October 1 2024 - St. Therese of the Child Jesus - Humble service, penance, mission

 In her diary, St. Therese wrote: “I ask Jesus to draw me into the flames of his love and to unite me so closely to him that he lives and acts in me.  I feel that the more the fire of love encompasses my heart, the more I shall say: "Draw me," and the more will those souls who are near to mine "run swiftly in the sweet odor of the Beloved."  

And draw her into the flames of his love, the Lord did. In the course of her short life, Therese acquired a burning love of Christ. And yet, unlike some of the other mystic saints, Therese did not experience mystical levitations or visions, that we know of. 

Rather, she was drawn into profound love through humble acts of service and the quiet, patient acceptance of suffering. 

At the age of 15, having received the blessing of faith and virtue from her parents, Therese was given permission to enter the Carmelite convent where her two older sisters had already entered.  She lived only 11 years as a Carmelite nun before dying at the young age of 26 from tuberculosis.  

And yet during that time, she developed a profound spirituality of humble service—known popularly now as “The Little Way”

In those short years in Carmel, Therese described coming to share the Lord’s deep ardor for the salvation of souls. She writes, “I experienced a great desire to work for the conversion of sinners, a desire I hadn’t experienced so intensely before.” She offered her life as a sacrifice for priests and other missionaries, offering constant penances and prayers for the sake of others. She wrote that her mission as a Carmelite, was to offer prayers and penances that would spiritually form and support  “evangelical workers who would save millions of souls”.

There are three pretty good lessons for all of us, no? To seek the sanctification of our souls through humble acts of service, patient acceptance of suffering, and doing whatever we can for the mission of the Gospel. By doing so, we, like Therese, have the opportunity to be drawn deeply in the fire of Christ’s heart, in his love, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For blessings upon the members of the Carmelite Order, and that their witness of prayer and penance may continue to draw souls closer to Christ.

During this month of October, dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, Catholics may take up this devotion with renewed vigor and trust in Our Lady’s never-failing intercession. 

That the sick and the suffering may know God’s healing and know the love of God in their trials.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.