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Aspects of Therese: Therese of Lisieux, Little White Flower and Doctor of the Church
minor shelf wear and slight spotting to first few pages
Paperback
First published December 1, 1997
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March 26, 2020
New ways to look at Saint Therese of Lisieux!
This little book took me completely by surprise. I had hoped it would be thoughtful and maybe even a little bit of a fresh look at the old story, but in reality, expected, basically, the same old hagiography.
Instead, it is really quite astonishing. Mr Stewart is obviously a big fan of Therese, but he is not pious or ’respectful’ about it. Instead, he takes it himself to look at Therese as a real person, someone who – despite her youth and naivety – created a whole new way of defining what it is to be holy, one that ordinary people could understand, and, more importantly, undertake.
How did a woman whom most people think of as a rather artless, lovable slip of a girl come later (after her young death) to be proclaimed as a ‘Doctor of The Church?’ Because, behind the seemingly throw-away remarks, Therese ‘had something’. These two sides of Therese are what Bruce Stewart fits together.
Like I say, he is reflecting a lot on what she wrote and said, and on her life – and it’s weird how, during this book, Therese becomes very real. I feel I know her so much better.
The book is divided into seven chapters, each loosely being discussion points, examining the ways she thought about things – there are chapters on Therese’s thinking about work, about society, even about men and sex – and more.
It’s a revelation really because Mr Stewart really knows his stuff (lots of quotes) - but, like I say, he doesn’t think it’s worth getting all hushed-tones and deferential – he gives Therese the respect of treating her as if she were in the room.
And so, it’s even funny in parts (as Therese was!!); and bowls along at a lovely breezy pace, so that it’s wonderfully readable.
If you’re looking for new perspectives on Therese, that bring her right up to date, and you don’t mind that Mr Stewart is deliberately casting a quizzical eye (he even has a few pages on the unfortunate way she would break into tantrums!), then this is the book for you.
Very recommended.
This little book took me completely by surprise. I had hoped it would be thoughtful and maybe even a little bit of a fresh look at the old story, but in reality, expected, basically, the same old hagiography.
Instead, it is really quite astonishing. Mr Stewart is obviously a big fan of Therese, but he is not pious or ’respectful’ about it. Instead, he takes it himself to look at Therese as a real person, someone who – despite her youth and naivety – created a whole new way of defining what it is to be holy, one that ordinary people could understand, and, more importantly, undertake.
How did a woman whom most people think of as a rather artless, lovable slip of a girl come later (after her young death) to be proclaimed as a ‘Doctor of The Church?’ Because, behind the seemingly throw-away remarks, Therese ‘had something’. These two sides of Therese are what Bruce Stewart fits together.
Like I say, he is reflecting a lot on what she wrote and said, and on her life – and it’s weird how, during this book, Therese becomes very real. I feel I know her so much better.
The book is divided into seven chapters, each loosely being discussion points, examining the ways she thought about things – there are chapters on Therese’s thinking about work, about society, even about men and sex – and more.
It’s a revelation really because Mr Stewart really knows his stuff (lots of quotes) - but, like I say, he doesn’t think it’s worth getting all hushed-tones and deferential – he gives Therese the respect of treating her as if she were in the room.
And so, it’s even funny in parts (as Therese was!!); and bowls along at a lovely breezy pace, so that it’s wonderfully readable.
If you’re looking for new perspectives on Therese, that bring her right up to date, and you don’t mind that Mr Stewart is deliberately casting a quizzical eye (he even has a few pages on the unfortunate way she would break into tantrums!), then this is the book for you.
Very recommended.
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