St. Therese: God’s Gift to Us – Oct 01 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Oct 01, 2024, on how St. Thérèse of Lisieux's Little Way, encourages us to embrace God's love through humility and trust, as she did.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is the youngest doctor of the Church, who died at age 24 in 1897. Father relates her youth to the words of St. Paul in 1 Timothy 4:12 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/4?12, where Paul instructs Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth but to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Father noted how Thérèse’s holiness was misunderstood by those around her during her lifetime, including her sisters and others in her convent, as they couldn’t see her greatness. He shared that Thérèse’s holiness was not about external miracles or grand gestures but about love and littleness—holiness expressed in humility, hidden sufferings, sacrifices, and simple acts of charity. This is reminiscent of Christ's call for humility in the Gospels and is echoed by the Church's teaching on humility in CCC 2546 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2546.htm.

Father further explained the "Little Way" taught by St. Thérèse, which involves knowledge, trust, and love. This mirrors the virtues described in 1 Corinthians 13:13 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13?13—faith, hope, and love. Thérèse’s approach also reflects the interior spirituality championed by St. John of the Cross, a patron of contemplative prayer, who emphasized that God heals the intellect, memory, and will through faith, hope, and charity.

Father emphasized Thérèse’s teaching that holiness is not about external practices but rather a disposition of the heart, which recognizes our weakness and embraces confidence in God's goodness. This idea ties into CCC 2013 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2013.htm, which speaks about the universal call to holiness through ordinary life.

Finally, Father encouraged the faithful to meditate on the powerful truth that "God loves me", a simple yet profound truth that can transform one's life. This aligns with the Church’s teaching on God’s merciful love in CCC 1828 - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1828.htm, and is a central tenet of the Little Way, grounded in confidence and trust in God.

For Further Reading:

1 Timothy 4:12 - St. Paul’s instruction to Timothy - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/4?12
1 Corinthians 13:13 - Faith, hope, and love - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13?13
CCC 2546 - Humility and the poor in spirit - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2546.htm
CCC 2013 - Universal call to holiness - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2013.htm
CCC 1828 - Charity and God’s love for us - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1828.htm

Ave Maria!

00:00 – Introduction and Praise
00:21 – Memorial of St. Therese
00:49 – St. Paul’s Words on Youth
01:19 – Misunderstanding of Therese's Greatness
02:49 – Humility and Hidden Holiness
04:02 – St. Therese’s Definition of Holiness
04:49 – The Little Way: Knowledge, Trust, Love
06:59 – Focus on God’s Love

Mass: St. Therese of the Child Jesus - Mem - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=105
Readings: Tuesday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/100124.cfm
1st: job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23
Resp: psa 88:2-8
Gsp: luk 9:51-56

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1168&r=955

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