Five Important Teachings from St. Thérèse for Catholics
To present these teachings clearly, I’ve organized them in a table format, including a brief description, a relevant quote, and why it’s vital for Catholics. These principles form the heart of her “Little Way,” reminding us that holiness isn’t about grand gestures but about loving God in the small details.
| Teaching | Description | Key Quote from St. Thérèse | Why It’s Important for Catholics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The Little Way of Spiritual Childhood | St. Thérèse advocated for a childlike approach to faith—abandoning oneself to God’s loving providence like a small child in a parent’s arms. Instead of striving for heroic virtues, she focused on simple, everyday acts of love. | “I tell you that it is the spirit of childhood alone which can render our actions pleasing to God and make them perfect.” (Story of a Soul) | In a performance-driven society, this teaching counters perfectionism and scrupulosity. It invites Catholics to embrace humility and dependence on God, fostering joy in prayer and sacraments without fear of failure. Pope Francis often references it as a model for merciful discipleship. |
| 2. Doing Everything with Great Love | Holiness lies not in the size of the deed but in the love behind it. Whether sweeping a floor or smiling at a sister, every action becomes a prayer when offered to Jesus. | “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing at each moment, in that which the day brings, the holy will of God.” (Story of a Soul) | This empowers lay Catholics in busy lives—parents, workers, students—to sanctify the mundane. It aligns with Vatican II’s call for the universal call to holiness (Lumen Gentium), showing that love transforms routine into redemptive suffering, echoing Christ’s command to love one another (John 13:34). |
| 3. Trust in God’s Infinite Mercy | St. Thérèse taught absolute confidence in Divine Mercy, viewing God as a tender Father who delights in forgiving. She rejected fear-based piety, urging souls to approach Jesus with bold trust. | “Oh! How I love Thy Church, O Jesus! I love her with all my heart… I feel that if Thou wert to cast me into hell, I should still find a way of loving Thee.” (Letter to her sister) | Amid scandals and personal sins, this combats despair and Jansenism’s rigorism. It’s central to Catholic devotion, inspiring practices like Divine Mercy Chaplets and aligning with St. Faustina’s message. It reassures Catholics that God’s love is unconditional, fueling the Sacrament of Reconciliation. |
| 4. Offering Small Sacrifices for Souls | She encouraged uniting daily annoyances and sufferings to Christ’s Cross as “little sacrifices” for the salvation of the world, seeing herself as an “apostle” through prayer. | “I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and places… In a word, that it is eternal!” (Story of a Soul) | This missionary zeal without leaving the cloister models the “apostolate of prayer” for all Catholics (as per her patroness role for missions). It motivates intercessory prayer, especially during Adoration or the Rosary, and helps endure trials like illness or family strife as redemptive, fulfilling the baptismal call to evangelize. |
| 5. The Power of Humility and Hiddenness | St. Thérèse embraced obscurity, desiring to be “forgotten and counted for nothing” so Jesus could shine. Humility, she said, is the foundation of all virtues. | “To remain little means to recognize one’s nothingness… to expect everything from the good God, to distrust one’s self, and to confide in Him.” (Story of a Soul) | In an age of social media and self-promotion, this counters pride and vainglory. It echoes Mary’s fiat and Jesus’ kenosis (Philippians 2:7), guiding Catholics toward true virtue. It’s essential for spiritual growth, preventing burnout and deepening Eucharistic devotion through self-emptying love. |
These teachings are interconnected, forming a cohesive spirituality that St. Thérèse called her “elevator to heaven”—direct, joyful, and open to all. As she wrote, “Holiness does not consist in this or that practice; it consists in a disposition of the heart which makes us always little in the arms of God but bold and audacious in our love for Him.”
The Enduring Legacy of the Little Flower
St. Thérèse’s influence extends far beyond her lifetime. Named patroness of France (with St. Joan of Arc) and co-patroness of all missions, she has inspired countless conversions, including atheists like Thomas Merton. Popes from Pius X to Francis have praised her, with John Paul II calling her “the star of my pontificate.” Her relics tour the world, drawing pilgrims seeking her intercession for vocations, the sick, and the missions.
For Catholics today, St. Thérèse offers hope in simplicity. In a complex faith journey, her Little Way reminds us: God doesn’t ask for greatness from us—He asks for our love. As her feast day approaches on October 1, why not pick a “little flower” from her garden? Start with a small act of love today, and watch holiness unfold.
Resources for Deeper Dive:
- Story of a Soul (free online via TAN Books or Vatican archives)
- Visit the Basilica of Lisieux or her official website: sainte-therese-de-lisieux.fr
- Prayer: “O Little Flower of Jesus, help me to love God with childlike trust and to find joy in small sacrifices.”
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us!
