St. Therese Speaks to Us - Self Abandonment

"I had offered myself to the Child Jesus to be His little plaything. I had told Him not to use me like a costly toy which children are pleased to look at without daring to touch; but as He would a little ball of no value, that He might throw to the ground, toss about, pierce, leave in a corner, or else press to His Heart if so it pleased Him. In a word I wanted to amuse the little Jesus, and to give myself up to all his childlike fancies. Excerpted from Story of A Soul

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to remember to always approach Jesus as a little child.

This photo of St. Therese age 8 and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Hope

"In Heaven the good God will do all I wish, because I have never done my own will upon earth." Excerpted from Counsels and Reminiscences

"Even now I know it; yes, all my hopes will be fulfilled...yes...the Lord will work wonders for me which will surpass my immeasurable desires." Excerpted from VIII Letter to Mere Agnes de Jesus (her sister Pauline)

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to remember to ask for your help from Heaven.

This photo of St. Therese in death and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Suffering

"Suffering has held out its arms to me from my very entrance into Carmel and lovingly have I embraced it. My intention in coming here, I declared in the solemn examination which preceded my profession: I am come in order to save souls, and especially to pray for Priests. When we want to attain an end we must employ the means, and Jesus having made me understand that He would give me souls by means of the cross, the more crosses I met with the more my attraction to suffering increased. During five years this way was mine; but I alone knew it. Here was just the hidden flower that I wanted to offer to Jesus, this flower which exhaled its fragrance for Heaven alone." Excerpted from Story of A Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see that our sufferings can be redemptive.

This last photo of St. Therese and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Prayer

A novice was grieving about her numerous distractions during prayer: "I too, have many," replied Soeur Therese de l'Enfant Jesus, "but I accept all for the love of the good God, even the most extravagant thoughts that come into my head." Excerpted from Counsels and Reminiscences

"I do not well see what more I shall have in Heaven than now, she once said. "I shall see the good God, it is true; but as to being with Him, I am wholly with Him already upon earth. " Excerpted from Story of A Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to always seek you in prayer during our day.

This photograph of St. Therese and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Confidence

"Truly I am far from being a saint. I ought not to rejoice at the aridity of my soul but attribute it to the scantiness of my fervour and fidelity. I ought to grieve because I fall asleep very often during my prayer and my thanksgiving. Well, I do not grieve! I reflect that little children when they sleep are as pleasing to their parents as when they are awake; that in order to perform operations, doctors put their patients to sleep; in fine, that the Lord knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are but dust." Excerpted from Story of A Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to remember our nothingness and to ever ask for your help in accepting our humanness.

This photograph of St. Therese's toys and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Prayer

"One day after Holy Communion the good God made me understand those words of the Canticles: "Draw me: we will run after Thee to the odour of Thy ointments." O Jesus, it is not then necessary to say: In drawing me, draw the souls whom I love. These simple words: "Draw me" suffice! Yes, when a soul has allowed herself to be captivated by the inebriating fragrance of Thy perfumes, she could not run alone, all the souls whom she loves are drawn after her; this is a natural consequence of her attraction towards Thee." Excerpted from Story of a Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to ever keep your image in our sights ...guiding us always.

Story of A Soul and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Humility

"I am a very little soul who can offer only very little things to the good God; yet, it often happens that these little sacrifices which give such peace to the heart, escape me; but that does not discourage me, I bear with having a little less peace and I try to be more watchful another time. " Excerpted from Story of A Soul

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see the wisdom in our remaining little before the Lord.

This photo of St. Therese at age 8 and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Detachment

"One Sunday, Therese tells us, I went right joyously on my way towards the alley of chestnut trees; it was the spring-time, and I meant to enjoy the beauties of nature. O cruel disappointment! My dear chestnut trees had been pruned, and the branches, already loaded with verdant buds, lay strewn upon the ground! It was heartrending to view this destruction, and to think that three years must pass ere I could see it repaired...My distress however did not last. 'If I were in another monastery,' thought I, 'what difference would it make to me if the chestnut trees in the Carmel of Lisieux were cut down altogether? I will fret no more about transitory things; my Well-Beloved shall take the place of all else for me...I will wander ever in the groves of His love, which none may touch." Excerpted from Counsels and Reminiscenses

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to feel your love for us in every action we take.

This last photograph of St. Therese and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St.Therese Speaks to Us - Lack of Zeal

"When in the morning we feel no courage, no energy for the practice of virtue, this is a grace, this is the moment to "lay the axe to the root of the tree." depending solely on Jesus. If we fall all is retrieved by an act of love, and Jesus smiles. He helps us without appearing to do so, and tears which the wicked cause Him to shed are dried by our poor feeble love." Excerpted from a Letter to her sister Celine.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see all the opportunities for your graces in our lives.

This holy card of St. Therese as a novice and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks To Us - Love of God

"One evening, at a loss for words to tell Jesus how I loved Him and how much I wished that He might be everywhere served and glorified, I reflected with pain that not one act of love would ever mount upwards from out of the depths of hell. Then I cried out that willingly would I consent to see myself plunged into that place of torment and blasphemy, in order that He might be loved there eternally. That could not really glorify Him since He desires only our happiness, but love makes one want to say a thousand foolish things. If I spoke thus, it was not that I did not long for heaven; but then, my heaven was none other than Love, and in my fervour I felt that nothing could separate me from the Divine object of my love..." Excerpted from Story of a Soul

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to love Jesus with the abandon of your childlike heart.

A print of this painting of St. Therese by her sister Celine and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Simplicity

"Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk." Excerpted from Counsels and Reminiscences

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to stay always 'little' before the Lord.

This holy card of St. Therese and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Humility

"Oh! when I think of all I have to acquire!" exclaimed a novice. "Say, rather, to lose. Jesus, it is, who charges Himself with the care of filling your soul according as you free it from its imperfections. I plainly see that you are taking the wrong road, you will never arrive at the end of your journey. You wish to scale a mountain and the good God wants to make you descend; He is waiting for you low down in the fertile valley of humility." Excerpted from Counsels and Reminiscences.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see the graces that come to us when we humble ourselves before the Lord.

This bookmark of St. Therese doing laundry and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Communion of Saints

"When we are grieved at our powerlessness to do good, out only resource is to offer to God the works of others. In this you see the benefit of the communion of Saints." Excerpted from Counsels and Reminiscences

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to remain close to you through our communion with the Saints.

This picture of St. Therese and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks To Us - Prayer

"Prayer is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a simple glance darted upwards to Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy! In a word, it is something exalted, supernatural, which dilates the soul and unites it to God. Sometimes when I find myself spiritually, in dryness so great that I cannot produce a single good thought, I recite very slowly a Pater or an Ave Maria; these prayers alone console me, they suffice, they nourish my soul. " Excerpted from Story of A Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to pray.

This picture of St. Therese as a novice and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Humility

"I am no longer surprised at anything, nor do I grieve at seeing that I am frailty itself; on the contrary I glory in it, and expect to discover new imperfections in myself each day. These lights concerning my nothingness do me more good, I affirm, than lights regarding faith." Excerpted from Story of A Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to run into the arms of our merciful Lord each and every day. Teach us not to be discouraged with our human-ness.

This collection of quotations by St. Therese and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Love of God

"In times of aridity when I am incapable of praying, of practising virtue, I seek little opportunities, mere trifles, to give pleasure to Jesus; for instance a smile, a pleasant word when inclined to be silent and to show weariness. If I find no opportunities, I at least tell Him again and again that I love Him; that is not difficult and it keeps alive the fire in my heart. Even though this fire of love might seem to me extinct I would still throw little straws upon the embers and I am certain it would rekindle." Excerpted from a letter to her sister Celine.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see the graces that come to us when we give of ourselves to others out of love for You.

This photograph of St. Therese's hair and other inspirational items about her can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Self Abandonment

"I am always faithful, but I am never discouraged; I leave myself wholly in the arms of our Divine Lord; He teaches me to draw profit from all - both good and ill that He finds in me. He teaches me to speculate in the Bank of Love, or rather it is He who acts for me without telling me how He goes to work, that is His affair and not mine; my part is complete surrender, reserving nothing to myself, not even the gratitude of knowing how my credit stands with the Bank." Excerpted from a letter to her sister Celine

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see the graces that come with complete surrender to the Good Lord's love and mercy.

This photograph of St. Therese as a novice and other inspirational items about her can be purchased at our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us - Lift Up Your Little Foot

"To a young Sister discouraged at seeing her imperfections, Soeur Therese said: 'You make me think of a very little child who is just able to stand upright but does not yet know how to walk. Intent upon reaching the top of the stairs so as to get back to his mother he lifts his foot to climb the first step. Fruitless endeavour! At each attempt he falls without advancing in the least. Well, be like that little child; by the practice of evry virtue keep on ever lifting your little foot to climb the steps of sanctity, and do not imagine that you will be able to mount even the first! No; but good will is all God requires of you. From the top of those steps He is watching you with love; and won by your unavailing efforts He will Himself soon come down, and taking you in His arms will bear you away to His Kingdom, never more to quit Him. But if you cease to lift your little foot He will leave you a long time on earth.' " Excerpted from Councels and Reminiscences

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see the graces that come with complete trust and confidence in your providential care.

This photograph of St. Therese at age 3 and other inspirational items about St. Therese can be purchased from our web store The Little Way.

St. Therese Speaks to Us -Little Mortifications

"Another time I was in the laundry opposite a Sister who while washing handkerchiefs splashed me every minute with dirty water. My first impulse was to draw back and wipe my face, so as to show her who besprinkled me in that fashion, that she would oblige me by working more quietly; but I reflected immediately that it was very foolish to refuse treasures so generously offered me, and I took good care not to show my annoyance. On the contrary, I made such successful efforts to wish for a plentiful splashing of dirty water, that at the end of half an hour I had really acquired a taste for this new sort of aspersion, and I determined to come again as often as possible to a place where happily such riches could be had gratuitously. " Excerpted from Story of A Soul.

Oh little St. Therese, instill in our hearts a love of your little way. Help us to see the graces that can come to us from all of those little mortifications that we can offer to Our Good Lord.

This bookmark and other inspirational items about St. Therese can be purchased from our webstore The Little Way.

St. Therese's Feast Day - October 1

St. Therese, our dear little saint, please fix in our hearts your little way of total confidence and love in Our Savior. Help us to always remember that Jesus asked us to be as little children when we approach Him.

The world today is in need of your intercession little Therese. Please come down today and visit the hearts of your faithful. Let fall on us your 'shower of roses'. Give us the graces we need to follow in the footsteps of spiritual childhood you gave us. Stay with us throughout this day and affix in our hearts your love. +JMJT