Thérèse of Lisieux Quotes

Clearly we must not be attached to anything, no matter how innocent, because it will slip from our grasp when least expected; nothing but the eternal can content us.

Ce n'est pas pour rester dans le ciboire d'or qu'il descend chaque jour du ciel, mais afin de trouver un autre ciel: le ciel de notre âme où il prend ses délices.

is more profitable to leave everyone to his way of thinking than to give way to contentious discourses.

My God, how good Thou art! How well dost Thou suit the trial to our strength!

It is wrong to pass one’s time in fretting, instead of sleeping on the Heart of Jesus.

Since the age of three I have refused God nothing.

Et le Seigneur se pencha, il cueillit doucement la fleur embaumée, il détacha sans effort sa grappe chérie du cep amer de l'exil, la trouvant totalement dorée des feux de l'Amour divin.

La joie réside au plus intime de l'âme; on peut aussi bien la posséder dans une obscure prison que dans un palais.

"Then, beside myself with joy, I cried out: "O Jesus, my Love, at last I have found my vocation. My vocation is love! Yes, I have found my place in the bosom of the Church, and this place, O my God, Thou hast Thyself given to me: in the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be LOVE! . . .

All good things have come to me since I no longer seek them for myself. -Saint John of the Cross

¡Cuánto le agradezco a Jesús que me haya hecho encontrar «sólo amargura en las amistades de la tierra!». Con un corazón como el mío me hubiera dejado prender y cortar las alas, y entonces, ¿cómo hubiera podido «volar y descansar»? ¿Cómo puede unirse íntimamente a Dios un corazón que se entrega al afecto de las criaturas?... Pienso que eso no es posible.

It would not disturb me if (supposing the impossible) God himself did not see my good actions. I love him so much, that I would like to give him joy without his knowing who gave it. When he does know, he is, as it were, obliged to make a return.

I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors'defects — not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues.

All is vanity besides loving God and serving Him alone.

I am but a weak and helpless child, yet it is my very weakness which makes me dare to offer myself, O Jesus, as victim to Thy Love.