St Therese of Lisieux
“One of the great challenges facing the Church in this generation is to foster in all the faithful a sense of personal responsibility for the Church’s mission and enable them to fulfil that responsibility as missionary disciples, as a leaven of the Gospel in our world.” Pope Francis, Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Philadelphia, September 26, 2015
Jesus tells us: “Go to all nations, giving them the good news” (Matt.28:19), and the Second Vatican Council in its decree on missionary activity Ad gentes (To the Nations) told us that every Christian is called to be a missionary.
How can one, living on the home front, possibly have, as Pope Francis puts it, a sense of personal responsibility for the Church’s mission?
Here is a down-to-earth, practical and concrete example of someone who took the words of Jesus seriously and gave us an example of “personal responsibility for mission”. That someone is a young French woman who died in 1897 but whose example is still very much alive for us today. Her name is Therese Martin, and she was raised in the French provincial town of Lisieux.
Therese had few contacts outside her family - her parents, three sisters, and cousins. Yet her heart from an early age went far beyond those narrow confines. At the age of 14, she heard her family speak of Pranzini, a man convicted of some gory murders and sentenced to the death penalty. It was reported that he showed no sign of repentance. But Therese prayed hard for him, and it was then reported that, on climbing the steps up to the guillotine, he suddenly grasped the crucifix held by the chaplain and kissed it three times. Therese later wrote: “Pranzini was my first child”.
Aged 15, Therese entered the enclosed Carmel convent in her hometown of Lisieux. From that time until her death at the age of 24, she never left the confines of the convent walls. But Lisieux had a sister Carmelite convent in Saigon, Vietnam, and the community there was inviting Sisters from other convents to join it. Therese offered to go, but because of her poor health, her offer could not be accepted.
Although she could not go in person, she went in spirit through her thoughts and prayers and a special interest in foreign missions and missionaries. She wrote a total of 29 letters to two missionaries. To Maurice Belliere, in Malawi, Africa, she wrote: “I cannot be an active missionary, but I want to be one through love.” To Adolphe Rolland, in China, she wrote: “I am happy to work with you for the salvation of souls. On this earth, let us work together. In heaven we shall have the reward.” Therese called them “My brother missionaries”.
In the last year of her life, Therese was afflicted with debilitating tuberculosis, first in her lungs and then throughout her body. Her doctor advised a regular short walk in the convent grounds. But for Therese, each step was agony. Another Sister, seeing her in pain, asked: “Why don’t you stop?” Therese answered: “Each step becomes a prayer for a missionary”.
So, that is the message of St Therese for all of us. Pope Pius XI in 1927 proclaimed her and St Francis Xavier the patrons of worldwide mission. Their two life situations were vastly different. But the difference is interesting and instructive! The coalface and the cloister.
She wrote a total of 29 letters to two missionaries. To Maurice Belliere, in Malawi, Africa, she wrote: “I cannot be an active missionary, but I want to be one through love.” To Adolphe Rolland, in China, she wrote: “I am happy to work with you for the salvation of souls. On this earth, let us work together. In heaven we shall have the reward.” Therese called them “My brother missionaries”.
Here are some hints to create a personal responsibility. Take an interest in mission (reading The Far East will help) and turn that interest into prayers. Do not become passively immune to the disasters seen on the TV screen.
Feel with the people flooded in Pakistan and Bangladesh, feel with the persecuted and displaced people of Ukraine, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Syria, and feel with the starving people in Yemen, South Sudan, North Korea and northern Ethiopia. Feel with people and pray for them.
And let us call to mind the words of Scripture. In advice to his son, Tobit says: “Set aside part of your goods for almsgiving. Never turn your face from the poor, and God will not turn his face from you. Measure your alms by what you have. If you have much, give more. If you have little, give less, but do not be mean in almsgiving. You lay up a great treasure in the presence of the Most High” (Tobit 4:8).
Columban Fr Barry Cairns lives and works in Japan.
Feast Day Novena Prayer for Peace
Feast Day Novena Prayer for Peace
St Therese, Flower of fervour and love, please intercede for us. As we approach and celebrate your feast day, make us more aware of the goodness of God and how well He tends His garden.
Instill in us your little way of doing ordinary things with extra-ordinary love. Give us the heart of a child who wonders at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm. Teach us your delight in God’s ways so that divine charity may blossom in our hearts.
Little Flower of Jesus, bring our petitions (mention in silence here) before God, our Father.
With your confidence, we come before Jesus as God’s children, because you are our heavenly friend.
As we celebrate the Feast Day of your homecoming in heaven, continue to shower roses and grace upon us.
Amen
Michele Frankeni, Jesuit Communications https://www.pray.com.au/prayer-for-st-therese-of-lisieux-1-october/
Listen to "St Therese of Lisieux"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - September/October 2022
