Skip to content

featuring historical research, writing, and media at st. mary's university

  • World History

    World History

    Menu
    • World History
    • Pre-Classical History (to 600 BCE)
    • Classical History (600 BCE-600 CE)
    • Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE)
    • Early Modern History (1492-1789)
    • Modern History (1789-1914)
    • Global History (1900-present)

    From the Ancient World

    The Battle of Zama: Rome's Vengeance

    Posted by Davis Nickle12/01/2020

    From the Modern World

    The Holy See Takes On The Fight Against Climate Change

    Posted by Victor Rodriguez11/30/2020

    Regional Histories

    Menu
    • African and African American Studies
    • Latin American Studies
  • US History

    Early America

    Menu
    • US-Three Worlds Meet (to 1620)
    • US-Colonization and Settlement (1585-1763)
    • US-Revolution and the New Nation (1754-1820s)
    • US-Expansion and Reform (1801-1861)
    • US-Civil War & Reconstruction (1850-1877)

    Rodney Reed :Trapped In the Shadows of Jim Crow

    Posted by Christopher McClinton04/28/2020

    Remembering Ranchos De Las Cabras: The Forgotten Outpost of Mission Espada

    Posted by Shine Trabucco05/07/2019

    When An Invisible Threat Took Over the World: COVID-19

    Posted by Aracely Beltran05/27/2020

    The '92 Dream Team: The Team that Changed the Game of Basketball Forever

    Posted by Briley Perkins10/06/2019

    Gun Violence in America: The Sandy Hook Story

    Posted by Diamond Estrada11/14/2019

    Katherine Johnson, The Brains of Freedom 7

    Posted by Margaret Maguire11/10/2019

    The World’s Amazing (Accidental) Discovery of Penicillin

    Posted by Roberto Rodriguez12/06/2019

    The Pacification of My Lai

    Posted by Sterling Henarie11/28/2020

    Walt Disney and the building of his Magic Kingdom

    Posted by Malik Heard12/06/2019

    RuPaul's Influence On Drag: You Better Work!

    Posted by Nadia Carrasco04/07/2019

    Nothing keeps Amberley Snyder from getting back on the horse

    Posted by Amariz Puerta04/07/2019

    The Bearded Lady

    Posted by Maya Mani04/07/2019

    Behind The Tapes: The Actions Taken Towards Impeaching Nixon

    Posted by Thalia Romo11/15/2019

    William Weber: Attorney In it for Profit

    Posted by Makenzie Santana04/17/2019

    ADHD Among Americans: From Childhood to Adulthood

    Posted by Josephine Tran11/15/2019

    “Find a miracle, hold onto it, and keep going.” The Story of Elizabeth Smart

    Posted by Mia Hernandez11/07/2020

    Breaking Silence or Just Speaking Louder?: The Story of Larry Nassar and his 499 Victims

    Posted by Paola Arellano04/07/2019

    Billie Jean King: Ruler of the Court

    Posted by Charli Delmonico12/09/2019

    Music from the heart: How Heart influenced rock and roll

    Posted by Michael Hinojosa05/06/2019

    The Old Spanish Trail in Southern Arizona

    Posted by John Cadena05/09/2019

    Health at Every Size As a Means to Approach Obesity and Improve a Fat-phobic Society

    Posted by Vanessa Quetzeri12/01/2019

    Chadwick Boseman: A King On And Off The Throne

    Posted by Donte Joseph11/07/2020

    La práctica hace al maestro: Lo difícil que es mantener ser bilingüe

    Posted by Alexandra Cantu11/24/2020

    Colonias in the Rio Grande Valley: La Monjita en la Bicicleta

    Posted by Angela Perez11/01/2020

    Five Eyes & An Onion: Tor & the Deep Dark Web

    Posted by Stephen Talik04/08/2020

    Thomas Gallaudet: The Voice of the Deaf

    Posted by Yazmin Garza04/06/2019

    BEYONCÉ: The Early Days of the Worldwide Legend

    Posted by Sydney Hardeman10/01/2019

    The Eminem Show That You Don't Know

    Posted by Andres Cano05/08/2019

    Excelsior!!! To The King of Comic Books

    Posted by Eliezer Leal10/25/2019

    The Lack of Latinx Access to Proper Mental Care in a Metropolitan County

    Posted by Ángel Velarde11/05/2020

    Contemporary America

    Menu
    • US-Industrial United States (1870-1900)
    • US-Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)
    • US-Great Depression & WWII (1929-1945)
    • US-Postwar United States (1945-early 1970s)
    • US-Contemporary United States (1968-present)
  • Themes

    SPICE Categories

    Specialty Categories

    Special Themes

    Menu
    • Social History
    • Political History
    • Environmental History
    • Cultural History
    • Economic History
    Menu
    • Art History
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Gender Studies
    • Human Rights
    • Public Health and Medicine
    • International Relations
    • Linguistics
    Menu
    • Military History
    • Music
    • People
    • Psychology
    • Religion
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    Menu
    • Catholic Heritage
    • The Year 1968
    • COVID-19
    • Social Justice
    • Spanish Language
  • Showcase

    Showcase Editions

    • Vol 1 – 2016
      • Vol 1 No 1 Aug-Sep 2016
      • Vol 1 No 2 Oct-Nov 2016
    • Vol 2 – 2017
      • Vol 2 No 1 Jan-Feb 2017
      • Vol 2 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017
      • Vol 2 No 3 Aug-Sep 2017
      • Vol 2 No 4 Oct-Nov 2017
    • Vol 3 – 2018
      • Vol 3 No 1 Jan-Feb 2018
      • Vol 3 No 2 Mar-Apr 2018
      • Vol 3 No 3 Aug-Sep 2018
      • Vol 3 No 4 Oct-Nov 2018
    • Vol 4 – 2019
      • Vol 4 No 1 Jan-Feb 2019
      • Vol 4 No 2 Mar-Apr 2019
      • Vol 4 No 3 Aug-Sep 2019
      • Vol 4 No 4 Oct-Nov 2019
    • Vol 5 – 2020
      • Vol 5 No 1 Jan-Feb 2020
      • Vol 5 No 2 Mar-Apr 2020
      • Vol 5 No 3 Aug-Sep 2020
    Menu
    • Vol 1 – 2016
      • Vol 1 No 1 Aug-Sep 2016
      • Vol 1 No 2 Oct-Nov 2016
    • Vol 2 – 2017
      • Vol 2 No 1 Jan-Feb 2017
      • Vol 2 No 2 Mar-Apr 2017
      • Vol 2 No 3 Aug-Sep 2017
      • Vol 2 No 4 Oct-Nov 2017
    • Vol 3 – 2018
      • Vol 3 No 1 Jan-Feb 2018
      • Vol 3 No 2 Mar-Apr 2018
      • Vol 3 No 3 Aug-Sep 2018
      • Vol 3 No 4 Oct-Nov 2018
    • Vol 4 – 2019
      • Vol 4 No 1 Jan-Feb 2019
      • Vol 4 No 2 Mar-Apr 2019
      • Vol 4 No 3 Aug-Sep 2019
      • Vol 4 No 4 Oct-Nov 2019
    • Vol 5 – 2020
      • Vol 5 No 1 Jan-Feb 2020
      • Vol 5 No 2 Mar-Apr 2020
      • Vol 5 No 3 Aug-Sep 2020
  • About

    Course Readings

    Article Indexes

    About Us

    Menu
    • Course Readings – SC 3300 – Nash
    • Course Readings – SMC 1301 – Wieck
    • Course Readings – PO 4334 – Dr Celine
    • Course Readings _ PO 3365 – Dr Celine
    Menu
    • Course Readings – HS 2321 – Whitener
    • Course Readings – HS 2322 – Whitener
    • Course Readings – SMC 1301 – Whitener
    Menu
    • Our Article/Author Index
    • Award Winning Articles
    Menu
    • Our StMU History Media Project
    • Our Faculty Consultants
    • Our Writers
    • Contact Us
  • Catholic Heritage, Cultural History, Descriptive Article, Modern History (1789-1914), People, Religion, World History
  • December 15, 2019

St. Thérèse of Lisieux “The Little Flower” – Her Beautiful “Little Way” for Christ

St. Thérèse in the courtyard in the monastery of Lisieux on Easter Monday, April 15, 1894 | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
St. Thérèse in the courtyard in the monastery of Lisieux on Easter Monday, April 15, 1894 | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Gabriel Lopez

Gabriel Lopez

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as “the Little Flower,” was just a young lady when God revealed to her through a vision that she would die at a young age. Instead of being distraught and questionable of why that was her fate, she calmly accepted it, while seeing the goodness and mercy of him through this vision. This strongly urged her to spread the greatness of God to those who fear him. She did this in a beautiful manner by teaching them about “The Little Way.”1

In the year 1895, Thérèse was twenty-two years old when she wrote a book about her childhood for her sister, Pauline. As she was writing this, she realized how grateful she was for having two saints for parents, a humble home, and loving friends and relatives. She saw that millions of people did not have the same as she did, and she felt blessed to have them.2 “Heavenly Father, you have been so generous!” she exclaimed. “Now I want to give you something in return.”3 But she asked herself, what could she give when she is so little and weak? After some prayer and reflection, she found the inspiration to make herself a victim of God’s love in a new fashion.4

Photograph of St. Thérèse, 1888-1896 | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

