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The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-97, feast day, October 1) is the latest--and among youngest--of the thirty-three "Doctors of the Church." This devotional book is made up of her sayings from her many writings (Story of a Soul, her poetry, and her letters), approximately one to two sentences for each day of the year. Each month is introduced by a quote from Scripture (NRSV). The English text was translated by the late Paulist priest, Francis Broome, whose brief foreword is also included, as are end-notes and a table of contents.
This is the perfect pocket-/purse-sized gift-book for those who have a devotion to St.Thérèse or to those who have yet to be introduced to her infectious "Little Way."
Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
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About the author
Thérèse of Lisieux
201 books356 followersSaint Thérèse de Lisieux or Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, was a French Carmelite nun. She is also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus". She was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church May 17, 1925.
She felt an early call to religious life, and overcoming various obstacles, in 1888 at the early age of 15, became a nun and joined two of her older sisters in the enclosed Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, having fulfilled various offices, such as sacristan and novice mistress, and having spent the last eighteen months in Carmel in a night of faith, she died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. The impact of her posthumous publications, including her memoir The Story of a Soul was great, and she rapidly became one of the most popular saints of the twentieth century. Pope Pius XI made her the star of his pontificate. She was beatified in 1923, and canonized in 1925. The speed of this process may be seen by comparison with that applied to a great heroine of Thérèse, Joan of Arc, who died in 1431 but was not canonized until 1920. Thérèse was declared co-patron of the missions with Francis Xavier in 1927, and named co-patron of France with Joan of Arc in 1944. On 19 October 1997 Pope John Paul II declared her the thirty-third Doctor of the Church, the youngest of all Doctors of the Church, and only the third woman Doctor. Devotion to Thérèse has developed around the world.
Thérèse lived a hidden life and 'wanted to be unknown' yet through her writings—as well as her spiritual autobiography she left letters, poems, religious plays, prayers and various notes, and her last conversations were recorded by her sisters—and thanks to the photographs taken inside the Lisieux Carmel by her sister Céline, she became known to, and later seen by, millions of men and women. According to one of her biographers, Guy Gaucher, after her death, "Thérèse fell victim to an excess of sentimental devotion which betrayed her. She was victim also to her language, which was that of the late nineteenth century and flowed from the religiosity of her age." Thérèsè herself said on her death-bed : "I only love simplicity. I have a horror of pretence", and she spoke out against some of the Lives of saints written in her day :" We should not say improbable things, or things we do not know. We must see their real, and not their imagined lives." The critic Marina Warner observed that the excesses sometimes associated with her cult should not blind one to the heroism of her, "struggle to be good, and the radical affirmation of ordinary lives that her sainthood stands for."
The depth of her spirituality, of which she said "my way is all confidence and love," has inspired many believers. In the face of her littleness and nothingness, she trusted in God to be her sanctity. She wanted to go to Heaven by an entirely new little way. "I wanted to find an elevator that would raise me to Jesus." The elevator, she wrote, would be the arms of Jesus lifting her in all her littleness.
The Basilica of Lisieux is the second greatest place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes.
She felt an early call to religious life, and overcoming various obstacles, in 1888 at the early age of 15, became a nun and joined two of her older sisters in the enclosed Carmelite community of Lisieux, Normandy. After nine years as a Carmelite religious, having fulfilled various offices, such as sacristan and novice mistress, and having spent the last eighteen months in Carmel in a night of faith, she died of tuberculosis at the age of 24. The impact of her posthumous publications, including her memoir The Story of a Soul was great, and she rapidly became one of the most popular saints of the twentieth century. Pope Pius XI made her the star of his pontificate. She was beatified in 1923, and canonized in 1925. The speed of this process may be seen by comparison with that applied to a great heroine of Thérèse, Joan of Arc, who died in 1431 but was not canonized until 1920. Thérèse was declared co-patron of the missions with Francis Xavier in 1927, and named co-patron of France with Joan of Arc in 1944. On 19 October 1997 Pope John Paul II declared her the thirty-third Doctor of the Church, the youngest of all Doctors of the Church, and only the third woman Doctor. Devotion to Thérèse has developed around the world.
Thérèse lived a hidden life and 'wanted to be unknown' yet through her writings—as well as her spiritual autobiography she left letters, poems, religious plays, prayers and various notes, and her last conversations were recorded by her sisters—and thanks to the photographs taken inside the Lisieux Carmel by her sister Céline, she became known to, and later seen by, millions of men and women. According to one of her biographers, Guy Gaucher, after her death, "Thérèse fell victim to an excess of sentimental devotion which betrayed her. She was victim also to her language, which was that of the late nineteenth century and flowed from the religiosity of her age." Thérèsè herself said on her death-bed : "I only love simplicity. I have a horror of pretence", and she spoke out against some of the Lives of saints written in her day :" We should not say improbable things, or things we do not know. We must see their real, and not their imagined lives." The critic Marina Warner observed that the excesses sometimes associated with her cult should not blind one to the heroism of her, "struggle to be good, and the radical affirmation of ordinary lives that her sainthood stands for."
The depth of her spirituality, of which she said "my way is all confidence and love," has inspired many believers. In the face of her littleness and nothingness, she trusted in God to be her sanctity. She wanted to go to Heaven by an entirely new little way. "I wanted to find an elevator that would raise me to Jesus." The elevator, she wrote, would be the arms of Jesus lifting her in all her littleness.
The Basilica of Lisieux is the second greatest place of pilgrimage in France after Lourdes.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 21, 2019
I really do love the CTS books and booklets ! There are so many great reads, and wonderful series. And this ‘Saints of the Isles’ is one of my favorite series to date. This is the eighth book in this series from the Catholic Truth Society that I have read. And I loved it. I have read almost 100 books and booklets from the Catholic Truth Society in the last year and a half. Many have been great reads, and I have read books from several excellent series. I love this series that focuses on the Saints of the Isles. This volume was first published in 1932, it was reprinted in 2009, and the eBook edition was released in 2017.
This volume is not the complete little way, it is a selection of extracts. They are designed to serve as a guide as sign-ports for the Little Way and for those who follow it. These are also taken from the English translation of the Saint’s autobiography and are not new translations for this edition.
The chapters in this volume are:
Preface
Understanding Thérèse
Secret of Sanctity
Spiritual Childhood
Simplicity
The Night of the Soul
Charity
Some Prayers of St Thérèse
In the section Understanding Therese Pope Pius XI states:
“We desire earnestly that all the faithful of Christ should render themselves worthy of partaking in the abundant profusion of graces resulting from the intercession of “little Thérèse”. But we desire much more earnestly that all the faithful should study her in order to copy her becoming children themselves, since otherwise they cannot, according to the oracle of the Master, arrive at the Kingdom of Heaven.
If the way of spiritual childhood became general, who does not see how easily would be realised the reformation of human society... We, therefore, adopt as our own the prayer of the new Saint Thérèse with which she ends her invaluable autobiography: “O Jesus, We beseech thee to cast thy glance upon the vast number of little souls, and to choose in this world a legion of little victims worthy of thy love.” Amen.’”
This book is a fantastic introduction to the way. It is a great little volume. If you have read the full version, it will serve as a refresher. If you have not it is a great place to start. Another excellent volume from the Catholic Truth Society.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by from the Catholic Truth Society.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
This volume is not the complete little way, it is a selection of extracts. They are designed to serve as a guide as sign-ports for the Little Way and for those who follow it. These are also taken from the English translation of the Saint’s autobiography and are not new translations for this edition.
The chapters in this volume are:
Preface
Understanding Thérèse
Secret of Sanctity
Spiritual Childhood
Simplicity
The Night of the Soul
Charity
Some Prayers of St Thérèse
In the section Understanding Therese Pope Pius XI states:
“We desire earnestly that all the faithful of Christ should render themselves worthy of partaking in the abundant profusion of graces resulting from the intercession of “little Thérèse”. But we desire much more earnestly that all the faithful should study her in order to copy her becoming children themselves, since otherwise they cannot, according to the oracle of the Master, arrive at the Kingdom of Heaven.
If the way of spiritual childhood became general, who does not see how easily would be realised the reformation of human society... We, therefore, adopt as our own the prayer of the new Saint Thérèse with which she ends her invaluable autobiography: “O Jesus, We beseech thee to cast thy glance upon the vast number of little souls, and to choose in this world a legion of little victims worthy of thy love.” Amen.’”
This book is a fantastic introduction to the way. It is a great little volume. If you have read the full version, it will serve as a refresher. If you have not it is a great place to start. Another excellent volume from the Catholic Truth Society.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by from the Catholic Truth Society.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
June 4, 2020
Intense life
A small classic. Demonstrating a life lived intensely for Christ. A humble book of delightful freshness. I highly recommend this book.
A small classic. Demonstrating a life lived intensely for Christ. A humble book of delightful freshness. I highly recommend this book.
September 10, 2020
The Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux was a delightful read. Her approach to faith is childlike yet filled with wisdom.
January 9, 2010
Therese of Lisieux's Little Way – Elizabeth Ruth Obbard – Initial – 71
Obbard is the translator and editor but the actual meat is written by Therese. Therese’s writing is simple but not simplistic and remarkably modern in this translation. Her approach reminds me of Brother Lawrence in Practicing the Presence of God.
Therese clearly believed in God as her loving Father and Jesus as her compassionate, sacrificial Savior. Her approach to God is that of a little child and as one who knows that she is incapable of right living on her own.
Quote: “So don’t think holiness isn’t for you. Holiness is for everyone without exception. Holiness doesn’t mean doing great things for God and being “perfect” in everything. God isn’t asking anyone for great achievements, only for gratitude and self-surrender.”
Obbard is the translator and editor but the actual meat is written by Therese. Therese’s writing is simple but not simplistic and remarkably modern in this translation. Her approach reminds me of Brother Lawrence in Practicing the Presence of God.
Therese clearly believed in God as her loving Father and Jesus as her compassionate, sacrificial Savior. Her approach to God is that of a little child and as one who knows that she is incapable of right living on her own.
Quote: “So don’t think holiness isn’t for you. Holiness is for everyone without exception. Holiness doesn’t mean doing great things for God and being “perfect” in everything. God isn’t asking anyone for great achievements, only for gratitude and self-surrender.”
March 10, 2024
I Couldn't Relate to the Authoress
I couldn't relate to the prayers or feeling this young nun was expressing. Certainly part of this is because of our different cultural times; and much of this is due to my own shortcomings. I think it was important for me to read these comments and observations because of the good reputation of Therese, if for nothing but out of respect. I hope that my comments will not hinder anyone from from spending a couple of hours with her thoughts.
I couldn't relate to the prayers or feeling this young nun was expressing. Certainly part of this is because of our different cultural times; and much of this is due to my own shortcomings. I think it was important for me to read these comments and observations because of the good reputation of Therese, if for nothing but out of respect. I hope that my comments will not hinder anyone from from spending a couple of hours with her thoughts.
February 6, 2025
St. Therese writes with such humility and reverence. Each reflection is relatively short, less than half a page, with some simple floral illustrations. Some of the reflections are longer but each is succinct and easy to understand.
For someone so young, it's extraordinary the depth of her commitment to Jesus. It's beautiful to read.
I expect I'll be reading this one a few more times down the track.
For someone so young, it's extraordinary the depth of her commitment to Jesus. It's beautiful to read.
I expect I'll be reading this one a few more times down the track.
October 5, 2019
The "little way . . . is the way of spiritual childhood, they way of trust and absolute surrender."
January 10, 2022
Getting to start my day with beautiful thoughts from one of my favorite saint? Yes please! Truly beautiful!
June 7, 2025
One of the simplest but most illuminating spiritual books I've ever read, everyone should read.
September 4, 2025
I am so glad I read the Story of A Soul; this book encapsulates the key parts of St Thérèse of Lisieux's Little Way. It's a good summary, but I think it could be read as a standalone.
July 26, 2018
Short, sweet, to the point, refreshing, practical, on point.
The author gives clear and concrete examples of what St Therese meant by the Little way and details how we can understand that and implement it in our lives.
This is not the Saints biography and is by no means comprehensive but it cuts to the core and provides a spiritual alternative to understanding what is holy and how you can imbibe that in you life. I liked it a lot.
The author gives clear and concrete examples of what St Therese meant by the Little way and details how we can understand that and implement it in our lives.
This is not the Saints biography and is by no means comprehensive but it cuts to the core and provides a spiritual alternative to understanding what is holy and how you can imbibe that in you life. I liked it a lot.
April 22, 2016
A very tiny book filled with Therese's considerable faith. One reading for each day of the year. Yes, I read ahead.
October 1, 2020
A nice little introduction to her thoughts.
January 3, 2025
Inspiring words from and about St. Therese of Lisieux, which have helped me to focus each day on the presence of the Holy Trinity in my life. Will read again daily in future years!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews