Thérèse of Lisieux Quotes

unchanging truth, that unless we become as little children in the doing of our Heavenly Father's Will, we cannot enter into our Eternal Home.

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.

See how this evening the tree-tops are gilded by the setting sun. So likewise my soul appears to you all shining and golden because it is exposed to the rays of Love.

If you wish to be a saint, it is not hard. Have one aim — to please Jesus and to unite yourself more intimately to Him.

A soul in a state of grace has nothing to fear of demons who are cowards.

Now, like a flower after the storm, I can raise my head and see that the words of the Psalm are realized in me: “The Lord is my Shepherd and J shall want nothing. He has set me in a place of pasture. He has brought me up on the water of refreshment. He has converted my soul. He has led me on the paths of justice for His Own Name’s sake. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils for Thou art with me.” (cf. Psalms 23).

I assure you that God is much better than you believe.

Mi corazón, sensible y amante, se hubiera fácilmente entregado si hubiese encontrado un corazón capaz de comprenderlo... Intenté ligar amistad con algunas niñitas de mi edad, sobre todo, con dos de ellas, a quienes quería, y que por su parte también me querían en la medida en que eran capaces; pero, ¡ay!, ¡qué estrecho y versátil es el corazón de las criaturas!... Pronto me percaté de que mi cariño no era comprendido. Una de mis amigas había tenido que volver a su casa y regresó algunos meses más tarde; durante su ausencia había pensado en ella, conservando con aprecio un anillito que me había regalado. Al ver nuevamente a mi compañera mi alegría fue grande, pero ¡ay! sólo obtuve una mirada de indiferencia... Vi que mi cariño no era comprendido, y no mendigué un afecto que se me rehusaba. Sin embargo Dios me ha dado un corazón tan fiel que cuando ha amado sinceramente, ama siempre, por eso he continuado rezando por mi compañera y la amo todavía.

I understood that every flower created by Him is beautiful, that the brilliance of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not lessen the perfume of the violet or the sweet simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the lowly flowers wished to be roses, Nature would lose her springtide beauty, and the fields would no longer be enameled with lovely hues. It is the same in the world of souls, Our Lord's living garden

all gone and the sky was a lovely blue, while the dark night in my soul had passed. Jesus had awakened and was filling me with joy, and the waves were silent. Instead of the howling wind, a gentle breeze was swelling my sails, and I thought I had already reached harbor. But there were storms ahead, storms that would make me fear at times that I was being driven away beyond return from the shore I longed so much to reach. No sooner had I obtained my uncle’s consent than you told me that the Superior of Carmel would not let me enter until I was twenty-one. The possibility of such serious opposition had not occurred to anyone, and it would be very hard to overcome; but I kept up my courage and went with Father to ask him if I could enter. He treated me coldly, and nothing would change his mind; we left in the end with a most emphatic “No,” except that he added: “I am only the Bishop’s delegate, of course, and if he allowed you to enter, I could not prevent it.” As we came out of the presbytery, we found that it was pouring with rain again, just as heavy clouds were once more darkening my soul. Father did not know what to do to comfort me, but promised to take me to Bayeux if I wanted, and I gratefully accepted. Many things, however, happened before this trip was possible, and in the meantime, my life, to all outward appearances, went on as usual. I continued my studies, but most important of all, I went on growing in the love of God, so much that sometimes my soul experienced real transports of love. One evening, not knowing how to tell Jesus how much I loved Him and how I wanted above all else to serve Him and give Him glory, I was saddened at the thought that He would never receive a single act of love from the depths of Hell. Then, from the bottom of my heart, I said I would consent to be cast into that place of torment and blasphemy, so that even there He would be loved eternally. This could not glorify Him, of course, because it is only our happiness He desires, b

For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; finally it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.

Lo principal que descubre Santa Teresita es que a Dios no se le conquista. A Dios, se le acepta. Él se da. «Él se quiere reservar para sí la dulzura de dar» (C 121). A nosotros nos toca respetarle, aceptarle desde nuestra pequeñez y debilidad. Nuestra misión es la de ser sencillos e insignificantes como «una gotita de rocío». Para llenar esta misión es «necesario permanecer sencilla».

"I am now at a time of life when I can look back on the past, for my soul has been refined in the crucible of interior and exterior trials. Now, like a flower after the storm, I can raise my head and see that the words of the Psalm are realised in me: "The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall want nothing. He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up on the water of refreshment. He hath converted my soul. He hath led me on the paths of justice for His own Name's sake. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils for Thou are with me."[6]"

Thus the ordinary, uncontrolled chattering we call “prose” changes its nature, like coal becoming incandescent. Poetry resembles music.

My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience.