Thursday, October 1, 2020

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

(Job 19:21-27; Luke 10:1-12)

St. Therese of Lisieux has been named co-patron of the missions although she never set foot in a “mission land.”  More important than travelling to Africa or China, however, Therese had the soul of a missionary.  She loved Christ and wanted to win souls for him.  As a young teen, she prayed in front of an image of Christ crucified: “I wanted to give my Beloved to drink, and I felt myself consumed with a thirst for souls."

In today’s gospel Jesus sends seventy-two disciples with a similar “thirst for souls.” They are to proclaim the Kingdom of God with both healings and words.  Their number is significant. It represents, according to Genesis, the number of nations on earth.  They will demonstrate the love which they preach. Taking nothing with them, they will show how God provides for those who love Him. 

Most of us do not see ourselves as missionaries.  We may say that we have enough to do seeing our own way to eternal life. Nevertheless, the Lord sends us out to others.  Like Therese our mission field may be very limited – our families or work associates.  Through our peace, joy, and care, we are to relay to them God’s love. 

Monday, October 1, 2012

Saint Terese of Lisieux, virgin and doctor of the Church

(Job 1:6-22; Luke 9:46-50)

Can it be only coincidence that Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta bears the same name of today’s patron saint? More than likely one of the saintliest women of the twentieth century took the name “Teresa” from the nineteenth century mystic. Mother Teresa is famous for saying, “We can’t do great things, but we can do little things with great love” which reflects perfectly what St. Therese of Lisieux wrote of as her “little way.”

Some may think it easy to practice love in a convent where everyone prays continually. But anyone who has lived in such close quarters knows that kindness and patience is supremely challenged when one faces the same people with their disturbing idiosyncrasies over a period of years. The grace with which Therese bore such difficulty made her a saint, and her perspicacity in relating the development of her soul made her a doctor of the Church.

No life is without irritation and frustration. All of us should ask for the grace to overcome these challenges. The Holy Spirit then fills our hearts with love so that we, like Therese, may become holy.