St. Little Flower, A model Today
St. Therese of
Lisiex – Doctor of the Church
The poet Ben
Johnson beautifully wrote that “It is not growing like a tree In bulk doth make
Man better be; Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, To fall a log at
last, dry, bald, and sere: A lily of a day Is fairer far in May, Although it
fall and die that night— It was the plant and flower of light.”
What is the use
of a long life, when it’s meaningless? What is the use if we live as long as
Methuselah who lived for 969 years (Genesis 5: 27) and have no sweetness in
life? Even if life is short we need to make it sweet. Jesus life was short,
just 33 years, but he gave sweetness to others; St. Theresa’s life was short,
just 24 years, yet it was fragrant; painful but fruitful. She appeared like a
beautiful meteor in the sky and passed away, but she left lasting beauty in the
world. Although she lived within the confines of the convent, she is proclaimed
as the patron of mission.
Jesus ask us to
become like a child: What is the meaning of Jesus’ declaration, “Truly I tell
you unless you change and become like a children, you will never enter the
Kingdom of Heaven?” (Matthew 18: 3)The spontaneous answer given is a reference
to the innocence of the children. But, modern psychology has proved that the
infants are not as innocent as we presume. Therefore there are many other
dimension to this statement of Jesus.
More
or less we can take five statements among them…
Children lives
in the present: They don’t have a past. They quarrel for something, in the next
moment, they forget everything. They are not slaves of the past. We find it
difficult to forgive and forget because we are prisoners of the past. We are not
changed because we live in the history not in the present moment.
Children are
never tired of seeking or asking question: When we walk with them, they raise
questions continuously. Sometimes, we are annoyed at their unlimited quest of
knowledge. They are the real seekers of truth.
Children wonder
at the mysteries of nature: They seek the newness and beauty
of
the nature and life. They are always open to the new revelations. They are
transparent to creative thinking.
Children never
give up try: We often abandon project. But children are never tired of work.
They continuously work. God has reviled great mysteries of kingdom to these
children as in Matthew 11: 25 “I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from wise and he intelligent and have
revealed them to infants.”
Children are out
of Pride: St. Augustine says: “It was pride that changed angles into devils;
it’s humility that makes men angles.” Chand wick says: “Great is lowliness that
Christ Himself may be found in the person of a little child.”
The little way
of St. Therese is a way of perfection, it is the way of spirituality; it is the
way of union with God; it’s the way of holiness. She propound there simple
facts of the law of perfection.
Everyone is
called to perfection: She believed that everyone is created by God, and He
offers His salvation to everyone, without discrimination. She believed that our
weakness and imperfection can provide the means to reach God. When we are weak,
then because of the grace of Christ, we are strong.
Everyone must
have the trust of a child: when we approach heavenly father, as a child
surrender itself into the hands of our earthly father, and we are must fully
trust Him, and surrender our lives to Him.
Everyone must
perform humble acts of charity: Humble acts of charity are greater than
performance of severe penance.
The “Little Flower”,
as Saint Therese was often called, had great insight into the simplicity of
life and how small things pleased God. Her mother died when she was young, and
Therese entered a convent at only fourteen years of age. She lived to be only
twenty-four. And in that short span of time on earth she grasped he importance
of being as gentle and loving as possible in the little trials of life. Jesus
too, points to the simplicity of god’s message. One doesn’t need to be a
learned theologian to understand the Gospel. If we were asked to summarize the
message of the Gospel in one sentence, what would it be?
“O Jesus! Why
can’t I tell all little souls how unspeakable is your condescension? I felt
that if you found a soul weaker and littler than mine, you would be pleased to
grant it still greater favors, provided if abandoned itself with total
confidence to your infinite Mercy. I beg you to cast Your Divine Glance upon a
great number of little souls. I beg you to choose a legion a little victims
worthy of Your LOVE!”(St. Therese Child of Jesus)
Lord Jesus, help
me to understand the simplicity of your message and apply it to my life in
everyday, things with the same determination as of St. Therese Child of Jesus.
Thank you
Bro. Joseph George CMI
well done
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