St. Therese of Lisieux

On 1 October, we celebrate the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, affectionately known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. She died at just 24 after suffering from tuberculosis, yet today she is the youngest Doctor of the Church. Despite her short life, she left the Church with “The Little Way”, a spirituality that reminds us that holiness can be found in the ordinary.

St. Thérèse is like a spiritual big sister to me. This friendship grew after my WYD pilgrimage in 2023, when we visited Lisieux. Her Little Way speaks deeply into this season of my life, especially its invitation to recognise my littleness and dependence on God.

She wrote, “Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father’s love.” I return to these words in moments of uncertainty, disappointment and waiting. They remind me that every moment is an opportunity to encounter God. The ordinary, as well as the difficult, can hold riches beyond what we imagine because God is present in them, offering His love and grace.

It can be easy to measure my relationship with God by how I feel. Do I feel close to Him? Distant? Do I feel His presence in prayer? But the Little Way gently shifts my gaze from myself back to God. Faith is not ultimately about how I feel, but about trusting who God is. It is not simply about seeking God’s consolations, but God Himself. 

Perhaps this is what I find most beautiful about the Little Way. Learning to receive each moment, even the ones I would rather not have, as an opportunity to grow in union with Him.

Perhaps I do not need to see the whole road ahead. I only need sufficient grace for the next step. St. Thérèse invites me to surrender the future into God’s hands and trust! It may be a little way, but it asks for a great faith in a good God.