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Sep 14, 2011

booklady rated it:

I can't remember the first time I read this but I think it was in high school. Dear St. Thérèse was my Confirmation saint so I wanted to read her autobiography. I remember being blown away by her simple and yet powerful approach to sanctity. It IS the Gospel -- so gentle, humble, meek and Christian -- and not even difficult in a way except that I kept forgetting to live it!

Then as I got older, I confess I sort of forgot about this book and my patron saint. I even came to think More...

6 comments like (9 people liked it)

Sep 19, 2011

Leslie rated it:

Well this book has been such an emotional experience for me. I guess I have now come full circle from my early childhood version of God ( magical nice fatherly fellow who granted wishes and protection from evil) to my early adulthood ( and also completely wrong notion of) God ( angry father who didn't love me, but seemed to reward evildoers) to my later notion of their not being a God at all. That was the only way I could explain the horrors of the modern world, the evils I learned of on th More...

11 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 06, 2010

Wanda rated it:

A sweet story!

I didn't like the book as well as I thought I would, though. I think I just can't relate to someone as doted on as Therese was. I kept thinking what a wuss she was and then feeling bad that I thought such a thing about someone who became a saint! I'll admit that in the end she was not a wuss at all.

The best thing I got out of the book is that God gives everyone the ability to be a saint in his/her own way, and doesn't expect anyone to be a saint in th More...

4 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 10, 2012

Marne rated it:

I have to confess, that this was the most difficult book to read that I have read in a long while. It doesn't usually take me several days to finish a book of only 241 pages, even taking into account that I don't have a great deal of time to read every day.

Overall, it was a worthwhile read. I found her experiences, her outlook, her very nature to be almost completely foreign to me. For a while, I read almost in disbelief, thinking to myself that nobody could possibly be this humble, o More...

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Apr 29, 2011

Ahmed rated it:

القديسة تريزا ليسوع الطفل

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus

description

سأنحي مسألة إختلاف الدين جانبًا، فهذا الكتاب من أفضل كتب السيرة الذاتية التي قرأتها من قبل، أحببته للغاية ومازالت (قدّيستي) تريزا في البال إثر إنتهائي منه خلال الأسبوع الماضي إلى الآن، هنا مقالة مطولة عنها اختصرها صاحب المقال من كتابنا هذا، وهي تغني كثيرًا عن التمهيد لها ..

http://www.marnarsay.com/Santas/St.Teres...

وقصتها مفعمة بالإيمان والبراءة والبساطة والتأمل والجما More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 09, 2010

Carsten rated it:

This autobiography by Saint Therese of Lisieux is worth reading if you want an honest insight to the life in a very strict monastery - this nun tells her story from the funny memories of childhood where her dream of becoming a nun is already formed - to her youth where she is so determined in her pursuit of this call that nothing can stop her - not even the pope :) - well it is a hard life with many dissapointments where she is struggling all the time with her emotions and feelings of envy or la More...

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Oct 24, 2010

Linda rated it:

I wasn't sure about this book at first and had to dig way back to my Catholic upbringing to understand the terminology. I also think it helped that I spent 2 overnighters at a convent when I was a young (10 year old) girl, so I had a little sense of what life in a convent is like.

It's difficult for me to understand what she liked about this cloistered life except that her sisters were there and they were her mother figures. She lead a somewhat spoiled childhood and at times did More...

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Nov 09, 2011

Brittany rated it:

Although the writing style was a bit hard to follow, reading the story Saint Therese of Lisieux has profoundly changed my life. Coming to an understanding of her "little way" through her eyes and reading about her devotion to Christ and of her self sacrifice, her humility, and her total love of God has been monumental to me and my salvation.

This summer I was working at a day camp held at a Catholic school named after St. Therese. During this time I was struggling with my fait More...

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Apr 09, 2009

Emma rated it:

I am not finishing this book. Now that I have switched English classes, I do not plan on reading this again. As you an see, my feelings for this book have not changed. Everyone says how they admire Thérése so much. I just don't get it. She is extremely full of herself, and she is always crying at every little thing. She seems really spoiled, and it drives me crazy. Even when she says that she "did it for Jesus" she is still obsessed with herself. I just don't know what people like abou More...

3 comments like

Mar 18, 2008

Colleen rated it:

This short autobiography of a simple saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, gives hope to us all. She has shown us that we don't have to accomplish great things to be loved by God. She is the saint of "little things". Millions of copies of this book have been printed and spread across the world. It has been translated into more than 50 languages.

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Mar 18, 2011

Julie rated it:

This book has been mentioned for a long time as one for the Elements of Faith group to tackle. I have high hopes of relating to Therese more than the first time around because I was sent the lovely Paraclete Heritage Edition. For one thing it is a new translation so I'm hoping that some of the sentimentality is toned down a bit. For another, I have always seen Therese's photo in the wimple. The photo featured on the cover of this book has so much more personality. In fact, she looks quite mischi More...

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Jun 06, 2011

Cara rated it:

So I loved this. St. Therese is just such a gentle, kindhearted soul. One of my favorite saints, and mind you a very good writer. It was an easy read for the most part, but full of profound wisdom, and beautiful imagery. Her portrayal of her life was so well done, and so engrossing, I devoured the book rather quickly.

I recommend this book to anyone, and everyone, even those who aren't Catholic/Christian, mainly b/c it is such a good book. Anybody would enjoy it.

Favorite quo More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 09, 2011

Kathy rated it:

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This verse from Matthew 5:48 tells us we must all grow in holiness. Another way to say this is that we must all become more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, actions, relationships, deeds and everything else. After all, there's no one in heaven who's not a saint...something to think about. St. Therese of Lisieux teaches us in this book that we can offer ourselves up to be consumed by Christ's love and then share More...

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Oct 21, 2011

Sheila rated it:

As a non-Catholic, I was very interested in this autobiography and writings of Saint Therese of Lisieux, the young Catholic nun who lived in the late 1800's and died at age 24.

The variations of her thoughts were fascinating to me. Things such as "I am most thankful to Our Lord that He let me find only bitterness in earthly friendships." and how she looked forward to her death and being with her Lord and spouse, "That day everything was little except the graces recei More...

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Jan 29, 2012

Bonnie rated it:

This book was truly a story of the soul and not a story of the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. I greatly admire the simplicity she desired and her love for God and the church. Everything she did, from the early age of 3 until the age of 15 was in preparation for entering the Carmel as the youngest to enter the Carmel of Lisieux. Her determination to enter could not be stopped - even by the Pope himself.

Not being Catholic there were a few bumps of understanding to hurdle but the gene More...

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Nov 18, 2010

Maria rated it:

I put this book on my to-read list after having heard and read Gretchen Rubin (of "The Happiness Project"-fame) rave about it in her book and on her blog. I was fascinated, and it was cheap, so I thought "Why not."

It was an odd book to read though, because though I found it extremely difficult to relate to St. Therese, I was still touched by her simplicity - for want of better word. I don't mean that in a condescending way. She was honestly satisfied with loving J More...

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Aug 12, 2010

Elisha rated it:

This book has slowly grown on me. The first time I tried to read it I was appalled. St Therese seemed like a spoiled little girl determined to torment herself by hoping for the conversation of impossible sinners. Now years later as I read the book it’s completely different to me. First I think it’s important to remember that this book was originally written only for her and her sisters (physical and spiritual), each section is either in the form of a personal manuscript or a letter. To her (espe More...

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Sep 06, 2010

Georgiana rated it:

p. 70 He also gave me to understand that my own glory wouldn't be apparent to mortal eyes, that it would consist in becoming a great Saint!!!...This desire might seem foolhardy if one were to consider how weak and imperfect I was, and how much I still am after seven years spent in the religious life, but nonetheless I still feel the same audacious confidence that I'll become a great Saint. That's because I'm not counting on my merits, since I have none, but I hope in the One who is Virtue, Hol More...

