Quote of the day, 21 February: St. Thérèse of Lisieux

I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection.

I searched, then, in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires, and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: “Whoever is a LITTLE ONE, let him come to me” [Cf. Mt 19:14].

And so I succeeded. I felt I had found what I was looking for. But wanting to know, O my God, what You would do to the very little one who answered Your call, I continued my search and this is what I discovered:

“As one whom a mother caresses, so will I comfort you; you shall be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you” [Is 66:12-13].

Ah! never did words more tender and more melodious come to give joy to my soul. The elevator which must raise me to heaven is Your arms, O Jesus! And for this, I had no need to grow up, but rather I had to remain little and become this more and more.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Manuscript C, 3r (excerpt)

We always refer to the website of the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux for the vast majority of our quotes concerning Saint Thérèse, Saint Zélie, and Saint Louis Martin, but if you would like to purchase any of the English translations that appear on the Archives website, please visit the website of our Discalced Carmelite friars at ICS Publications. 

Featured image: Copyright Natalie Ewert (All rights reserved), used by permission.