Let us reflect on some of the most memorable words of this little saint, who was nevertheless great in holiness, and who always longed for heaven and desired to remain close to Jesus, hidden in the Sacrament of the Eucharist:
“When I die, I will send down from heaven a shower of roses upon the earth. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.”
“Every small task in daily life is part of the greater harmony of the universe.”
“Without love, even the most brilliant actions count for nothing.”
“Our Lord does not need great deeds or profound thoughts from us, nor talents or intelligence. Rather, He delights in our simplicity.”
“Bearing suffering with joy converts souls more than sermons do.”
“Holiness consists simply in doing the will of God and in being what God wants us to be.”
“When one loves, one does not calculate how much one loves.”
“I do not have the courage to search through books for beautiful prayers. Nor am I able to recite them all or choose among them. I simply do as a child who cannot read would do. I tell God, very simply, what I want to say, and He always understands me.”
“Always remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do everything you do with love.”
“Help me, Jesus, to simplify my life by teaching me what You want me to know, so that I may become the person You want me to be.”
“Holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God, aware of our weakness and boldly confident in His fatherly goodness.”
“Often, a smile or a single word is enough to breathe new life into a despairing soul.”
“What offends God and wounds His Heart is a lack of trust. Our hearts were made to love Jesus, to love Him passionately. And we have only the few moments of our lives in which to love Jesus.”
“I would like to shine like a little candle before His altar.”
“It is not enough to love. We must also prove our love.”
“Trying to do good to others without God’s help is as difficult as trying to make the sun rise at midnight. We discover that we must give up our own preferences and brilliant ideas in order to guide souls along the path the Lord has prepared for them, and not along paths we ourselves have chosen for them.”
“You cannot be half a saint. You must either be completely a saint or not be one at all.”
“In heaven, the good God will fulfill all that I desire, because on earth I did not carry out my own will.”
O Saint Thérèse, little chosen flower of Jesus and Mary, intercede for us throughout all the days of our lives, so that we may follow your example and attain holiness.
Prepared by Rita, from the Sawt El Rab team.
