Today is a feast day of Thérèse of Lisieux

3rd October 2025 (a former time)

"I only love simplicity. I have a horror of pretence."

The Story of a Soul, 1898

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14; NIV).

I.

by Thérèse of Lisieux’s sister, Céline Martin (Sister Geneviève de Sainte Thérèse | Sister Geneviève of the Holy Face), 1904

The Story of a Soul, 1898

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. (John 12:3; KJV).

The Story of a Soul, 1898

these things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him

That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Matthew 8:16-17; RSV).

The Story of a Soul, 1898

Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works

“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

(Isaiah 58:1–12; NIV).

let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace

Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.

(Eccelesiastes 9:16–18; NKJV).

The Story of a Soul, 1898

Is there something of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It existed already in the ages before us.

(Ecclesiastes 1:10; CJB).

II.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:1–9; KJV).

“The little flower transplanted to Mount Carmel was to expand under the shadow of the Cross. The tears and blood of Jesus were to be her dew, and her Sun was His adorable Face veiled with tears. Until my coming to Carmel, I had never fathomed the depths of the treasures hidden in the Holy Face. It was through you [Agnes] dear mother, that I learned to know these treasures. Just as formerly you had preceded us to Carmel so also you were the first to enter deeply into the mysteries of love hidden in the Face of our Spouse. You called me and I understood. I understood what real glory was. He whose kingdom is not of this world (John 13:36) showed me that true wisdom consists in `desiring to be unknown and counted as nothing’ (Imitation of Christ, 1, 2-3) in placing oneself one’s joys in the contempt of self.’ (Ibid, 49:7) Ah! I desired that, like the face of Jesus, my face be truly hidden, that no one on earth would know me (Isaiah 53:3). I thirsted after suffering and I longed to be forgotten.” — ‘The Last Conversations’, 1897.

The Story of a Soul, 1898

The Story of a Soul, 1898

“These words of Isaiah, ” Who has believed our report?…There is no beauty in Him, no comliness…” have been the whole foundation of my devotion to the Holy Face, or, to express it better, the foundation of my whole piety. I also have desired to be without beauty, to tread the winepress alone, unknown to every creature.” – ‘The Last Conversations’, 1897.

behold, I stand at the door, and knock

I applied the wisdom I possessed to study and explore everything that is done under the sun, a thankless task that God has given to men to keep us occupied. I have seen everything that has been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after the wind.

What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

I thought to myself, “I have acquired great wisdom, far surpassing all those who preceded me in Jerusalem. My mind has mastered every facet of wisdom and knowledge.” However, as I applied my mind to gain a complete understanding of wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly, I came to realize that this too is a chase after the wind.

For much wisdom can result in much sorrow, and those who increase their knowledge also increase their grief.

(Ecclesiastes 1:13–18; NCB).

“Perhaps some souls fear that the devotion to my Holy Face may diminish that to my Sacred Heart. Tell them that, on the contrary, it will complete and increase it. Contemplating my Face, souls will share my sorrows and will feel the need for love and reparation. Is this not the true devotion to my Heart?” — words Jesus said to another of his beloveds, Maria Pierina de Micheli, on Tuesday 5th January 1937.

The Story of a Soul, 1898

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”

Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”

Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! (John 13:36–38; NIV).

The Story of a Soul, 1898

Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.

III.

Jesus, your ineffable image Is the star that guides my steps Ah! you know your sweet Face Is for me Heaven here below. My love discovers the charms Of your Face embellished with tears I smile through my tears When I contemplate your pains.

Oh! I want to comfort you To live ignored on this earth! Your beauty that you know how to veil Reveals all its mystery to me. Towards you I would like to fly!

Your Face is my only Fatherland She is my kingdom of love She is my smiling Meadow My sweet Sun every day She is the lily of the valley Whose mysterious perfume Consoles my exiled soul Makes him taste the peace of Heaven.

She is my Rest, my Sweetness And my melodious Lyre. Your Face, O my sweet Savior Is the Divine bouquet of Myrrh That I want to keep on my heart!

Your Face is my only wealth I don’t ask for anything more In her constantly hiding me I will be like you, Jesus. Leave in me the divine imprint Of your features filled with sweetness And soon I will become holy Towards you I will attract hearts.

So That I May Amass A beautiful golden harvest Deign to set me ablaze with your fires. Soon from your beloved mouth Give me the eternal Kiss!

Thérèse of Lisieux, 12th Aug 1895

When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it. (Ecclesiastes 8:16–17; NKJV).

The Story of a Soul, 1898

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

(Numbers 6:24–26; NIV).

Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

Contemplation:

What is your experience: of time, of prophets, scriptures, religions, of friends with different times, prophets, scriptures and religions? How are we being shaped / shaping ourselves and others around us? What is it that we, as one, are all seeking? What is it that you, as one, are seeking?

3rd October 2025