Thoughts of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus

by Saint de Lisieux Thérèse

SR. THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS

AND OF THE HOLY FACE

Carmelite of the Monastery of Liseux

1873-1897

A NOVICE was complaining of being more tired than her Sisters, for besides the common work, she had done another task, of which they knew nothing; Thérèse answered: "I want to see you always like a valiant soldier who does not complain of his pains; who thinks very seriously of the wounds of his brothers and regards his own as mere scratches. Why do you feel this fatigue to such a degree? It is because no one knows about it. . .

"Blessed Margaret Mary having had two whitlows used to say she had only really suffered from the first one, because it had not been possible for her to hide the second from her Sisters, and thus it became the object of their compassion.

"This feeling is natural to us; yet to wish that all should know when we suffer is a very commonplace manner of acting."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

DURING the first months of her illness it was on her hard palliasse that Sister Thérèse passed the time of rest, and her nights were very bad: when asked whether she did not need some assistance during those hours of pain, she replied: "Oh, no on the contrary, I think myself very fortunate to be in a cell distant enough for my Sisters not to hear me. I rejoice to suffer alone; but from the moment I am pitied and surrounded with delicate attentions I can no longer feel this joy."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

THE Sister infirmarian remarking, "It is said that you have never suffered very much." Thérèse smiled and pointing to a glass containing a draught of medicine, bright red in colour, replied, "See this little glass, one would imagine it full of some choice liqueur, but in reality I take nothing that is more bitter. Well! it is an image of my life; to the eyes of others it has ever appeared clothed in the most radiant hues; to them it seemed as though I drank a delicious liqueur, while in truth it was bitterness. I say bitterness, and yet my life has not been bitter, for I have known how to make of all bitterness my sweetness and my joy."

"You are in great pain at this moment, are you not?" "Yes . . . but I have so much desired to suffer."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"HOW it grieves us to see you suffer, and to think you may perhaps have still more to endure," the novices were saying to her.

"Oh! do not be troubled about me, I have arrived at the stage of being no longer able to suffer, because all suffering is sweet to me."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

A SISTER, who doubted her patience, noticed, when visiting her one day, an expression of heavenly joy on her countenance and wished to know the reason. "It is because of the very acute pain I am feeling," replied Thérèse, "I have always striven to love suffering and to give it a cordial welcome."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"WHY are you so gay this morning?" she was asked; "It is because I have had two little trials, nothing gives me little joys like little trials."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

ANOTHER time: "You have had a great many trials today."

"Yes, but . . . seeing that I love them! . . . I love everything the good God sends me."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

AGAIN, when some one said to her: "It is dreadful—all you are suffering."

"No, it is not dreadful; could a little Victim of Love find anything dreadful that her Spouse sends her? He gives me at each moment what I can bear; not more; and the minute He increases my sufferings He also augments my fortitude.

"Yet I could never ask for greater sufferings, for I am too little; they would be my own—my own choosing, then I should have to bear them by myself, and I have never been able to do anything all alone."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

DURING her long and painful agony she exclaimed: "The chalice is full to the brim. Never could I have believed it possible to suffer so much . . . I can only find the explanation in my extreme longing to save souls . . . Oh! I would not suffer less."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

[THE DIRECTION OF SOULS]

OUR Lord allowed me the consolation of closely studying the souls of children.

Considering these innocent souls I used to compare them to soft wax, upon which any impression may be stamped the bad, alas! like the good; and I understood those words of Jesus: "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones . . . it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." [1] Oh! how many souls might attain to a high degree of holiness if wisely guided from the very first.

I well know that to accomplish His work of sanctification, God has need of no one, but just as He enables a skilful gardener to rear plants that are delicate and rare, granting him for this end all the knowledge necessary, while reserving to Himself the care of giving the increase, so, too, does He will to be aided in His divine culture of souls.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V

[1] Matt., xviii, 6.

AS soon as I penetrated into the sanctuary of souls I judged at the first glance that the task exceeded my powers, and very quickly placing myself in the arms of the good God I imitated the little child, who, seized with sudden fear, tries to hide its golden head on its father's shoulder, and I said: "Lord, Thou knowest it, I am myself too little to be capable of nurturing these Thy children; if Thou dost will to give to them, through me, what is suited to each one, fill Thou my little hand, and without leaving Thine arms, without even turning my head aside, I will distribute Thy treasures to the souls who come to me to seek sustenance. When they find it to their liking I shall know that it is not to me they owe it but to Thee; on the other hand if they complain, and find bitter what I offer them, my peace shall remain undisturbed, I will try to convince them that this nutriment comes from Thee, and I will carefully refrain from seeking any other for them."

When I thus understood that it was impossible for me to do anything by myself, the task appeared to me simplified. Interiorly, I occupied myself solely in trying to become more and more united to God—knowing that the rest would be added unto me.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X

FROM afar it seems easy to do good to souls, to make them love God more, to mould them after our own views and opinions. But coming closer one feels, on the contrary, that to do good without the divine assistance, is as impossible a thing as to bring the sun back after it has set. One feels that it is absolutely necessary to forget our own inclinations, our personal notions, and to guide souls, not by our own way—the way we ourselves go—but by the particular way that Jesus wishes to lead them.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X

WHEN very young, and staying with my aunt, a book was given to me to read. In one of the stories I saw that the mistress of a school was much praised because she knew how to get on cleverly in the world without offending anyone. This phrase I remarked especially: "She would say to the one, 'You are not wrong,' and to the other, 'You are right;" and while I read I was thinking: "Oh! . . . I would not have acted thus; we must always tell the truth." And so I do, always. Far more difficult it certainly is, for when told of some little vexatious occurrence, it would be easy to lay blame on the absent, and she who complains would at once be pacified. Yes, but . . . I do quite the reverse. If I am not liked, what matter! Let no one come to me who does not want to hear the truth.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

THAT a reprimand may be fruitful it must cost in the giving; and it must be given without a shade of passion in the heart.

One must not let kindness degenerate into weakness. When we have blamed justly we ought to leave it so, and not yield to feelings of distress at having given pain. To run after the aggrieved one in order to console her, is to do more harm than good. To leave her to herself is to force her to expect nothing from creatures, to have recourse to the good God, to see her failings and to humble herself. Otherwise she would grow accustomed to being consoled after a deserved rebuke and would behave as does a spoilt child, who stamps and cries, well knowing that this will make its mother return to wipe away the tears.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

LET the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, abound in your lips and hearts. [2] If we have to do with a difficult soul, let us not be discouraged, nor ever abandon her. Let us have always "the sword of the Spirit" to reprehend her for her faults, and not allow things to pass for the sake of leaving ourselves in repose; let us fight unceasingly, even without hope of gaining the victory. What matter about success! Let us fight on, whatever be the weariness of the struggle. Let us not say: "I can make nothing of this soul, she does not understand; I must give it up." Oh! what cowardice that would be. We must do our duty unto the end.

[Sœur Thérèse in these passages refers to her charge as Mistress of Novices.]

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[2] Ephes., vi, 17.

THE novices expressed their surprise at finding that she guessed their most hidden thoughts.

"Here is my secret," she said to them: "I never give you any advice without invoking the Blessed Virgin; I ask her to inspire me to say what will do you the most good, and I myself am often astonished at the things that I teach you. I simply feel in saying them to you, that I am not deceived and that Jesus speaks to you by my mouth."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"GIVE us some advice as to how we ought to act concerning our spiritual direction," they said to her.

"With great simplicity and without depending too much on assistance, which may fail you at any moment. You would soon be forced to say with the Spouse in the Canticles: 'The keepers . . . took away my veil from me and wounded me,' it was only 'when I had a little PASSED BY them I found Him whom my soul loveth.' [3] If with detachment you humbly inquire where is your Beloved, the keepers will direct you. Nevertheless, most frequently, you will find Jesus only after you have passed by all creatures. For my part, I have many a time repeated this verse of the Spiritual Canticle of St. John of the Cross:

Send me no more
A messenger
Who cannot tell me what I seek.
All they who serve
Relate a thousand graces of Thee;
And all wound me more and more,
And they leave me dying,
WHILE THEY BABBLE I KNOW NOT WHAT."