On June 9, 1895, Thérèse made an Act of Love for the first time. It was long, but was based on simple facts. People are afraid of God, she told herself. They see him as a being who permits suffering and sorrow, who punishes even the smallest of sin. This makes death seem like something to be dreaded, and Heaven being impossible to reach. Over time, she understood that God is a being of love and mercy as he is of justice. He has an infinite love for mankind, and most of the time, this love finds no appreciation.5

The desire to atone for these souls who constantly reject God led Thérèse to ask God to shower her with all his love, and to offer herself as a victim for this same love. She was willing to die a martyr as if she had given her life defending the love of God. After this offering, she soon found graces flooding her soul.6 One day, while she was making the Stations of the Cross, she experienced a vision from God that she described as “the penetration of a heavenly flame that seemed to pierce her very being.”7 She felt that the hand of God was truly upon her, to the point where she thought she was dying. In an instant, this feeling disappeared, and she was left to ponder its meaning. She realized that it was a sign that God planned to take her to heaven soon. She thought, “What does it matter if my life is long or short? Dear God, take that! I choose everything that you have decided for me!”8 

Two months later, Pauline received a letter from a young seminarian, who expected to be ordained a priest in a few years, and would leave for Africa as a missionary afterwards. The letter addressed his concern that although he was happy to work for God, he dreaded being separated from his family. He wanted to be a saint, but was scared of the sacrifices that he would have to make. Pauline asked Thérèse if she wanted to be the one to write back to him and encourage him. Thérèse was delighted with the task, and she felt that the seminarian needed to learn about “The Little Way.”9

Thérèse translated “The Little Way” in terms of a commitment to the tasks and kind deeds to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel, served in the refectory and in the laundry room, and she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. It is called “the Little Way” merely by being simple, direct, and graceful in even the smallest of tasks.10

Thérèse wrote back to him saying that he is full of doubt because he is relying on his own strength, and once he learns to put himself as a little child in the arms of God, then everything will be different. A little while later, she asked him for a favor, that he would pray for her so that she can bring as many souls as she can to God, even after her death. He agreed to do this for the rest of his life. A few months later, she made the same request from another seminarian, to whom she also taught about “the Little Way.” Thérèse was thankful that she could play a part in the apostles’ mission. Since she was a girl, she could never become a priest, and since she was a cloistered nun, she could never teach the truths about the Church in pagan lands, but she could still have some share in both missions. Through secret meditation and devotion, she was able to merit for both her brothers the courage to carry on their difficult labors.11

The Carmel of Lisieux, 1900 | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Thérèse continued to guide other novices, especially her little sisters in the convent. She played no favorites and gave herself even to the difficult members.10 She also did her best to teach them one important fact: That each and every soul born into the world is called to be a saint—not by halves or with indifference, but completely, and with joy. She taught them that for some, the process is long and difficult, mainly because they depend on their own abilities and don’t think about submitting themselves to God with trust. Others achieve salvation more quickly because they have learned to be humble. One novice cried because she thought about all the things she had to acquire to become virtuous. Thérèse, however, showed her through an analogy that she was trying to climb a mountain, whereas God wished her to descend. Another one complained that she didn’t like to suffer or be humiliated, and she questioned how she would be a saint with such feelings. Thérèse did her best to explain that feelings do not matter, and she told her that she could make a wonderful prayer out of her dislike for suffering and humiliation. In this way, she would present this as a token of her weakness.13 “If you feel regret that all the flowers of your desires and of your good intentions fall to the ground without producing any fruit, offer to God this sacrifice of never being able to gather the fruit of your efforts.”14 The novice was somewhat consoled, but Thérèse knew she had reached her. Over and over, she described the beauty of simplicity in a person’s spiritual life and how it is a sure way to God.15

The canonization of St. Thérèse in St. Peter’s Basilica, May 25 1925 | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Thérèse taught that it is no lazy man’s way to heaven, since it meant accepting suffering and humiliation without complaint. Her “Little Way” has never been praised, or even mentioned by the priests who gave her retreats, and was never bothered by it. Instead, later on, the whole world would accept her words and practice what she taught to this day.16

  1. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 125-129. ↵
  2. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 121. ↵
  3. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 122. ↵
  4. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 122. ↵
  5. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 122-123. ↵
  6. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 123. ↵
  7. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 123. ↵
  8. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 124. ↵
  9. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 124-125. ↵
  10. John Russell, “Her Little Way,” 2009, Society of the Little Flower, https://www.littleflower.org/therese/reflections/st-therese-and-her-little-way. ↵
  11. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 125-126. ↵
  12. John Russell, “Her Little Way,” 2009, Society of the Little Flower, https://www.littleflower.org/therese/reflections/st-therese-and-her-little-way. ↵
  13. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 127-129. ↵
  14. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 129. ↵
  15. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 128. ↵
  16. Mary Windeatt, The Little Flower: The Story of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Meinrad: St. Meinrad’s Abbey Inc., 1944), 129. ↵

