Selected Prayers & Quotes
of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux,
and prayers to the saint.
O Jesus, Who in Thy cruel Passion
didst become the "Reproach of men and the Man of Sorrows," I worship Thy Divine
Face. Once it shone with the beauty and sweetness of the Divinity: now for my sake it is
become as the face of a leper. Yet in that disfigured Countenance I recognize Thy infinite
Love, and I am consumed with the desire of loving Thee and of making Thee loved by all
mankind. The tears that streamed in such abundance from Thy Eyes are to me as precious
pearls which I delight to gather, that with their infinite worth I may ransom the souls of
poor sinners.
O Jesus, Whose Face is the sole beauty that ravishes my
heart, I may not behold here upon earth the sweetness of Thy Glance, nor feel the
ineffable tenderness of Thy Kiss. I bow to Thy Will - but I pray Thee to imprint in me Thy
Divine Likeness, and I implore Thee so to inflame me with Thy Love, that it may quickly
consume me and I may soon reach the Vision of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen.
Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as
nothing.
Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it
be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little
child too feeble to walk.
A novice was grieving about her numerous distractions during
prayer: "I too, have many," replied St. Therese of the Child Jesus, "but I
accept all for love of the good God, even the most extravagent thoughts that come into my
head."
For one pain endured with joy, we shall love the good God
more forever.
Jesus needs neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to
instruct souls; He, the Doctor of Doctors, He teaches without noise of words.
I have never wished for human glory, contempt it was that had
attraction for my heart; but having recognized that this again was too glorious for me, I
ardently desire to be forgotten.
|