Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and Doctor of the Church

(Job 3:1-3.11-17.20-23; Luke 9:51-56)

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus has been acclaimed far more illustriously than anyone who knew her would have imagined.  She lived most of her life in a small town in France.  The last part she spent in a Carmel praying night and day.  Yet she has been named the patroness of missionaries, the patroness of France, and a Doctor of the Church!  How did this come about?

Thérèse expressed a desire to be a missionary nun in Hanoi Vietnam.  However, her tuberculosis condition prohibited her from volunteering herself.  Instead, she devoted herself to praying for missionaries throughout the world.  She tells the story of her inner life in her autobiography, The Story of a Soul.  The book is filled with such profound spiritual insights that she is considered a Master of Theology.  What is more, her life of prayer and self-sacrifice has made her an exemplar of Christian life.

Thérèse makes us aware of the humbling truth that we too can become saints.  We do not need a degree in theology, much less to be ordained to live a gospel-centered life as she did.  But we need to pray for the grace to be humble, patient, and, of course, caring of others.

 


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