St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, is known for her profound spirituality and her practice of virtue. She lived a short life, dying at the age of 24, but her impact on the world and her influence on the Catholic Church has been immense.
One of the virtues that St. Thérèse exemplified was meekness. Meekness is often misunderstood as weakness, but in reality, it is the virtue of being gentle, patient, and humble. St. Thérèse practiced meekness by loving all the other nuns in her Carmelite convent, even those who may have caused her annoyance or difficulty. She did not allow herself to be consumed by negative emotions or hold grudges, but instead, she chose to love and forgive. She saw the value in every person and treated them with kindness and respect.
Another virtue that St. Thérèse practiced was love. She understood that love is the essence of the Christian life and sought to express her love for God and her fellow sisters through her actions. St. Thérèse believed that love was not always shown through grand gestures or heroic acts, but rather through the little things in life. She called this her “little way” and believed that even the smallest actions, done with great love, could have a profound impact. Whether it was doing a simple task for another sister or offering a kind word of encouragement, St. Thérèse sought to show her love for God and her sisters through these small acts.
Humility was another virtue that St. Thérèse embraced. Despite her growing reputation for holiness and her eventual canonization as a saint, St. Thérèse remained humble throughout her life. She recognized her own limitations and weaknesses and relied completely on God’s grace. St. Thérèse understood that everything good within her came from God and she constantly sought to give Him the glory. She did not seek recognition or praise from others but sought only to do God’s will and to serve Him in all things.
In addition to meekness, love, and humility, St. Thérèse also practiced other virtues such as obedience, simplicity, and trust in God’s providence. She was obedient to the teachings of the Church and to her superiors in the Carmelite order. St. Thérèse embraced a life of simplicity, both in her material possessions and in her approach to spirituality. She believed in the importance of detachment from worldly desires and focused on seeking God above all else. St. Thérèse also had a deep trust in God’s providence, knowing that He would provide for her needs and guide her on her spiritual journey.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux had a multitude of virtues that she practiced throughout her short but impactful life. Her meekness, love, humility, obedience, simplicity, and trust in God serve as an inspiration to all who strive for holiness. St. Thérèse’s example teaches us that we can live virtuous lives even in the smallest actions and that our love for God and others should permeate every aspect of our lives.