Why I Love St. Therese of Lisieux

October 1st, 2016.

Today is the feast day one of my favourite saints, Saint Therese of Lisieux. She’s a very popular modern-day saint and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who admires her.

Let me begin by tell you that for the longest time, I never asked for the intercession of saints. I did not have any interests in getting to know them, probably because I didn’t understand them or I had a huge misconception of them. I thought they were not relatable and that I could never attain their “level of holiness”. Two years ago, I asked the Lord to reveal himself to me in ways that I haven’t seen or experienced yet. That’s when I took discerning for my vocation seriously (oh shucks). I went to the gift shop at Saint Joseph’s Oratory and stumbled upon a little book about the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux. With no interest of buying it, I skimmed through the pages and on one of them was her very short biography and I read that she died at 24 due to tuberculosis. “She wasn’t martyred? She died because she was sick?!”, I asked myself. I continued reading and learned that her prayer life seemed very dry to her at times, and that she would even fall asleep praying the rosary. “Whaaaat? Is she even a saint?”. I decided to get the book because she seemed “too normal” to me.

Too normal. Too relatable. Too personal.

Who is she? Why did she catch my attention? I discovered more about her until she became my friend. The more I got to know her, the more I was able to ask her to intercede for me. I like her because of her devotion to the Lord but also her realness in her suffering in despair. She made me realize that, even someone who was declared a doctor of the church, struggled, and despite that she persisted until the very end.

When I reflect on my life and my journey as a mission volunteer, I think I put this pressure on me and strive to do things the right way (because I feel like I need to be a good example to my brothers and sisters). I look up to the full time pastoral workers because they are so wise and willing to serve the Lord, but I tend to forget that we all have our weaknesses and struggles. But at the end of the day, it’s really okay! The Lord looks at our hearts and our intentions of loving Him.

Saint Therese reminds me that I don’t need to do grand things in order to show the Lord how much I love him (although theres nothing wrong with that either!). I can “do small things with great love”! We all can…and I think that this is a great challenge as missionaries. We are called to bring the Gospel to everyone – everyone meaning people we might not really enjoy (hehe) but are called to love nonetheless, and to accept that it’s normal to suffer and struggle in the name of the Lord.

You see, saints are normal people just like me and you. Sinners who kept on trying. It took me a long time to realize that and now I can truly say that I am getting to know many saints who help me experience the greatness of God. Who is your favourite saint? 

Dear Saint Therese, pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.
Saint Therese, you were faithful to God even unto the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior.

Loving God, St. Therese never doubted that her life had meaning. Help me to see how I can bless and love everyone in my life. Amen.

Saint Therese, pray for us.

AMDG