What is True Charity?

True charity consists in bearing with all the defects of our neighbor, in not being surprised at his failings, and in being edified by his least virtues.  Charity must not remain shut up in the depths of the heart, for "no man lights a candle and puts it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house (Mt 5:15)."

It seems to me that this candle represents the charity which ought to enlighten and make joyful, not only those who are dearest to me, but "all who are in the house."


Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
Story of a Soul, Chapter IX

St. Therese Novena

September 23rd marks the beginning of our novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus.  Over 100 years after her death, St. Therese is as popular and lovable as ever.  Some attribute it to her winning personality and her ability to attract people of different personalities from different cultures, making her the "greatest Saint of modern times." But Therese was not just a charming little girl or a good Religious, or a deeply Catholic young woman, her spiritual doctrine is attractive because it speaks to the core of every man and woman's heart: that even in our weakness, and especially because of our weakness, God loves us. "It is so good to know that I am weak and in need of God's mercy", she exclaimed. "I am not afraid of the justice of God because justice is giving to someone his or her due, and God knows we are nothing but dust."  In Therese, we see our own weaknesses, our deep desires and longings. Her scruples were our struggles, her victories and failures mirror our own.  She gives us hope because she proves to us that hoping in God will yield fruits, and that our hope will never be in vain. She saw the misery of man, embraced it in faith, hope and love, and showed us that weakness is not a hindrance to union with God.  She was a breath of fresh air to a world which saw perfection and heroic deeds as standards of greatness.  Therese redefined the essence of perfection and elevated it to perfection in love.  It is not what we do for God which matters, it is what God does in us and through us.  It is not doing extraordinary deeds which matters, it is doing something ordinary in an extraordinary way.   In Therese, love alone counts.  "It is love alone which attracts me."  And yet, hers was a love defined not in sweetness and consolations, not in flowers and rainbows.   She proves to us that true love, true charity, is borne in true knowledge of the person of Jesus, nurtured in aridity and spiritual darkness, effected by the act of the will, and bears fruit in complete self forgetfulness and sacrifice.  She was a true daughter of St. John of the Cross who said:  "He who seeks not the Cross of Christ, seeks not the glory of Christ."  Therese can be easily misunderstood because of the flowery, romantic words and phrases she used to express herself.  But if one tries to get pass the language, one will find a treasure and source of inner peace in her writings.  As we begin to honor her with nine days of prayers, let us get to know her again by re-reading the story of her life.  Many of us have read the Story of A Soul so many times.  But just like the life of Christ, we can always glean new insights and learn new lessons from the experiences of this girl who called herself "Little Therese."

Novena to St. Therese- Second Day (September 24)

Novena to St. Therese- Second Day (September 24)

The Carmel of Lisieux

 To those who have not visited Lisieux in France (like myself) where St. Therese lived and died, this video will suffice for now.  I wish God would grant me the grace to visit her Basilica someday.  Therese is first of my Carmelite  friends.  She was the first one I "met" before I entered Carmel, even before John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and Blessed Elizabeth.  I still remember how I devoured books I found on her.  I found her accessible, her teachings so down to earth, and her struggles so real and familiar.  Like many people around the world, I got hooked on Therese.  She, along with Mary, led me to enter Carmel.  I am greatly indebted to her.

The part on the video showing a gated sanctuary protecting the "body" of St. Therese, shows not the actual body of the Saint.  Saint Therese's body corrupted and only her bones remained.  Therese herself wanted it this way because she believed that part of the "little way" is the absence of anything extraordinary.  Being incorruptible is somewhat "extraordinary" according to her.  The statue in the sanctuary is a waxed representation containing her precious bones.

