In the vast constellation of saints, few stars shine with the gentle, approachable brightness of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Affectionately known to millions as "The Little Flower," she holds a special place in the heart of the Church. In 1997, Pope St. John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church, making her only the third woman at the time to receive this profound title, a testament to the enduring power and wisdom of her spiritual path.
What is it about this young Carmelite nun that continues to captivate the faithful over a century after her death? The answer lies in her beautiful and accessible spirituality: the “Little Way.” In a world that often tells us that greatness is measured by grand, heroic deeds, St. Thérèse offers a revolutionary alternative. She teaches that the path to holiness is hidden in the fabric of our ordinary lives. The Little Way is a call to sanctify our daily existence by doing every single thing—no matter how small or seemingly insignificant—with extraordinary love.
Thérèse is, arguably, one of the most beloved saints of the modern era. Her autobiography, Story of a Soul, has moved countless readers, revealing a powerful yet simple roadmap to loving God with one's whole heart. She doesn't ask us to move mountains, but to pick up a pin for love. She shows us how to embrace our daily duties, our hidden sacrifices, and even our sufferings, transforming them into profound acts of love for Him. Her life proves that it is not the greatness of the task that matters, but the greatness of the love with which it is performed.
The following are 10 quotes of St. Thérèse, taken from the book Mornings with Saint Thérèse. This hardcover collection of 120 readings by St. Thérèse will help you get to know the pure, simple girl whom Pope St. Pius X called “the greatest saint of modern times.” Here are ten quotes from St. Thérèse on how to sanctify the “little things” in life.
1. For the Glory of God
“The faith and confidence of yours which never wavers will one day have their reward–a glorious one. Be quite sure that God will bless you and that the depths of your suffering will be matched by the consolation reserved for you.”
2. Through the Grace of God
“Jesus said: ‘If ever a man is rich, gifts will be made to Him, and his riches will abound.’ For every grace I made good use of, He gave me many more.”
3. Holy Communion
“Our Lord does not come down from Heaven every day to lie in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven which is infinitely dearer to Him—the heaven of our souls.”
4. Through Mortification
“When I speak of mortification, I don’t mean the kind of penance practiced by saints. There are great souls who practice every sort of mortification from childhood, but I am not like any of them. All I did was to break my self-will, check a hasty reply, and do little kindnesses without making a fuss about them—and lots of similar things.”
5. Run After Jesus
“Since Jesus has gone to Heaven, I can follow Him only by the traces He has left. But how radiant and how fragrant these traces are! I have only to glance at the Holy Gospels and at once I breathe the fragrance of His life and know which way to run.”
6. Proving Our Love
“‘For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?’ [Matthew 5:46] Do not even sinners love those that love them? It is not enough to love. We must prove that we do. We naturally like to please a friend, but that is not charity, for so do sinners.”
7. True Holiness
“Holiness is not a matter of any one particular method of spirituality: it is a disposition of the heart that makes us small and humble within the arms of God, aware of our weaknesses, but almost rashly confident in His Fatherly goodness.”
8. Put Confidence In His Mercy
“O Jesus, I feel that if You found a soul feebler than mine—though that’s impossible—You would delight in heaping even greater favors on it, if it abandoned itself with supreme confidence to Your infinite mercy.”
9. Persevere in Prayer
“For me, prayer means launching out from the heart toward God; a cry of grateful love from the crest of joy or the trough of despair: it is a vast supernatural force that opens out my heart and binds me close to Jesus.”
10. Helping Souls
“All my strength lies in prayer and sacrifice. They are invincible weapons, and I know, by experience, that they can soften the heart much better than words.”
These excerpts by St. Thérèse were taken from the book Mornings with Saint Thérèse. This hardcover collection of 120 readings by St. Thérèse will help you get to know the pure, simple girl whom Pope St. Pius X called “the greatest saint of modern times.”
