Explore the deeply emotional closing of St. Thérèse's life, paralleling her journey with Christ's final moments. Discover the beauty of her reflections on suffering and divine love during her last days. Witness her interactions filled with peace and devotion, as she embodied faith until the end. The poignant farewell by this beloved nun emphasizes her legacy and the enduring belief in life beyond death.
St. Thérèse's final days exemplified her remarkable ability to balance suffering with joy, demonstrating profound trust in God's grace amid physical pain.
Her reflections reveal a deep struggle with faith and doubt, highlighting her desire to inspire others and continue her mission even after death.
Deep dives
The Significance of St. Therese's Final Words
St. Therese's epilogue captures the essence of her life, reflecting her deep passion for God as she faced death. Her last words resonate with pure love, emphasizing her desire to die of love rather than from her illness. This powerful sentiment illustrates how her final days were shaped by her unwavering faith and joy in surrendering to God's will. The way she approached her death highlights her mission to inspire others, projecting the belief that her impact would extend beyond her earthly life.
Therese's Suffering and Joy
Throughout her illness, St. Therese maintained a remarkable balance between suffering and joy, demonstrating her profound trust in God. Despite experiencing physical pain and despair, she often expressed cheerfulness that uplifted those around her, making her care for others a priority even in her suffering. Her conversations with her sisters reveal a woman who, despite her agony, found contentment in God’s grace and aimed to bring joy to others during her final moments. This resilience in the face of adversity showcases her extraordinary character and spiritual strength.
The Impact of Faith on Therese's Last Days
In her final days, St. Therese displayed a complex relationship with faith, oscillating between trust in God's goodness and moments of profound doubt. She articulated her longing for heaven, even while grappling with feelings of spiritual desolation, demonstrating the human struggle between faith and fear. Her determination to help others, even from beyond the grave, illustrated her belief in a mission greater than herself, vowing to aid those she loved from the afterlife. These last reflections highlight the enduring power of faith, love, and the hope for salvation, even in the darkest times.
As a conclusion to this season of Catholic Classics and to the life of St. Thérèse, Fr. Michael-Joseph provides an introduction to the epilogue of Story of a Soul. His introduction is followed by the reading of the epilogue. In the epilogue, we are given an account of the final months of St. Thérèse’s life.
To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
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