Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face
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Little Therese died on September 30, 1897 at 7:20 in the evening, after a prolonged agony. I have been reading Sr. Genevieve of the Holy Face (Celine) book, My Sister, St. Therese for my novena in preparation for the saint's feast day tomorrow. Celine was a real artist - an accomplished painter, and I think I understand her temperament. Little Therese always told her, "You are too little... to understand... or to do this or that..." and so on. I get that.
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Once in the infirmary - just a few days ago (1897) in fact, Celine relates:
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I had been going to and fro in the Infirmary, and became upset because something had gone wrong. Therese called, "Bo-bonne, no interior anxiety if you please!" (September 3) I can almost hear her say that.
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Therese always knows when something is wrong.
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Her dying reminds me so much of the death of love Our Lord suffered... today she cries out:
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"Oh! It is pure suffering, because there is not a drop of consolation, no, not one."
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No, I would never have believed that it was possible to suffer so much... never, never. I can only explain it by my extreme desire to save souls." (September 30)
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Celine says, "She was trembling from head to foot..."
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At one point she told Celine, "Va, va, ma Celine, je serais avec tois..." "Go on with courage... I shall be with you."
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Finally, gazing on her crucifix, Little Therese cried out:
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"Oh!... Je L'aime!... Mon Dieu, je... vous... aime!" "Oh! ...I love Him! ...My God, I ...love ...you!"
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These were her last words.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteSt. Therese offered her Viaticum for an apostate priest and lived a horrible "dark night" for a while before her death. She is a powerful intercessor for our day with the apostasy, sacrilege and darkness so many endure. St. Therese, pray for us!
Beautiful post!!!
ReplyDeleteI've read "The Story of a Soul" three times. I think that I am starting to understand it.
ReplyDeleteIt is time to pick it up again.
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