Dear One and All:
I recently came across these final sayings of
St Therese of Lisieux that I think to be very helpful
for our lives. For me they are the perfect interpretation
of what Jesus said that “unless we become like little
children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
She said these things just two months before her death.
I thought of sharing them since I feel they may be
helpful for all of our lives. Peace, Michael
+Quotations of St Therese of Lisieux in the book Last conversations, pp. 138-141
“It is to recognize our nothingness, to expect everything from God as a little child expects everything from its father; it is to be disquieted about nothing, and not to be set on gaining our living. Even among the poor, they give the child what is necessary, but as soon as he grows up, his father no longer wants to feed him and says: ‘Work now, you can take care of yourself, ‘
“It was so as not to hear this that I never wanted to grow up, feeling that I was incapable of making my living, the eternal life of heaven. I’ve always remained little, therefore, having no other occupation but to gather flowers, the flowers of love and sacrifice, and of offering them to God in order to please Him.
“To be little is not attributing to oneself the virtues that one practices, believing oneself capable of anything, but to recognize that God places this treasure in the hands of His little child to be used when necessary; but it remains always God’s treasure. Finally, it is not to become discouraged over one’s faults, for children fall often, but they are too little to hurt themselves very much.”
I asked: “What infidelity are you speaking about?”
“A proud thought voluntarily entertained, For example, if I were to say to myself: I have acquired a certain virtue, and I am certain I can practice it. For then, this would be relying upon my own strength, and when we do this, we run the risk of failing into the abyss. However, I will have the right of doing stupid things up until my death, if I am humble and if 1 remain little. Look at little children: they never stop breaking things, tearing things, falling down, and they do this even while loving their parents very, very much. When I fall in this way, it makes me realize my nothingness more, and I say to myself: What would I do, and what would I become, if I were to rely upon my own strength?
“1 understand very well why St. Peter fell. 1 8 Poor Peter, he was relying upon himself instead of relying only upon God’s strength. I conclude from this experience that if I said to myself: “O my God, You know very well I love You too much to dwell upon one single thought against the faith,” my temptations would become more violent and would certainly succumb to them.
“I’m very sure that if St, Peter had said humbly to Jesus: ‘Give me the grace, I beg You, to follow You even to death,’ he would have received it immediately.
“I’m very certain that Our Lord didn’t say anymore to His Apostles through His instructions and His physical presence than He says to us through His good inspirations and His grace. He could have said to St. Peter: “Ask me for the strength to accomplish what you want.” But no, He didn’t because He wanted to show him his weakness, and because, before ruling the Church that is filled with sinners, he had to experience for himself what man is able to do without God’s help.
“Before Peter fell, Our Lord had said to him: ‘And once you are converted, strengthen your brethren.’ This means: Convince them of the weakness of human strength through your own experience.”