Jubilee Holy Year 2025: Pilgrims of Hope
May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES,
MARY, QUEEN OF PROPHETS,
MARY, QUEEN OF VIRGINS,
MARY, QUEEN OF MARTRYS,
MARY, QUEEN OF DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH,
MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS,
PRAY FOR US.
For a few fun facts, born January 2, 1873, Saint Therese died September 30, 1897, after living a short but powerful life. From the age of 15 until her death at the age of 24, Therese lived a hidden life of the Carmel cloister in Lisieux, France. After her death, though, Therese's fame spread throughout the world and continues to spread this day. Pope Pius X called her "the greatest saint of modern times."
With a special devotion to The Little Flower, Pope Pius XI, beatified her on April 29, 1923, and canonized her two years later, May 17, 1925. Pope Pius XI called Therese the "the Star of his Pontificate," and in the homily at her canonization, he recommended that all the faithful practice her "Little Way," as he preached:
If everyone follows this path of spiritual childhood, everyone will see how easily reformation of human society can be achieved, which we have proposed since the beginning of our pontificate. We, therefore, adopt as our own prayer of the new Saint Therese with which ends her autobiography: 'O Jesus, we beseech Thee to cast Thy glance upon the vast number of little souls, and to choose in this world a legion of little victims worthy of Thy love. Amen.
Pope Pius XI proclaimed her "Universal Patron of the Missions," alongside Saint Frances Xavier, on December 14, 1927. Pope Saint John Paul II gave Saint Therese the title "Doctor of the Church," on World Mission Sunday, October 19, 1997. She is joined by other women Doctors of the Church including Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint Catherine of Siena, and Saint Hildegard of Bingen. The Church commemorates the Feast of Saint Therese on October 1. It's not too early to mark your calendars and note the date as an annual celebration. And it's never too late to read her autobiography, Story of a Soul, where she begins, "Springtime story of a little white flower written by herself and dedicated to the Reverend Mother Agnes of Jesus." And I can't go without saying that I received the privilege of venerating the relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux in 2000 when they traveled through Mt. Angel, Oregon. The Little Flower ⚘ was on tour 🚚 with a stop at Mount Angel Abbey. I have been a fan of relics since. How cool is that 😊.
Today it is best to let Saint Therese of Lisieux speak for herself ...
Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature; I understood how all the flowers He has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the Lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wild flowers.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, Chapter I)
It seems to be that if a little flower could speak, it would tell simply what God had done for it without trying to hide its blessings.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, Chapter I)
Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, Chapter I)
I should be distressed that I drop off to sleep during my prayers and thanksgiving after Holy Communion. But I don't feel at all distressed. I know that children are just as dear to their parents when they are asleep or awake and I know that doctors put their patients to sleep before they operate. So I just say God "knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."
(Story of a Soul, Ch. 8)
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy. Go to the mountain with Peter, James, and John, or even the valley; you will find Jesus there. You will do well to be attentive to His voice, for it is a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
(Story of a Soul, see reference in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2558)
Was not Jesus my only Friend! I knew how to speak only to Him; conversations with creatures, even pious conversations, fatigued my soul. I felt it was far more valuable to speak about Him, for there is so much self-love intermingled with spiritual conversations.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, Chapter IV)
Do not be afraid of holiness. It will not take away your energy, your vitality or joy. On the contrary you will become what the Father had in mind when He created you. and you will be faithful in your deepest self. To depend on God sets us free from every form of enslavement and leads us to recognize our great dignity ... Holiness does not make you less human, since it is an encounter between your weakness and the power of God's grace. For in the words of Leon Bloy, when all is said and done, "the only great tragedy in life is not to become a saint.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript A, Chapter I)
Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript B, Chapter IX)
Here's one of my favorites. Go Therese go! ...
I feel the vocation of the WARRIOR, THE PRIEST, THE APOSTLE, THE DOCTOR, THE MARTYR. Finally, I feel the need and desire of carrying out the most heroic deeds for You, O Jesus. I feel within my soul the courage of the Crusader, the Papal Guard, and I would want to die on the field of battle in defense of the Church.
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript B, Chapter IX)
And now with a few well-known words ...
Charity gave the key to my vocation ... LOVE COMPRISED ALL THE VOCATIONS, THAT LOVE WAS EVERYTHING, THAT IT EMBRACED ALL TIMES AND PLACES ... IN A WORD THAT IT WAS ETERNAL!
Then in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my Love ... my vocation at last I have found it ... MY VOCATION IS LOVE!
(Story of a Soul, Manuscript B, Chapter IX)
Everything I have, everything I merit, is for the good of the Church and souls.
(Story of a Soul, Epilogue)
In the evening of this life, I shall appear before You with empty hands, for I do not ask You, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is stained in Your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in Your own Justice and to receive from Your Love the eternal possession of Yourself. I want no other Throne, no other Crown but You, my Beloved.
(Story of a Soul, Appendices, "Act of Oblation to Merciful Love")
And about three months before she died, Therese offered this ...
I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission of making others love God as I love Him, my mission of teaching my little way to souls. If God answers my requests, my heaven will be spent on earth up into the end of the world. Yes, I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.
(Story of a Soul, Epilogue)
Today's photo: Praise and exalt Him above all forever.
© Gertrude Feick 2025
