1. Spiritual
Classics
The Story of a Soul
St. Theresa of Lisieux

2. Background
• Born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin on Rue
Saint-Blaise, Alençon.
• Daughter of Blessed Marie-AzélieGuérin (a
lacemaker) and Blessed Louis Martin (a
jeweler and watchmaker).
• All 5 of their surviving daughters became
nuns.

3. Background
• French Carmelite nun.
• Died of tuberculosis in 1897 at
the age of twenty-four.
• Under obedience to religious
superiors, composed her
autobiography.
• (Sat in drawer for months after
completion)

4. Background
• “I had the greatest difficulty in learning by heart;
only at catechism were my efforts crowned with
success...
• The Chaplain call me his little „Doctor of
Theology.‟”
• Declared a “Doctor of the Church” by Pope
John Paul II on October 19, 1997 (Apostolic
Letter DiviniAmorisScientia (The Science of
Divine Love).
• One of only four women so named (Teresa
of Ávila (Saint Teresa of Jesus), Hildegard of
Bingen and Catherine of Siena).

5. Application
• Provides alternative to complex/complicated
19th century programs of spiritual growth.
• Master of analogy:
• Able to intuit divine significance of common happenings
• Make connections between trivial and transcendent.

6. Quotes from “the “Little Way”
• I wanted to find a elevator
which would raise me to
Jesus...
• I am too small to climb the
rough stairway of perfection.
• One could cross the river of life by wading the
river..... or one could simply “Cross the Bridge”
already provided.

7. Quotes from “the “Little Way”
• “I was far from meriting all the graces which Our
Lord showered on my. I had a constant and
ardent desire to advance in virtue, but often my
actions were spoilt by imperfections.
• My extreme sensitiveness made me almost
unbearable. I simply could not correct myself of
this miserable fault...”

8. Quotes from “the “Little Way”
• ...(but) in an instant Out Lord, satisfied with my
good will, accomplished the work I had not been
able to do during all these years.
• Like the Apostle I could say: “Master we have
laboured all night, and have taken nothing.” He
made me a fishier of men.

9. “the Little way”
• Perfection consists of doing
God‟s will, in being what he will
us to be.”
• Doing ordinary tasks ...
with extraordinary love.
• Harness insignificant events as
crucial tools to demonstrate love.

10. Mystical Theology
• “One day I expressed surprise that God does not give an
equal amount of glory to all the elect in heaven - - I was
afraid that they would not all be quite happy.”
• “I understood that there are many degrees of holiness.”

11. “the Little way”
• “My folly is this: to trust that your love will
accept me.”
• Story of the sowing basket: “I choose
everything!”

12. The Story of a Soul
St. Theresa of Lisieux
End of Presentation