God's Family

"It is God's Will that, here below, souls shall distribute to one another by prayer the heavenly treasures with which He enriched them. And this in order that, when they reach their everlasting Home, they may love one another with grateful hearts and with an affection far beyond that which reigns in the most perfect family circle on earth.' - Saint Therese
Saint Therese believed in the Communion of Saints, the theological truth that we are all one in Christ, and that our prayers for each other find a hearing in God's presence. We are members of ONE Body and we are each our brothers and sisters keeper

The Martin Sisters

What a blessing it is to have a Priest or Religious in a family. But to actually have four Religious Nuns! Saint Therese's family was one of those tremendously blessed ones. Although St. Therese would tell you that her family suffered much in this world, she would also tell you how God showered them with much grace and consolations. Above are the four Martin Sisters (clockwise): Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart (Marie Louise Martin)was the eldest of the Martin sisters. It was to her that Therese dedicated Manuscript B of her Story of a Soul. She entered Lisieux Carmel after Pauline had entered there. She died in 1940. Mother Agnes of Jesus (Marie Pauline Martin) was the second of the Martin sisters. Therese was very close to her and took her for her "second mother" after Madame Martin died of breast cancer when Therese was 3 years old. The Story of Soul is full of accounts on Pauline's life and experiences with Therese. She entered Carmel and became the Mother Prioress after Therese had already entered. It is to Pauline that we owe the autobiography of Therese since she was the one who told St. Therese under Obedience to write it. She was also controversially accused of editing the manuscript after Therese died and became the subject of criticism and unjust accusations. She died in 1951. Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face (Marie Celine Martin) was Therese's soul mate. They were inseparable. Celine took care of Monsieur Martin when he became mentally sick and after all the other sisters had entered Carmel. She was a spirited young woman and Therese constantly worried about her and wrote to her many times to support Celine's plans to enter religious life. Celine received a marriage proposal but Therese, in one of her letters to her, convinced her of the beauty of becoming the Spouse of Christ. Celine entered Carmel after Louis Martin died and became a Novice under St. Therese's spiritual guidance. It was to Celine that we owe the many photos of St. Therese. Celine brought her camera with her when she entered Carmel. This was at a time when photography was first coming to the fore. Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face was the last to die of the Martin Sisters in 1959. Sr. Francoise-Therese (Marie Leonie Martin) was a difficult child. She was prone to tantrums and was in and out of convents. She gave her family much worry because of her labile personality. Among the Martin Sisters, she was the least endowed with natural gifts. Leonie's life was detailed in a book called "A Difficult Life." She finally entered the Visitation Convent and persevered in it. As a Visitandine, she was known for her deep devotion to her little saintly Sister and was reported to have entrusted her soul to the care of St. Therese at her deathbed. She became a model of gentleness and quiet strength as a nun. Sr.Francoise-Therese died in 1941.

"I Am the Jesus of Therese"

"O Adorable Face of Jesus, sole beauty that ravishes my heart, deign to impress your Divine Likeness on me, so that You can no longer look upon the soul of your little spouse without seeing Yourself. O my Beloved, for love of You I accept not to see your tender sweet glance here below, nor to feel your lips indescribable kiss. Rather, I beseech You to inflame me with your love, so that it may rapidly consume me and soon bring me into your presence." Therese of the Holy Face

Therese and Celine

Therese and Celine were more than sisters.  They were soul mates.  Being closer in age, they played together and confided to each other.  They shared intimate moments together in the veranda of their many moonlit nights and shared spiritual secrets together.

When the two older sisters, Pauline and Marie, entered Carmel, it was Celine and Therese who were left behind to care for the aging father.  When Therese entered Carmel at 15, Celine stayed behind to care for Louis Martin.  It was Celine who carried the cross of anxiety and endless concern when Monsieur Martin was afflicted with mental illness.  She had postponed her own personal desire of religious life until after the death of their father.  It was to Celine that we owe the photos we have of St. Therese and the Community photos inside the cloister.  Celine had brought her camera with her when she finally entered Carmel.  She had also endowed us with the original paintings of her saintly sister in the Carmel.  It was curious to note that when Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face (Celine) entered Carmel and became a Novice, she was under the guidance of her own blood sister, Sr. Therese, who at the time was the Novice Mistress.  Thinking perhaps that they would continue their sisterly bond and close relationship in the cloister, she was hurt when Therese treated her with detachment and sometimes severity in the Novitiate.  She confided to her one day, "I don't seem to know you any more!"  Later on in the Story of a Soul, Therese would confide how much it cost her to have acted this way.  But they were not in Les Buissonet any more.  Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face died February 25, 1959 at the age of 90 years old.