St. Therese of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) was a French nun who died at the age of 24 and was recently made a Doctor of the Church. This collection of her writings is edited by Mary Frohlich, associate professor of spirituality and chair of the department of spirituality at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. In the introduction, she introduces us to a few of the basics in the life of saint who is best known by the name "the Little Flower." Frohlich notes:
"This derives from a passage near the beginning of Story of a Soul where she compares herself to a humble little flower of the meadow. She affirms that she is not one of the gorgeous, outstanding flowers to which people flock to ooh and ah, but rather one among the throngs of ordinary little flowers who together praise God simply with their tiny arrays of ornament and perfume. Part of the vast appeal of this image is that it enables each reader or hearer to identify with Therese. When we are honest with ourselves, each of us knows that we, too, are 'little flowers' whose lives and talents are more often than not ordinary and humdrum. The image of the little flower is an example of Therese's genius for sisterhood; she places herself as an equal in the midst of the masses of simple folk who will never be specially noticed or acclaimed. In doing so, she affirms and embraces the capability of each one to follow her in her 'little way' of sanctity."
The editor describes the Catholic religious milieu in France in the 1860s, Therese's family life, her illness and experience of the "Virgin of the Smile," her Christmas conversion at the age of 14, her pilgrimage to Rome, her entrance into the monastery in Lisieux Carmel, her devotion to the Holy Face, her spiritual expression through plays and poems, her work of love and prayer, and her battle with tuberculosis.
The writings in this volume in the Modern Spiritual Masters series are divided into chapters on Therese as:
• Child of Sorrow and Grace
• Best Friend and Sister
• Warrior-Daughter of St. Joan of Arc
• Martyr of Divine Mercy
• Love in the Heart of the Church
• Teacher of the Little Way
• Spiritual Sister and Missionary
Frolich summarizes the three attributes that she believes stand behind St. Therese's immense popularity: her childlikeness, the transformation of suffering into love, and her sisterhood as a companion.
