THE soul is reflected in the countenance: like to a little child always content, your countenance should be invariably calm and serene. When you are alone be still the same, because you are ever in the Angels' sight.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
OUR Divine Lord wishes to have His court here below as on High, He desires angel-martyrs, angel-apostles.
XI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
A SISTER, greatly grieved at seeing her so ill often exclaimed: "Oh, how sad is life!" But Sœur Thérèse would at once correct her, saying:
"Life is not sad, but on the contrary most joyful. If you said 'How sad is our exile,' I should understand you. It is erroneous to give the name, 'life,' to that which must end. Only to the things of Heaven, to that which shall never know death, should the true name of 'life' be given; and in this signification life is not sad but joyful—joyous exceedingly! . . . "
Her own gaiety was delightful to witness.
For several days she had been much better and the novices said to her: "We do not yet know of what malady you will die . . . "
"But I shall die of death! Did not God tell Adam of what he would die, saying to him: Thou shalt die of death?" (In the French: "Tu mourras de mort.") [16]
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
[16] Cf. Gen., ii, 17.
IT is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible spectre, as represented in pictures. In the Catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God for ever.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
ONE day she said to the Mother Prioress:
"Mother, I beseech you, give me permission to die . . . Let me offer my life for . . . " mentioning the intention.
And this permission being refused:
"Very well," she resumed, "I know that at this moment the good God so much desires a little bunch of grapes which no one wishes to present to Him, that He will certainly be forced to come and steal it . . . I ask nothing, for that would be to depart from my way of abandonment, I merely beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to recall to her Jesus the title of Thief which He gives Himself in the holy Gospel, so that He may not forget to come to steal me away."
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII
"WILL the Divine Thief be coming very soon to steal His little bunch of grapes?" some one asked.
"I see Him afar off, and I take good care not to cry out 'Stop Thief!!!' On the contrary I call Him saying: 'This way! this way!'"
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
THE Chaplain asked me: "Are you resigned to die?" I said: "Ah! Father, I find it would be for living that I should need resignation, but as regards dying, I feel only joy."
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII
"YOU will be placed amid the Seraphim in Heaven," a novice said.
"If that should happen, I shall not imitate them; they cover themselves with their wings at the sight of God. I shall take good care not to cover myself with my wings!"
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
"UNDER what name should we pray to you when you are in Heaven?" they asked her. She answered humbly: "You will call me 'little Thérèse.' ('petite Thérèse.')"
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
"YOU will look upon us from the heights of heaven, will you not?"
"No, I shall come down."
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
"AFTER my death I shall let fall a shower of roses."
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XIII
[Transcriber's Note: Sister Thérèse was beatified on April 29, 1923.]
O JESUS, who, to put our pride to confusion didst will to become a little child, and who later pronounced that solemn decree: "Unless ye become as little children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven," deign to listen to our humble prayer in regard to her who lived perfectly that life of spiritual childhood, and who has so well recalled to us the way.
O little Babe of Bethlehem, by the ineffable charms of Thy Divine Infancy, O adorable Face of Jesus, by the humiliations of Thy Passion, we implore, that if it be for the glory of God and for the sanctification of souls, the halo of the Blessed may soon irradiate the pure brow of Thy childlike spouse, Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face.
O God, who didst inflame with Thy Spirit of Love the soul of Thy Servant, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love Thee and may make Thee greatly loved.
[Adapted from a prayer of Sœur Thérèse.]
100 days' indulgence.
A crossCARD. BOURNE, Arch. of
Westminster.
August 1, 1912.