This is the second succeeding article I write about the Little Flower. She deserves the attention. Not only is her Feast Day this month (October), but on the 19th of this same month (1997) Our Holy Father, John Paul II, will proclaim her Doctor of the Church.

My, oh my! What a wonderful saint! What a GREAT saint though she considered herself so little. What a great LITTLE saint! I mean she achieved great holiness by doing little things, little ordinary things of every day life with great care and love for God.

In the Little Flower we all can find great hope, for most of us will never become great in the eyes of the world. (Nor do I care to be so, personally!)

Once asked under what name we should pray to her in Heaven, she answered humbly: "Call me little Therese."

Therefore, this article! And how better can we honor her at this time than to read her own words, meditate on them, thank God for them and try to live by them. I choose, then, to proceed with other quotes attributed to my little sister (explained in previous article), little Therese.

• Since I have resolved to forget about myself, I live the happiest life possible.
• Perfection consists in doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.
• Is there anything more sweet than the inward joy of thinking well of our neighbor?
• I came to Carmel to save souls and especially to pray for priests.
• Jesus alone will not fail, and it is exceeding joy to remember He can never change.
• Jesus is so beautiful, so entrancing - even when He is silent and hides Himself from me.
• No harm can come to me since, in whatever happens, I see only the tender hand of Jesus.
• Yes the Lord will work wonders for me, which will infinitely surpass my immeasurable desires.
• Mother, beneath your veil let my tired spirit rest, for this brief passing day.
• Remember that the dear Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone.
• Only little children and those who are like them shall be admitted to the Heavenly Banquet.
• We can never have too much confidence in the good God... As we hope in Him so shall we receive.
• I pour out the Blood of Jesus on souls, and then I offer to Jesus these same souls refreshed by the Blood of Calvary.
• If I did not suffer minute by minute, it would be impossible for me to be patient.
• I forget the past and I take good care not to anticipate the future.
• Let us give pleasure to Jesus; let us save souls for Him by our sacrifices.
• If one’s sacrifices take Jesus captive, our joys make Him prisoner, too.
• In order that I may love You, give me Your Sacred Heart Itself.
• My peace consists in remaining little.
• I know that my heart is too weak to be an apostle, but Jesus, do You lend me Your Heart.
• Christ wishes that I love Him because He has forgiven me, not much, but all.
• Ah! In spite of my littleness, I would like to enlighten souls as did the Prophets and the Doctors.
• Trials help greatly to detach us from earth. They make us look to God, rather than to this world.
• One ray from His Heart can, in an instant, cause a soul to blossom forth for all eternity.
• After my death I will let fall a shower of roses.
• Even when alone be cheerful, remembering always that you are in the sight of the angels.
• O my God, I wish to console You, for the ingratitude of wicked men.
• Jesus wants to take complete possession of your heart. That is why He makes you suffer much.
• I understand that in order to become a saint, one must suffer much, choose always what is most perfect, and forget oneself.
• O my God, You have surpassed all my expectations.
• How often have I thought that I owe the graces I’ve received to one who begged them from God for me, and whom I shall know only in Heaven.
• The fire of Love is more sanctifying than the fire of Purgatory.
• It is good to serve God in darkness and trial! We have only this life to live by faith.
• You should always have a serene countenance, like a little child who is always happy.
• If we fall, all is atoned for by an act of love, and Jesus smiles.
• Jesus does not consider time, since He is eternal. He considers only Love.
• I can demand nothing with fervor, except the perfect accomplishment of God’s will in my soul.
• What pleases Jesus us to see me love my lowliness and poverty; to see the blind hope I have in His mercy.
• My sufferings may reach their limit, but I am certain that He will never abandon me.
• I value sacrifice more than ecstasy.
• Let us go forward in peace, our eyes fixed on Heaven, the one goal of all our works.

October 13, 1997 volume 8, no. 20         Sister Mary Lucy Astuto's column