Tags from the story

  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
Share on print
Share on email
Gabriel Lopez

Gabriel Lopez

Author Portfolio Page

This Post Has 18 Comments

  1. Avatar
    Alyssa Vasquez 24 Aug 2020 Reply

    I’ve known about St. Therese of Lisieux basically my whole life since I went to a private catholic school. One year I chose her as my saint I had wanted to study. This is a very interesting story about her. She never tried to impress God or anyone, she lived her life by just following he values and believing in her faith. She was full of emotion for God and knew that he was always the one there for her.

  2. Avatar
    Lucia Saks 16 Aug 2020 Reply

    When I was doing my catechism I ended up choosing Saint Therese of Lisieux as my patron saint without knowing that much about her. Something in me just told me that she was the saint to take care and watch over me. Reading her story again made me realize how special of a saint she truly was. She never made a grad gesture for God she just let herself become a vessel for the Lord and help people by showing them the little way. She gave the ultimate gift of her life for the Lord and I always strive to live as she did.

  3. Avatar
    Alicia Martinez 16 Aug 2020 Reply

    This story was very intriguing to read mainly because of its tie to catholic heritage. I had never heard of St. Therese of Lisieux, and I was pleased to learn about her devotion to preaching about the love of God, despite knowing that she could never be a priest for the Church. While reading the article, I was curious to understand why she was known as “the Little Flower.” Through the creative well-written words, the entire story came together at the end with ease through an indirect comparision of the delicate beauty of a flower to the “beauty of simplicity in a person’s spiritual life.”

  4. Avatar
    Vanessa Barron Ortiz 3 Apr 2020 Reply

    This article took me to a place of comfort and indulgence, as a child raised in a catholic home i was raised to believe in god without a doubt on my mind that he can do it all. Reading this article reminded me a lot of the way my mom carries Gods love on her sleeves and is not afraid to deliver that love to others and overflow the overwhelming negative thought of others with gods truth and strength. St. Therese portrays his love in such a powerful and fulfilling manner. Everything about this article reminded me that even the smallest thanks or prayer bring us at peace regardless of our emotions or situations.

  5. Avatar
    Kacey Diaz 6 Mar 2020 Reply

    This was a really light-hearted article that I enjoyed reading. I like reading stories of real people who devote their lives to helping other people and not seek attention or recognition for their actions. This article was also really well written. Just by the words and the author’s style of writing it’s easy to picture and imagine St. Therese’s love for God.

  6. Avatar
    David Castaneda Picon 5 Mar 2020 Reply

    I have never heard this story before. In fact, this is my first time reading about St.Therese and her little way to God. What intrigues me the most about this story is Santa Teresa’s ability of reflection, which was the main factor for her to develop a high emotion and passion for God’s love. I believe that she managed to accomplish her mission in life by teaching “The Little way” to those whom needed it.

  7. Avatar
    Francisco Cruzado 1 Mar 2020 Reply

    I always get surprised with those saints who assimilate suffering and humbleness as two joint and indivisible terms, as if both words were intrinsically united. St Therese reminds me of Santa Rosa de Lima, a saint woman from Peru, who locked herself for almost her entire life in a dark room and used to constantly beat herself and constraint her body with ropes. I wonder if Santa Rosa also had those moments of reflection, those instants where she found an axiom and hold to it for the rest of her life. But overall, what intrigues me the most in these stories, is the reaction from the populace, the chat that many more might be having around such a peculiar character, the impact her image has on the rest, the concepts that seem to lie behind her symbolism.

  8. Jose Chaman
    Jose Chaman 18 Feb 2020 Reply

    This story is really touching. St. Therese of Lisieux was full of emotion and passion for God. I had never heard about the life of a saint with so much dedication to show the love of God and the strength that He imprints on us. In addition, I must emphasize that this article perfectly conveys the emotion of her and her mission. St. Therese’s dedication is truly admirable and worthy of following.

Comments navigation

Previous commentPrevious

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

StMU History Media

A Student Organization of St. Mary's University of San Antonio Texas

Sponsors

  • College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, St. Mary's University
  • Department of History, St. Mary's University
  • Department of Political Science, St. Mary's University
  • Center for Catholic Studies, St. Mary's University

Support Services

  • The Learning Assistance Center, St. Mary's University
  • Louis J. Blume Library Services, St. Mary's University
  • STRIVE Career Center, St. Mary's University
  • Academic Technology Services, St. Mary's University

About

  • About Us
  • Our Authors
  • Our Archive
  • Contacts

© All rights reserved

Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest