thinking within myself: I'd be happy if she told me that she'd reward me in heaven for this. And instantly, turning to me, she said:"
'In Heaven, I'll reward you for that.'

"Sister Genevieve said:'And when I think she's about to die!'"
'Ah! lady, yes; at last, I believe it!'

"I said: 'To say that she'll not have any little Therese to love!'"
'He calls me his little Therese!'
"Who?"
'Father Belliere!'
"He had just written her and I wanted to read his letter to her, believing she would be pleased when finding this passage again, but she was too tired and she said:"
'Oh! no, enough! I'm tired of little Therese!'
"Then turning to me with a smile:"
'Not tired of little Pauline too! Oh! no!'

"I was going to do the washing, having two turns to make up."
'Very hard for me, oh yes!'

"Sister Genevieve was asking for a pencil; I needed mine also, but I lent it to her just the same. Therese said in a low distinct tone:"
'That's nice.'

'Ah, what is the agony? It seems to me I'm in it all the time!'

"When drying her eyes, a few eyelashes were detached from her eyelids:
'Take these lashes, Sister Genevieve, for we must give as little as possible to the earth.' (a la terre)
"(She was making a pun here upon the name of Pete Alaterre, a workman, and brother of Sister St. Vincent de Paul.)"
'Poor man, if this give him any pleasure!'
"It was in this way that she was always cheerful in spite of her great sufferings of both body and soul." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 20

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Doctor de Corniere paid her a visit, and he told us that she still had to suffer a real martyrdom. When leaving, he remarked on her heroic patience, and I told her this:
'How can he say that I'm patient! It's not true! I never stop moaning and groaning: I'm crying all the time. Oh! la la!! And: My God, I can't stand it anymore! Have pity on me!'

"We changed her tunic in the afternoon and were struck by her extreme thinness because her face hadn't changed. I went to ask Mother Prioress to come and see her back. Mother was long in coming, and I had to admire the gentle and patient way in which Therese awaited her arrival. Mother was painfully surprised and said kindly: "What is this little girl who is so thin!"
'A skeleton!' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 19

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"We had brought her a bouquet of dahlias from outside; she gazed at them with pleasure, running her fingers ever so gently through the petals!
After Father Denis' First Mass, she asked to see his chalice, and because she was looking for a long time at the bottom of the cup, someone asked: "Why are you looking so intently at the bottom of the chalice?"
'Because my reflection is there; when I was Sacristan, I used to love doing this. I was happy to say to myself: My features are reflected in the place where the Blood of Jesus rested and where it will descend again.
How many times, too, have I thought that at Rome, my face was reproduced in the eyes of the Holy Father.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 17

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

'When we are around the sick, we must be very cheerful.'
"She said this because we were telling her our troubles."
'After all, we mustn't lament like those who have no hope.'
"Then with a mischievous look:"
'You'll end up by making me regret life.'
"We said: 'It would be hard for us to do that!'"
'That's true! I said it only to scare you a little.'

"When speaking to me about her childhood, she said we had given her a little basket and it made her cry with joy:"
'And now I desire nothing upon this earth!'
"She quickly changed her mind, saying:"
'Yes, I still desire something, and it's heaven!' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 16

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"To me alone in answer to some questions I'd asked:"
'What draws down God's lights and helps us when we are guiding and consoling souls is not the telling of our own troubles in order to receive consolation; besides, this is not a real consolation, it excites us rather than calms us down.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Friday, September 15, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 15

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"I said: 'Today's great sufferings will appear to you as very small when you are in heaven.'"
'Oh! even on earth, I find them already very small.'

"In the evening, during recreation:"
'Just now when Sister Genevieve said to Sister Martha, who asked how I was: 'She is very tired!' I was thinking: That's really true, I am! Yes, I'm like a tired and harassed traveller, who reaches the end of his journey and falls over. Yes, but I'll be falling into God's arms!'

"Mother Prioress told me that I have nothing to do in order to prepare for death because I was prepared in advance." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your litle way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 14

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit her every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Someone brought her a rose; she unpetalled it over her Crucifix with much piety and love, taking each petal and touching it to the wounds of Our Lord.
'In the month of September, little Therese is still unpetalling 'the springtime rose.''
'When unpetalling for You the springtime rose,
I would love to dry Your tears!'
"When the petals were slipping off her bed onto the floor, she said quite seriously.
'Gather up these petals, little sisters, they will help you to perform favors later on...Don't lose one of them.'

'Ah! now...
I have the hope that my exile will be short!'

"Doctor La Neele had told her that she wouldn't have any agony, and when she still suffered more and more:
'And yet they told me that I wouldn't have any agony!....But, after all, I do want to have one.'
"I asked: 'If you were made to choose one or the other, which would you choose?'
'I would choose nothing!' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 13

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"She was much sicker and her feet were swollen since the evening before. We could not make the least movement around her, such as moving the bed slightly or touching her because it caused her much suffering, so great was her weakness. We were not aware of this at first, and both Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart and I took he pulse for a long period of time. She didn't show any sign of fatigue at first in order not to cause us any anguish, but finally, not being able to stand any more pain, she began to cry. And when we arranged her pillows and her bed cushion, she groaned, saying in a gentle tone of voice:
'I would like...I would like...'
"What would you like? I asked:"
'To cause my sisters no more pain; and in order to do this, that I go very quickly.'
"At this moment, she was looking at Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, and gave her a ravishing smile; it was Marie especially to whom she feared causing any sorrow.
Since we had not succeeded in arranging her bed cushion properly, for we dared not move her too much, she said gently, while supporting herself on her hands and attempting to do it herself:"
'Wait, I'll push myself to the end of the bed, making movements like a little grasshopper.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

"Someone brought her some violets.
'Ah, the perfume of violets!...'
"Then she made me a sign wishing to know if she could breathe their perfume without immortification." Excerpted from Novissima Verba.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 12

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"It was the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. She asked me to read her the Sunday Gospel. I didn't have the missal and told her simply:
"It's the Gospel where Our Lord warns us against serving two masters. " then, imitating the voice of a little child reciting her lesson, she said it from memory from beginning to end. Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Monday, September 11, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 11

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Little Mother will be the last to die; we'll come looking for her with Theophane Venard, when she will have finished working for me...Unless little souls need her."

"I love you very much, but very much!"
"When I hear the door open, I always believe it's you; and when you don't come, I'm very sad.
"Give me a kiss, a kiss that makes noise; so that the lips go 'smack!'"
"Only in heaven will you know what you mean to me...For me you're a lyre, a song...much more than a music box; even when you say nothing."

"She had made two crowns for the statue of the Blessed Virgin: these were made out of cornflowers, one to placed at her feet, the other in her hands. I said:"You no doubt think she will give you the one in her hands.:
"Oh! no, It's as she herself wishes; what I give to her is only for her pleasure."

"I'm afraid I've feared death, but I won't fear it after it takes place; I'm sure of this! And I'm not sorry for having lived; oh! no. It's only when I ask myself; What is this mysterious separation of the soul from the body? It's my first experience of this, but I abandon myself to God."

"Will you hand me my Crucifix so that I can kiss it after the Act of Contrition, in order to gain the plenary indulgence for the osuls in purgatory; I can give them no more than that!
"Give me the holy water now; and bring close to me the relics of Blessed Anne of Jesus and Theophane Venard; I want to kiss them."
"Afterwards she made a little sign of affection to her picture of the Virgin Mother, first to the Child Jesus, then to the Blessed Virgin. She wasn't able to fall asleep and she told me:
"I know this, It's the devil's malice; he is furious because I didn't forget my devotions. When, for one reason or another, I don't perform them, I fall asleep and awaken a few minutes after midnight. It's as though he were making fun of me because I missed out on my plenary indulgence."

"Should I fear the devil? It seems I should not, for I am doing everything out of obedience."

"Oh! no, I don't have any desire to see God here on earth. And yet I love him! I also love the Blessed Virgin very much, and the saints, and I don't desire to see them." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 10

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"At Dr. de Cornier's consultation, the doctor seemed puzzled by her state.
"Well, now, are you content?" I asked after the doctor left"
"Yes, but I'm a little accustomed to it; they say and then they retract!"

"In the evening, when we were arranging her pillows, she leaned her head on me, looking at me tenderly. This reminded me of the Infant Jesus' look at the Blessed Virgin when He was listening to the angel's music in the picture where Therese said of the Blessed Virgin:
"This is Pauline." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

September with St. Therese - September 9

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Ah, I know well what it is to suffer!" Excerpted from Novissima Verba.

"The little music box had been wound too tightly and appeared to be broken. Auguste repaired it, but since then it missed (for one tune) the most beautiful note. I was rather disappointed, and I asked her if she was, too:
"Oh! not at all! But I am simply because you are." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Friday, September 08, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 8

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"A little robin came and landed on her bed.
Leonie sent her the little music box we have preserved, and the tunes were so sweet, even though profane, that she listened to them with pleasure.
Finally, someone brought her a sheaf of wild flowers for the anniversary of her Profession. Seeing herself so loaded with gifts, she cried with gratitude and said:
'It's all God's tenderness towards me; exteriorly, I'm loaded with gifts; interiorly, I'm always in my trial (of faith)...but also in peace.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 7

"Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"She had not said a word about her day, and I was thinking in the afternoon: Today I'll have nothing to write.
'But almost immediately she said;
"Ah! there isn't a soul like..."
'After this, she began to shed huge tears for fear that she had caused me trouble in a circumstance about which I wasn't even aware." Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 6


Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It 's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Say a few sweet words to me after what happened yesterday."
"I said, 'Ah! What could I say to console you, poor little one? I'm quite powerless."
"I don't need any consolation."

"In the afternoon, she cried with joy when someone brought her a relic of Blessed Theophane Venard.
With great tenderness, she offered me a little daisy for my anniversary.
She was very demonstrative, all through the afternoon, in her affection for us, and was attractive in all sorts of ways. I said: 'I've noticed that whenever you are able, you return to the way you were formerly.'
'Ah! That's very true! Yes, whenever I can, I do my very best to be cheerful in order to please you.'

"She was waiting for Father Youf to hear her confession; he was unable to come and this was a real disappointment. But immediately, she took on her beautiful peaceful expression."

"Someone brought her some nourishment because her stomach was very much improved:
'Alas! Where am I in this sickness? Now I am eating!' " Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 5

Welcome to our series trcing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"You're not sorry, then, to leave 'Mamma?" ' I asked:
'No!...If there was no eternal life, oh, yes!...but there is one perhaps...and it's even certain!'

"If someone told you that you would die suddenly, at this instant, would you be afraid?"
'...Ah! what happiness! I would love to go!'
"Then you prefer dying to living?"
'No, not at all. If I were cured, the doctors would look at me in amazement, and I would say to them: 'Sirs, I am very happy to be cured to serve God still on earth, since it is His will. I suffered as if I had to die; I will begin this another time.'

"Pointing to her glass of reddened water, with a nice little gesture, she said cheerfully:
'Something to drink, little Mother, if you please. There is ice in it, that's good!'
"After drinking:
'I drank without thirst! I'm a little 'drinker without thirst.'
"I was telling her she suffered less during the silence;
'Oh! just the opposite! I suffered very much! But it's to the Blessed Virgin that I complained.'

"A visit from Dr. La Neele, who after having told her after his last consultation that she was close to death, that she could die suddenly turning in her bed, now said: "You're like a ship that neither advances nor goes back," Surprised, she said:
'You heard, you see how it changes! But I don't want to change, I want to continue abandoning myself entirely to God.' Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Monday, September 04, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 4

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Some said that Sister St. Stanislaus called her an angel because of the smiles and signs of affection Therese showed her for the least service:
'It's in this way that I've taken God in, and it's because of this that I'll be so well received by Him at the hour of my death.'

"I'm very happy that meat disgusts me because then I find no pleasure in it."
"(They were serving her a little meat.)"

"At the moment when I was leaving the infirmary to go to the refectory:
'I love you!'

"When the Angelus was ringing:
'Must I extend my little hands?'
'I answered: 'No, you're even too weak to recite the Angelus. Call upon the Blessed Virgin by simply saying: 'Virgin Mary!' 'She said:
'Virgin Mary, I love you with all my heart.'
'Sister Genevieve said: 'Tell her that you love her for me, too.'
Then she added in a whisper:
'For Mlle. Lili, for Mamma, for godmother, for Leonie, for little Marie, Uncle, Aunt, Jeanne, Francis, Maurice, little Roulland and all whom I love.'

"She had a desire for a certain type of food, a very simple one, and one of us told our Uncle about it:
'It's very strange that we make this known in the world! Well, I offered it up to God.'
'I told her that it wasn't my fault, for in fact I had forbidden it. She replied by taking the little plate:
'Ah! it's offered up to God. It no longer matters. Let them think what they want!'

"During Matins:
'Little Mother, oh! how I love you!'
With a pretty smile, trying to speak:
'Let's say something, just the same; let's say...If you only knew how the thought of going soon to heaven leaves me calm. However, I'm very happy, but I can't say that I (am) experiencing a living joy and transports of happiness, no!'

"I asked: 'You prefer to die rather than to live?'
'O little Mother, I don't love one thing more than another; I could not say like our holy Mother St. Teresa: 'I die because I cannot die.' What God prefers and chooses for me, that is what pleases me more.' All excepted from Her Last Conversations.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

September with St. Therese - September 3

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"I was standing in front of the fireplace, busied about my housework, and I was disturbed about something that wasn't going the way I wanted. She said:
"Bobonne, no restlessness of spirit!"

"That same day, but not in the same circumstances, I said: 'Creatures will not to able to know that we loved each other so much.' She answered;
"It's not worth desiring that creatures believe it; the important thing is that it's so.'
Taking on a tone of assurance;
'Yes, but since both of us will be on God's two knees!' She had a delightful way of saying this 'Yes, but!' " Excerpted from Her Last Conversations (with Celine).

"I said: 'When I think we are taking care of a little saint!'
'Well, so much the better! However, I would want God to say it.'" Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

"I told her what I had heard recounted of the triumphal reception given by France to the Czar of Russia.
'Ah! I am not dazzled by all that! ...Talk to me of God, of the examples of the saints, and of all that which is the truth...' " Excerpted from Novissima Verba.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

September with St. Therese - September 2

Welcome to our series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. It's called September with St. Therese and I hope you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings.

"Surely you will die on a feast day," I said.
"It will be a beautiful enough feast day in itself! I have never had any desire to die on a feast day."

"I shall go; I shall go very soon; if you only knew how quickly I will make my journey."

"Oh! yes, I desire heaven! 'Tear the veil of this sweet encounter, Oh My God."
Excerpted from Her Last Conversations.

"When one accepts with sweetness the humiliation of having fallen into some imperfection, the grace of God returns at once..." Excerpted from Novissima Verba.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.

Friday, September 01, 2006

September with St.Therese - September 1

Today we are starting a new blog series tracing the last month of St. Therese's life on this earth which was September 1897. I'm calling it September with St. Therese and I hope that you will visit here every day for an inspirational message about our dear little saint.

We will bring you excerpts from Her Last Conversations and Novissima Verba which follow her struggle the last few months of her life. On days for which there are no specific quotes, I will select a passage from one of her writings, such as for today's date for which there is no specific entry.

"Until two days before her death she wished to be alone at night, however, nothwithstanding entreaties, the Infirmarian used to rise several times to visit her. On one occasion she found our little invalid with hands clasped and eyes raised to heaven.

'But what are you doing?' she asked; 'you should try to sleep.'

'I cannot, dear Sister, I suffer too much! then I pray...'

'And what do say to Jesus?'

'I say nothing, I love him!' "...taken from Thoughts of Soeur Therese of the Child Jesus.

St. Therese, open our hearts to accept the sufferings that Jesus sends us. Teach us your little way and help us to see the graces that can come from joining our sufferings to the passion of Jesus.