Quotes by Saint Thérèse de Lisieux

“and I realized that real nobility is in the soul, not in a name.””

“Translating poetry means taking a risk. The poetry of St. Thérèse, so simple, fresh, and pure, is particularly challenging to render into another language.””

“Your lot is indeed a beautiful one, since Our Lord has chosen it for you, and has first touched with His own Lips the cup which He holds out to yours. A Saint has said: "The greatest honour God can bestow upon a soul is not to give to it great things, but to ask of it great things." Jesus treats you as a privileged child. It is His wish you should begin your mission even now, and save souls through the Cross. Was it not by suffering and death that He ransomed the world? I know that you aspire to the happiness of laying down your life for Him; but the martyrdom of the heart is not less fruitful than the shedding of blood, and this martyrdom is already yours.””

“Rappelle-toi cette très douce flammeQue tu voulais allumer dans les cœurs;Ce feu du ciel, tu l'as mis en mon âme,Je veux aussi répandre ses ardeurs.Une faible étincelle, ô mystère de vie!Suffit pour allumer un immense incendie.Que je veux, ô mon Dieu,Porter au loin ton feu,Rappelle-toi!””

“Ce n'est pas pour rester dans le ciboire d'or qu'il descend chaque jour du ciel, mais afin de trouver un autre ciel: le ciel de notre âme où il prend ses délices.””

“THE science of love! Sweet is the echo of that word to the ear of my soul. I desire no other science. Having given all my substance for it, like the spouse in the Canticles, I think that I have given nothing. (Cant. 8:7).””

“Voulez-vous un moment vivre entre ciel et terre,Respirer, à plein cœur, un air délicieux,Voir le monde à vos pieds, planer dans la lumière, Et croire près de vous quelqu'un venu des cieux?Lisez ce chant d'amour... Le regard du vulgaire N'en pénétrerait pas le sens mystérieux; Vous verrez, vous, comment on aime au monastère,Et, dans ces murs sacrés, combien l'on est heureux.A quinze ans! Tendre fleur, petite âme idéale,Thérèse offre à Jésus sa candeur virginale;Le Saint-Père a béni ce beau lis pour l'autel:La douceur de l'agneau, le céleste sourire,Les lyriques accents, tout en elle a fait dire:C'est un ange qu'on vit passer par le Carmel.P. N. Abbaye de Mondaye, 8 avril 1898.””

“MY DEAR LITTLE SISTER,”

“Who dare glory in his own good works?' I reflected. 'From one faint spark such as this, it would be possible to set the whole earth on fire.' We often think we receive graces and are divinely illumined by means of brilliant candles. But from whence comes their light? From the prayers, perhaps, of some humble, hidden soul, whose inward shining is not apparent to human eyes; a soul of unrecognised virtue and, in her own sight, of little value”

“O my Beloved! this was but the prelude of graces yet greater which Thou didst desire to heap upon me. Let me remind Thee of them to-day, and forgive my folly if I venture to tell Thee once more of my hopes, and my heart's well nigh infinite longings”

“If you wish to be a saint, it is not hard. Have one aim--to please Jesus and to unite yourself more intimately to Him.””

“But Our Lady allowed this trouble to befall me for the good of my soul; without it, vanity might have crept into my heart, whereas now I was humbled, and looked at myself with profound contempt. My God, Thou alone knowest all that I suffered.””

“Et le Seigneur se pencha, il cueillit doucement la fleur embaumée, il détacha sans effort sa grappe chérie du cep amer de l'exil, la trouvant totalement dorée des feux de l'Amour divin. Quelles””