In the Entrance Antiphon for the Mass to remember Saint Therese of Lisieux, the “Little Flower” we pray,  “The Lord led her & taught her, & kept her as the apple of his eye.  Like an eagle spreading its wings he took her up & bore her on his shoulders.  The Lord alone was her guide.”                                 

Therese gave us “the little way”  - to focus on the mundane day-to-day stuff of life.  Whether it is washing dishes, mowing the grass, eating, or simply being with family or friends, no matter what is in your day you & I are called to offer it God.

St. Francis de Sales recommends the Direction of Intention to focus our interior disposition toward God.  “My God I give you this day .… Help me to conduct myself this day In a manner pleasing to you.”  St. Therese said, “Jesus does not demand great actions, but only abandonment & gratitude.”  (Sermon in a Sentence)

Therese's "little way" was a humble approach to the great task of cultivating holiness.  In her ordinary interactions with family & community, she tried to find opportunities to love.  When she heard that a criminal was to be executed, she devoted herself to praying that he would return to God in the end.  (He did.) 

When she was bent over the laundry basin in the convent & the nun next to her kept splashing her with dirty water, she offered up her aggravation in love to Jesus.  St. Francis deSales teaches us that God {… asks for our heart.  Give it such as it is ….}  “Our entire good consists not only in accepting the truth of God’s word, but in persevering in it.”  (Sermon in a Sentence)

May we join with St. Therese & have the lord alone as our guide.

That singular purpose should be our singular purpose!

     

May God Be Blessed!