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Walking the Little Way of Thérèse of Lisieux: Discovering the Path of Love
From her early years, Thérèse of Lisieux desired to be a saint, so the primary focus of her life was to walk the path of love—what she called “the science of love.” But she often asked herself if her love was pure and authentic. With sensitivity and insight, author Joseph Schmidt shows us how Thérèse discovered certain qualities of the heart that told her that she was indeed walking the path of authentic love. These qualities—inner freedom, creativity, compassion, willingness, self-surrender or abandonment, and gratefulness—“opened her heart to a new depth of God’s life in and through her.” Eventually, they played a very practical role in Thérèse’s ordinary day-to-day life relationships—and they can in our own as well. As he did in his earlier book on Thérèse, Everything Is Grace, Joseph Schmidt breaks new ground in his latest book and offers tremendous food for thought and reflection on the spirituality of this great saint. • Offers a concrete way to follow Thérèse’s path to God. • A “must read” for those interested in the spirituality of Thérèse. Praise for "Walking the Little Way of Thérèse of Lisieux" “To read this work is like taking a leisurely walk with a friend on a path to a place of peace and joy. Walking the Little Way of Thérèse of Lisieux is best read slowly because you eventually discover that you are lingering and delighting in the company of Jesus. St. Thérèse’s ‘little way’ is so uncomplicated and her humility is so attractive.” —Most Rev. Edward J. Slattery, Bishop of Tulsa “Walking the Little Way of Thérèse of Lisieux is an insightful and incisive study into a great, great saint. Br. Joseph looks at Thérèse in a new and profound way, probing her mind and heart more deeply than any other author that I’ve ever come across. This book will speak to our modern age and give great courage and encouragement to many. I wholeheartedly endorse it.” —Most Rev. Harry J. Flynn, Archbishop Emeritus, St. Paul/Minneapolis “Pray this book, and please don’t rush it. Or maybe it’s better to say, live it—as a contemporary, deeply penetrating reflection on the doctrine of our newest Doctor of the Church, one of God’s incredible surprises.” —Sr. Miriam Pollard, OCSO, Prioress, Santa Rita Abbey, Sonoita, Arizona “Don’t miss this invitation to embark on a fascinating journey with Thérèse herself as a guide, interpreted through the lens of one of the best current English-language commentators on Thérèse’s thoughts and spirituality.” —Fr. Eamonn Mulcahy, CSSP, STD, Tangaza College, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, Kenya “. As in his previous writings, and especially in his biography of Thérèse, Everything Is Grace, Joseph Schmidt brings a freshness and heartfelt way of easily identifying with Thérèse.” —Fr. Bob Colaresi, O Carm, Society of the Little Flower, Darien, Illinois Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC is a lecturer, spiritual director, and counselor at the international renewal center of the Christian Brothers located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is the author of Praying with Thérèse of Lisieux and Praying Our Experiences.
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 11, 2017
I should have just stuck to reading St. Therese of Lisieux's original writing...the author clearly did his research and took the time to piece everything together. But this just wasn't a page turner for me.
March 11, 2014
Excellent read for those who want to look deeper to what the Little Way is, this book describes how Therese's Little Way came to be, how it developed and in the last chapters tells what the main points are.
Including texts from written sources (her autobiography, letters and other accounts) and written in a enjoyable manner, I found it very informative and made quite a lot of notes. Also I found myself relating to her struggle against self-violence, selfishness and various struggles the life brought her; it is admirable and a good model how she kept her hope and the Little Way even when she got sick and had to struggle with fear/temptations/mental attacks/worsening health.
Truly inspiring and useful. Recommended.
Including texts from written sources (her autobiography, letters and other accounts) and written in a enjoyable manner, I found it very informative and made quite a lot of notes. Also I found myself relating to her struggle against self-violence, selfishness and various struggles the life brought her; it is admirable and a good model how she kept her hope and the Little Way even when she got sick and had to struggle with fear/temptations/mental attacks/worsening health.
Truly inspiring and useful. Recommended.
August 5, 2021
Helped me to understand Therese and her spirituality (the "science of love") in a way that I did not grasp from simply reading her autobiography, Story of a Soul. Br. Joseph Schmidt seems to intimately know the mind and heart of this saint, and invites all of us into a deeper love of Therese, her heart for Jesus, and of course our Lord God.
October 22, 2020
Reading the about the life and spirituality of St Therese is always a jump start to my spiritual life. Doing little things with great love, through Christ. St Therese pray for us.
October 31, 2024
The explanation and commentary of this author artfully augments any difficulty one may have had with reading Therese's words directly.
The "Little Way" is a challenge to comprehend if you've been seeped in the responses of the world. It would take constant guidance of self to navigate each human interaction. Yet, oh what blessings!
The "Little Way" is a challenge to comprehend if you've been seeped in the responses of the world. It would take constant guidance of self to navigate each human interaction. Yet, oh what blessings!
December 31, 2021
Another mentor
January 25, 2016
A Walk to Take Slowly
I was torn about how many stars to give this book, but I went in the end with the number that most accurately reflected how the book affected me and changed my habits and ways of looking at the world. St. Therese's Little Way is superb and so helpful in working out how to live in the world but not be of the world.
But this is a book to digest slowly. I found myself reading it only little by little, sometimes going back to re-read passages or even pages and thinking over their contents.
I must confess to finding Brother Schmidt's style a little tedious at the beginning because he does tend to a lot of repetition, but by the book's middle I found that repetition helpful because it kept those ideas and concepts before me more clearly.
I definitely would recommend the book to anyone needing or wanting an introduction to the thought of St. Therese of Lisieux and an exploration of her "Little Way." Those already familiar with her spirituality might find this a bit too simplistic, but there is great virtue in simplicity.
I was torn about how many stars to give this book, but I went in the end with the number that most accurately reflected how the book affected me and changed my habits and ways of looking at the world. St. Therese's Little Way is superb and so helpful in working out how to live in the world but not be of the world.
But this is a book to digest slowly. I found myself reading it only little by little, sometimes going back to re-read passages or even pages and thinking over their contents.
I must confess to finding Brother Schmidt's style a little tedious at the beginning because he does tend to a lot of repetition, but by the book's middle I found that repetition helpful because it kept those ideas and concepts before me more clearly.
I definitely would recommend the book to anyone needing or wanting an introduction to the thought of St. Therese of Lisieux and an exploration of her "Little Way." Those already familiar with her spirituality might find this a bit too simplistic, but there is great virtue in simplicity.
October 17, 2015
Saint Therese is my patron saint, so I enjoy reading anything about her and her little way. When I bought this book I had no idea what a treasure it is. Wow! This author has become my new favorite author, and I intend to buy every book he has written about Therese. For those who are familiar with her book, you will love the deeper insights in this one. Extremely well researched, this book weaves quotes from Therese along with historical information to give the reader a much more thorough understanding of Therese's philosophy. You will definitely learn things you didn't know that will help you on your faith walk. Truly an outstanding book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews