The Little Way Of Holiness

Therese in 1886, age 13
Picture via Wikipedia

On October 1, 1997, The Feast Day of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, I offered Mass in the Monastery of St. John Eudes in Paris, France, her home country. Just 100 miles away, northwest to Normandy, rests the quiet little town of Lisieux where Sister Therese (1873-1897) lived out her days.  This was also the year that the Church celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of her painful death from tuberculosis.

I delighted that morning to be so close to where this astounding story took place. A week before this, our little pilgrim group of four had traveled to Lisieux to pray and show our respect to this saintly young woman.  In the mighty Basilica, with seating for 8,000 people, I celebrated Mass at a side altar on the main floor with my three friends kneeling close by.  Therese said, “When I die, I will drop roses (favors) from Heaven.”  After Mass, I asked for many favors for myself, my family and my friends, especially for happy deaths for all of us.  What could be more important as that?

Therese is buried in the Convent of Carmel, about two blocks away from the Basilica. As I sat in the Convent, at her Tomb, I mused, Therese spent her seven years of religious life within these plain walls. When she died, the other nuns asked, “What shall we say about Sister Therese?  She seemed so ordinary!”  Shortly after her death in 1897, her autobiography, “The Story Of A Soul”, revealed her sanctity.  She was canonized in 1925.

What was her secret? In her love for God, she wanted to do great things for Him, but soon realized, in her hidden convent life, the impossibility of such grand accomplishments.  “I will show my love for God by trusting completely and wholeheartedly in Him.”  At the age of 15, on a train trip to Rome that took her over the Alps, the young girl fell under the spell of the grandeur and majesty of the mountain range.  She vowed never again will I fail to trust in God.  The wonders of Nature about us should impel us to say the same!

Jesus said, “Be like a child in your journey to the Kingdom!” In a child’s life, trust in its parents stands out above all other qualities.  When a child holds on to his mother’s hand to cross a busy street, he has no fears and skips along in a happy way.  In all our needs, Jesus wants us to trust in His Heavenly Father’s care for us.  His eye is on the sparrow.  Following this program, Therese hurried along the way of holiness.

I’ve written before about the Thai people and their uncommon acceptance of the hardships of life. An American, living in Thailand was amazed that when confronted with difficulties the Thai person would not complain, but with a simple bow of the head, would move on with life.  This touched me and I began to accept (the key word) whatever came into my life, in imitation of the Thai people and our little Saint Therese.  Even at my advance age of 99, and my recent medical issues, I still follow this way toward holiness.  What blessings of peace continue to pour into my life!

Fr. George McKenna