Homily St. Therese of Lisieux (2020)
Homily St. Therese of Lisieux (2020)
There are several women doctors of the Church. Therese of Lisieux is one of them. She wrote an extraordinary autobiography called “The Diary of a Soul.”
St. Therese proves that one can be holy even though they are going through profound psychological struggle. Her days were not always full of happiness, yet she achieved great spiritual insight and had a profound sense of the love of God.
St. Therese grew up in a very religious home in Alencon France in the 1870’s. At a young age she lost her mother. She had several sisters who became mother figures, but one by one the entered the Carmelite convent leaving St. Therese alone with her father.
Therese struggled with depression and loneliness and longed to the enter the convent. As a teenager it was thought that she was too young. She pestered her father and the religious authorities until she could enter the Carmel.
She struggled with some of the other sisters who criticized her because of her youth. Sisters peppered her with snide remarks because they did not think she belonged. It seemed like there was nothing she could do please some of her sisters.
The mother superior saw a depth in St. Therese and ordered her to keep a diary of her life. The diary became even more poignant when Therese was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Once again, she suffered greatly.
We see then how Therese suffered physically, mentally and spiritually. Some would say that she led a difficult life, but she never wanted to be anything but a sister, she had a deep joy and had an unshakable belief in the love of God. Her diary has inspired many and her insights have caused many to find the faith they longed for.
Reflection Questions:
- Does every canonized saint have their lives in order? Are their saints who endured problems like I might have?
- Therese lived a life that might seem tedious to some. Does holiness come when we learn to value routine and sameness?
Dear Parishioners,
Today we celebrate the life of St. Therese. She might be a saint for us to grow close to during these days when we struggle with the isolation of COVID 19. St. Therese never traveled much in her life. At a young age she was locked up in a cloister. She had to find delight in the “little things.” She delighted in chores she had to do and the beauty she was able to find in small part of the world she lived in.
Therese had a great trust in God. Some days it was hard for her to get out of bed, but she persevered in her vocation. She saw a value in her witness for Christ. She would have died as an anonymous Christian, but because she wrote her diary she is remembered. God in the end used her as a divine tool.
We may wonder about the value of our lives right now, but God is perhaps using us more than ever.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over you.
Fr. Mark
P.S. Tomorrow is the last day of our Sacred Heart Novena. It has been 9 Fridays since we began. May this Friday be a fruitful day in your spiritual life.