Trans. D. Lewis, M. A.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[3] Cant., v, 7; iii, 4.

[THE BLESSED VIRGIN]

HOW I love the Blessed Virgin! Had I been a Priest, oh! how I should have spoken of her. She is represented as unapproachable, rather ought she to be shown as imitable. She is more Mother than Queen. I have heard it said that all the Saints are eclipsed by her radiant brightness as the sun at rising makes the stars disappear. How strange that seems—a mother eclipsing the glory of her children! I think quite the contrary. I believe that she will immensely increase the splendour of the elect . . . The Virgin Mary! how simple does her life appear to me. . .

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

SOMETIMES I find myself saying to the Holy Virgin: "Do you know, O cherished Mother, that I think myself more fortunate than you? I have you for Mother and you have not, like me, the Blessed Virgin to love . . . You are, it is true, the Mother of Jesus, but you have given Him to me, and He, from the cross gave you to us as our Mother, so we are richer than you. Of old it was your desire that you might be the little handmaiden of the Mother of God; and I, poor little creature, I am, not your servant, but your child: you are the Mother of Jesus and you are my Mother."

XIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

O MARY, if I were Queen of Heaven and thou wert Thérèse, I fain would be Thérèse to see thee Queen of Heaven!

8 September, 1897.

Last words written by Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus.

[VARIOUS SUBJECTS]

LÉONIE, no doubt finding that she was growing too old to play with dolls, came one day to Céline and me, with a basket full of dolls' clothes, odds and ends of pretty materials, trimmings, etc., on which she had laid her doll, saying to us: "There, little sisters—choose!" Céline looked, and took a knot of edging. After reflecting a moment I, in turn, put out my hand saying: "I choose all!" and I carried off basket and doll without further ceremony.

This trait of my childhood is, as it were, a summary of my entire life. Later on when the meaning of perfection began to unfold itself to me, I understood that to become a saint it is necessary to suffer much, ever to seek after that which is most perfect, and to forget self. I understood that in sanctity the degrees are many, that each soul is free to respond to the advances of our Lord, to do little or much for His sake, in a word, to choose between the sacrifices that He asks. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I exclaimed: "My God, I choose all! I do not wish to be a saint by halves; the thought of suffering for Thee does not frighten me, one thing only do I fear—my own will; take Thou my will, for I choose all that Thou willest."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I

MY Father took me for a pleasant tour during which I began to know a little of the world. Around me all was gaiety and delight; I was made welcome, petted, admired, in short, for fifteen days the pathway of my life was strewn with naught but flowers. Holy Wisdom well says that the bewitching of trifles overturneth the innocent mind. [1] At the age of ten the heart easily allows itself to be dazzled, and I own that this sort of life had some charms for me. Alas! how well the world contrives to reconcile the delights of earth with the service of God. How seldom does it think of death.

And death, nevertheless, has come to a great many of the people whom I then knew, young, rich and prosperous. I like to go back in thought to their beautiful dwellings, to ask myself where are they, and what benefit do they now draw from the castles and parks where I saw them enjoying all the comforts of life . . . And I reflect that "all is vanity" [2] "but to love God and to serve Him alone." [3]

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV

[1] Cf. Wisdom, iv, 12.
[2] Eccles., i, 2.
[3] Imit., I, i, 3.

WHAT compassion I have for souls who are going astray. It is so easy to lose one's way in the flowery paths of the world. Undoubtedly for a soul who has risen a little above the things of earth, the sweetness offered is intermingled with bitterness, and the immense void of its desires cannot be filled by the praises of a moment.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV

WE have but life's brief day to save souls and thus to give to Jesus proof of our love. The morrow of this day will be Eternity and then He will render to you a hundredfold for the joys which you have sacrificed for Him. He knows the extent of your sacrifice, He knows that the grief of those dear to you increases your own still more; but to save our souls He has Himself suffered this martyrdom. He too, left His Mother, He saw the Immaculate Virgin stand at the foot of the Cross, her heart transpierced by the sword of sorrow.

Ah! if the Divine Master would but grant to those whom you are going to leave for His sake, a foresight of the glory He reserves for you, the multitude of souls who in heaven will form your train, they would be already recompensed for their great sacrifice in parting with you.

II LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS"

THE good God has promised a hundredfold to all who have left father or mother or sister for love of Him. These words are, I know, usually applied to those who have entered the religious state, but in my heart I feel that they were also spoken for the generous parents who make to God the sacrifice of children whom they cherish more than self.

LETTER TO HER COUSIN JEANNE GUÉRIN

HOW can a heart given up to human affection be united intimately to God? That, I feel is not possible. I have seen so many souls deluded by this treacherous light, dart into it like the poor moth and burn their wings, then return wounded to Jesus, the Divine Fire which burns without consuming.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV

IN giving oneself to God the heart does not lose its natural tenderness; on the contrary, its love grows deeper by becoming more pure and more Christ-like.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

THERE are souls for whom God's mercy wearies not of waiting, and to whom He gives His light only by degrees.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X

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," [4] 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 the tears which the wicked cause Him to shed are dried by our poor feeble love.

II LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[4] Matt., iii, 10.

WE must practice the little virtues. This is difficult sometimes, but the good God never refuses the first grace, which gives courage to conquer self: if the soul corresponds to it she will find that she immediately receives light. I have ever been struck with those words of praise to Judith: "Thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been strengthened." [5] We must first act with courage, then the heart is strengthened and we go from victory to victory.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[5] Judith, xv, 11.

MY God, how varied are the ways by which Thou dost lead souls. In reading the Lives of the Saints we find a great number of whom nothing has remained to us after their death: not the smallest souvenir, not a written line. Others there are, on the contrary, like our Holy Mother Saint Teresa, who have enriched the Church with their sublime doctrine, not fearing to reveal the secrets of the King, [6] in the hope that souls might know Him better and love Him more. Which of these two ways pleases our Lord best? It seems to me that they are equally pleasing to Him.

All the well-beloved of God have followed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by whom the Prophet wrote: "Say to the just that all is well." [7] Yes, all is well when we seek only the Divine Will.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

[6] Tobias, xii.
[7] Cf. Isaias, iii, 10.

HOW narrow are the thoughts of creatures! When they see that a soul has lights which surpass their own, they conclude that the Divine Master loves them less. Since when, then, has He lost the right to make use of one of His creatures, in order to dispense to His children the sustenance needful for them?

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X

WHEN we are grieved at our powerlessness to do good, our only resource is to offer to God the works of others. In this you see the benefit of the communion of Saints.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

THOUGH I do not undervalue beautiful thoughts that seem to unite us to God, I have long understood that we must carefully guard against leaning too much upon them. The most sublime inspirations are nothing without deeds.

Other souls, it is true, may draw therefrom much profit if they testify humble gratitude to God for being permitted to share the feast of one of His privileged children. But if the privileged one were to grow vain of her spiritual riches, if her prayer resembled that of the Pharisee, she herself would become like to a person starving to death before a well-served table while all her guests take from it abundant nourishment, and cast perhaps a look of envy on the possessor of so much wealth.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X

THE Well-Beloved has no need of our glorious deeds nor of our fine thoughts. If He desire sublime conceptions has He not His Angels, whose knowledge surpasses infinitely that of the world's greatest geniuses? It is not then either intellect or talent that He looks for here below . . . He has called Himself the Flower of the Field [8] to show us how much He cherishes simplicity.

XIV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[8] Cant., ii, 1.

TO keep the word of Jesus, this is the sole condition of our happiness, the proof of our love for Him; and this word—it seems to me that it is Himself, since He is called the Uncreated Word of the Father.

XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

JESUS needs neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to instruct souls; He, the Doctor of Doctors, He teaches without noise of words.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII

AT Sext there is a verse which I utter unwillingly each day. It is this: "Inclinavi cor meum ad faciendas justificationes tuas in æternum, propter retributionem." (I have inclined my heart to do Thy justifications for ever, because of the reward.) [9] Interiorly, I hasten to say: "O my Jesus, Thou knowest well that it is not for the reward I serve Thee, but solely because I love Thee, and for the sake of saving souls."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[9] Ps., cxviii, 112.

IN Heaven only shall we see the absolute truth concerning all things. On earth, even in the Holy Scripture, there is a certain obscurity: it grieves me to see differences in the translations; had I been a Priest I would have learned Hebrew, so that I might be able to read the Word of God in that human language in which He deigned to express it.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

WE are not yet in our Fatherland, and temptation must purify us as gold is purified by the action of fire.

XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

IT is best not to expose oneself to the combat when defeat is certain.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

GOD is often satisfied with our desire of labouring for His glory.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

A SOUL in the state of grace has nothing to fear from the demons, who are cowards, capable of flight before the gaze of a child.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I

TO the pure all is pure, [10] the simple and upright soul sees not evil in anything, since evil exists in impure hearts only and not in material objects.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI

[10] Titus, i, 15.

THE good God has told us that in the Last Day He "will wipe away all tears from our eyes," [11] and without doubt, the more tears to be dried, the greater will be the consolation.

III LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR

[11] Apoc., xxi, 4.

THE Spouse in the Canticles, not having been able in repose to find her Beloved, arose, she says and went about the city to seek Him, but in vain . . . she could not find Him save beyond the ramparts. It is not the will of Jesus that we should find His adorable Presence without effort. He hides Himself, He envelopes Himself with darkness . . . It was not thus He acted in regard to the multitudes, for we read in the Gospels that the people were in admiration when He spoke.

Weak souls Jesus charmed by His divine utterances. He was trying to render them strong for the day of temptation and of trial; but small, truly, was the number of His faithful friends when He was silent [12] before His judges. Oh, what melody for my heart is that silence of the Divine Master.

XV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[12] Matt., xxvi, 65.

I HAVE read in the Holy Gospel that the Divine Shepherd leaves in the desert all His faithful flock, to go in haste after the sheep that is lost. How touching is this confidence. He is sure of them, they are captives of love—how could they break away? Even so does the well-beloved Shepherd of our souls rob us of the sense of His presence in order to give to sinners His consolations; or else, if He leads us to Mount Thabor it is for one moment . . . the valleys are nearly always the place of pasture, it is there He takes His repose at mid-day. [13]

XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[13] Cant., i, 6.

THE sole crime with which Herod reproached our Lord was folly . . . and frankly, that charge was true. Yes, it was folly to come seeking the poor shallow hearts of mortals, therein to make His throne. He, the King of Glory Who sitteth above the Cherubim! Was not His happiness complete in the company of His Father and the Spirit of Love? Why come to earth to seek out sinners and to make of them His friends, His chosen companions?

XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

MARY, breaking the fragile vase poured out upon the Head of her Saviour a perfume of great price [14] and the whole house was filled with the fragrance thereof. [15]

The Apostles murmured against Magdalene; and this it is which still happens with regard to us: some, even of the most fervent Christians think we (Carmelites) are exaggerated, that like Martha we ought to serve Jesus, instead of consecrating to Him the vases of our lives with the perfumes which are hidden within. And yet what matters it—the breaking of these vases—since our Lord is consoled, and the world in spite of itself is made sensible of the fragrance they exhale. And oh! how necessary are these perfumes to purify the unhealthy atmosphere that it breathes.

XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[14] Cf. Marc., xiii, 3.
[15] Cf. John, xii, 3.

"ONE day when I was in tears," relates a novice, "Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus told me to acquire a habit of hiding my little troubles, adding that nothing renders community life more difficult than inequality of temperament.

"You are quite right," I answered, "I have thought so myself, and in future I shall never cry but when alone with the good God; to Him only shall I confide my trials, He will always understand and console me."

"Shed tears before the good God!" she replied with vivacity, "take care you do no such thing. Still less, by far, before Him than before creatures ought you to exhibit signs of sadness. He has but our monasteries, this dear Master, to rejoice His Heart; He comes amongst us to find a little repose, to forget the continual lamentations of His friends in the world who for the most part, instead of recognizing the value of the Cross, meet it with repining and with tears; and would you behave like the generality of people? . . . Frankly that is not disinterested love—disinterested love is for us to console Jesus, not for Him to console us.

"He is, I know, so kind of heart that if you weep He will dry your tears; but afterwards He will go away quite sorrowful, not being able to find in you the repose He sought. Jesus loves the joyous heart, He loves the ever smiling soul. When will you learn to hide your troubles from Him, or to tell Him in gladsome tones that you are happy to suffer for His sake?"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

THE soul is reflected in the countenance: like to a little child always content, your countenance should be invariably calm and serene. When you are alone be still the same, because you are ever in the Angels' sight.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

OUR Divine Lord wishes to have His court here below as on High, He desires angel-martyrs, angel-apostles.

XI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

A SISTER, greatly grieved at seeing her so ill often exclaimed: "Oh, how sad is life!" But Sœur Thérèse would at once correct her, saying:

"Life is not sad, but on the contrary most joyful. If you said 'How sad is our exile,' I should understand you. It is erroneous to give the name, 'life,' to that which must end. Only to the things of Heaven, to that which shall never know death, should the true name of 'life' be given; and in this signification life is not sad but joyful—joyous exceedingly! . . . "

Her own gaiety was delightful to witness.

For several days she had been much better and the novices said to her: "We do not yet know of what malady you will die . . . "

"But I shall die of death! Did not God tell Adam of what he would die, saying to him: Thou shalt die of death?" (In the French: "Tu mourras de mort.") [16]

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[16] Cf. Gen., ii, 17.

IT is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible spectre, as represented in pictures. In the Catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God for ever.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

ONE day she said to the Mother Prioress:

"Mother, I beseech you, give me permission to die . . . Let me offer my life for . . . " mentioning the intention.

And this permission being refused:

"Very well," she resumed, "I know that at this moment the good God so much desires a little bunch of grapes which no one wishes to present to Him, that He will certainly be forced to come and steal it . . . I ask nothing, for that would be to depart from my way of abandonment, I merely beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to recall to her Jesus the title of Thief which He gives Himself in the holy Gospel, so that He may not forget to come to steal me away."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"WILL the Divine Thief be coming very soon to steal His little bunch of grapes?" some one asked.

"I see Him afar off, and I take good care not to cry out 'Stop Thief!!!' On the contrary I call Him saying: 'This way! this way!'"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

THE Chaplain asked me: "Are you resigned to die?" I said: "Ah! Father, I find it would be for living that I should need resignation, but as regards dying, I feel only joy."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"YOU will be placed amid the Seraphim in Heaven," a novice said.

"If that should happen, I shall not imitate them; they cover themselves with their wings at the sight of God. I shall take good care not to cover myself with my wings!"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"UNDER what name should we pray to you when you are in Heaven?" they asked her. She answered humbly: "You will call me 'little Thérèse.' ('petite Thérèse.')"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"YOU will look upon us from the heights of heaven, will you not?"

"No, I shall come down."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"AFTER my death I shall let fall a shower of roses."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XIII

[PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD]

[Transcriber's Note: Sister Thérèse was beatified on April 29, 1923.]

O JESUS, who, to put our pride to confusion didst will to become a little child, and who later pronounced that solemn decree: "Unless ye become as little children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven," deign to listen to our humble prayer in regard to her who lived perfectly that life of spiritual childhood, and who has so well recalled to us the way.

O little Babe of Bethlehem, by the ineffable charms of Thy Divine Infancy, O adorable Face of Jesus, by the humiliations of Thy Passion, we implore, that if it be for the glory of God and for the sanctification of souls, the halo of the Blessed may soon irradiate the pure brow of Thy childlike spouse, Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face.

O God, who didst inflame with Thy Spirit of Love the soul of Thy Servant, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love Thee and may make Thee greatly loved.

[Adapted from a prayer of Sœur Thérèse.]

100 days' indulgence.

CARD. BOURNE, Arch. of Westminster.
August 1, 1912.