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Jul 17, 2009

Wayne added it

I first read this book as a young monk.
And then EVERYTHING about her I could lay my hands on!!!
Later as a retired Catholic I visited Lisieux and the convent where Therese lived and died.
Revisiting this book after so many years fills me with curiosity and is something I'd like to do before the lights go out.I am interested in my response now when I have done some 180 degree turns in some areas of my life.
I hesitate to award any star rating yet - not fair to me or the book More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jan 06, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

This is one of my favorite devotional reads. Ever. I may be a bit biased because she's my Confirmation saint, but I love St. Therese. This book completely changed my views about the importance of a prayerful life. Her simple way of showing love to God is inspiring and humbling. A beautiful reminder of the potential for sainthood in all of us. I need to pick it up and reread it soon. Recommend to both Catholics and non-Catholics looking for a spiritual-type book.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 03, 2008

Siobhan rated it:

The Story of a Soul was written by St. Therese of Lisieux as she was dying of tuberculosis. Without it, we would know nothing of this young woman, who spent most of her life in Lisieux, a city in Normandy, France. After she entered the Carmelite community there when she was 16, she was never seen by the outside world again. She died at 24.

Without this story of her life, which she was directed to write by the abbess, we would know nothing of Therese. Yet her spirituality has enlivene More...

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Aug 30, 2011

Pat rated it:

I am torn in my reaction to this book. With all of our knowledge of psychiatric illnesses today, we would probably medicate Therese and send her to therapy due to her hallucinations, visions and, at least from the tone of Manuscript A, her self-absorption. I only became interested in the book and St. Therese when I started reading Manuscript B which is almost 2/3 of the way through the book. Manuscript C and the Epilogue were the sections that really moved me and brought home the true scope o More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2010

Lisa rated it:

Well of course I liked it because she is one of the many Saints I admire but I love her message for life because it is so simple....Do small acts of kindness everyday for someone...especially for someone that is difficult. I believe her message is great for all ages because she shares that even "small" things make a difference~a smile, a hug, a kind voice! Simply....BE HAPPY YOURSELF AND YOU WILL MAKE OTHERS HAPPY!!

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Jan 27, 2009

cheri rated it:

Holy Crap. And, I mean it. This young girl preferred a life of agony and suffering. She was encouraged by her older sister, both literally and spiritally speaking, to write down all her childhood memoires because she had a memory like that of an elephant. The stories are of such a different time and place that you think you are in a fiction novel and not someone's autobiography. This was a good book, even if you aren't Catholic, you will like it.

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Sep 13, 2011

Liz added it

I read this so long ago- In first grade I wrote a play about St Therese and it was performed in class. And then I chose her for my confirmation name years later. It must have affected me greatly and I remember admiring her. I have not thought of this book for decades now so i don't know how to rate it. booklady's review would be a lot like mine...

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Aug 03, 2011

Kevin rated it:

Ah, saints. We want to be like them, but we cannot bear to live as they did. Heaven help us. And I now understand why this young nun was named Doctor of the Church. The whole book is given to a very child-like and very Christian exhortation of charity, the one virtue that is the source of all the others. A beautiful book and well worth a read.

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Jan 09, 2010

Tamara rated it:

This is a very inspiring book. I learned about "the little way" - making a big difference by little, everyday acts of sacrifice and kindness. I learned that I should deny myself more and offer it up to the Lord. I especially liked the dream St. Therese had when she learned a soul in a state of grace should never be afraid of the devil (p. 14).

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Jan 14, 2009

Jackson rated it:

St. Therese is only the third female to be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church and also the most recent, receiving the title from Pope John Paul II decades after her death. She is also Mother Theresa's patron saint. This is the story of her short life and is extremely edifying. A must read if you like spiritual autobiographies.

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Jan 06, 2012

Sara rated it:

I Love, love this book! I will keep it short and sweet: a very encouraging and uplifting book! I think this was my third time reading it and I still found new things...

Here's one quote from the epilogue which struck me: "We who move in the way of Love must never allow ourselves to be disquieted by anything. If I did not suffer simply from moment to moment, I would find it impossible to be patient, but I look only at the present, forget the past, and am careful never to anti More...

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Feb 27, 2010

Kristi rated it:

The thought of reading the actual words of an actual saint was incredible to me. I must admit that I didn't fully understand much of this book and thus became frustrated. I felt very unsaintly myself if I couldn't understand what a saint was trying to tell me! Much of the old language was confusing to me too.

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