Jésus n'a pas besoin de livres ni de docteurs pour instruire les âmes; lui, le Docteur des docteurs, enseigne sans bruit de paroles. - Thérèse of Lisieux

It seems to me that if a little flower could speak, it would tell simply what God has done for it without trying to hide its blessings. It would not say, under the pretext of a false humility, it is not beautiful and without perfume, that the sun has taken away its splendor and the storm has broken its stem when it knows that all this is untrue. The flower about to tell her story rejoices at having to publish the totally gratuitous gifts of Jesus. She knows that nothing in herself was capable of attracting the divine glances, and His mercy alone brought about everything that is good in her.

…you must be always as a drop of dew hidden in the heart of this beautiful Lily of the valley
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One must be so little to draw near to Jesus, and few are the souls that aspire to be little and unknown.
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Our Beloved needs neither our brilliant deeds nor our beautiful thoughts.
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The Lily of the valley asks but a single dewdrop, which for one night shall rest in its cup, hidden from all human eyes.

I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifices to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.