Saint Thérèse's 'Little Way'

There’s a clear theme here:

trust, humility, innocence

the marks of a person called by God

but who doesn’t seem to know how to negotiate the world of every-day people.

including her sisters in Carmel.

Our day-to-day

crudesness and

thoughtlessness

hurt and confused her.

Her Little Way

Thérèse became a Doctor of the Church

by the extraordinary way with which

she did ordinary things.

She called it her ‘Little Way’

Thérèse possibly suffered from what today could be called an ‘inferiority complex’.

Through perseverance

and the pure simplicity of her devotion

and the grace of God

she perfected herself and her service

and so, became the model for so many who are plagued with the thought that they are of no value

to their community,

to the Church,

and the world.

Testimony of a novice whom Thérèse was guiding

Under a temptation which seemed to me irresistible, I said to her: “This time, I cannot surmount it.” She replied: “Why seek to surmount it? Rather pass beneath. It is all well for great souls to soar above the clouds when the storm rages; we have simply to suffer the showers. What does it matter if we get wet? We shall dry ourselves in the sunshine of love.

“It recalls a little incident of my childhood. One day a horse was standing in front of the garden gate, and preventing us from getting through. My companions talked to him and tried to make him move off, but while they were still talking I quietly slipped between his legs … Such is the advantage of remaining small.”1