Homily: St. Therese of the Child Jesus
St. Therese of the Child Jesus “Every Life has Beauty and Meaning”
I first heard about St. Therese’ of Lisieux was when I was a boy. Our parish church was full of statues. One of them was a statue of St. Therese’. She wore her Carmelite habit and was clutching a cross and a bouquet of Roses. I have met various people in my life who had a great affinity for St. Therese’. Mostly, it was because she was thought to be a powerful intercessor. She promised that she would spend her eternity doing good on earth. Each rose was a sign from St. Therese’ that a prayer had been answered.
All of this sounded a little magical to me. I wondered what practical experience a woman could have, that who entered a convent when she was only 15 years old and died when she was twenty-four. Therese’ never traveled, much outside of her hometown. She never held a job. She dreamed of being a missionary but stayed locked within the cloister.
But St. Therese’ had experiences that made her mature beyond her years. As a girl, her mother died. Her sisters left home for the convent. Therese’ went into a depression because she missed her sisters so much.
Therese’ had many trials in her short life. Therese’ was ridiculed by many of the religious sisters she lived with because of her youth. She did simple tasks like cleaning, sweeping, and setting the table in the convent. It was thought that she was not ready for anything more challenging. No one knew of her inner life. She died of TB after a year of extreme suffering. Therese’ endured her struggles with courage and patience that was edifying to all. This little reflection is a window into her spirituality.
“Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature; I understood how all the flowers he has created are beautiful, how the splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wildflowers.
And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus’ garden. He willed to create great souls comparable to lilies and roses, but he has created smaller ones, and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy God’s glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what he wills us to be…….”
Reflection Questions:
- Have I ever been surprised by the spiritual depth of another person? Who was it and what did I learn from them?
- Am I satisfied with who I am? Is God satisfied with who I am?
Dear Parishioners,
There continues to be some discussion of the wearing of masks at Mass. The governor of Illinois issued guidance at the beginning of September (FAQ on Facemasks and Vaccine Requirements) asking that everyone who gathers indoors in groups wear a mask. There is one point in the governor’s lengthy directive that states that those gathering for religious purposes can be exempt from the wearing of masks. Requests are included in this part of the document that people continue to wear masks and socially distance themselves although it is not a mandate for religious services.
The Diocese of Peoria stated yesterday that our Bishop would like us to continue to wear masks as a matter of Christian charity. We should show concern for our neighbor. The policy that we have had at Sacred Heart since the end of the summer will continue. We ask that people wear masks, but we will not insist on this. I thank people for voluntarily masking up. Most people have done this. I would also continue to encourage people to get vaccinated. I often encounter people who are deathly ill from COVID. In fact, two people have died from our parish recently.
I feel I must continue to ask people to take proper precautions.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark