This is an entirely new edition and translation of Conrad De Meester's brilliant and moving presentation of the life, thought, and spirituality of St. Thrse of Lisieux. The author has completely revised and amplified his previous book in the light of the new, thoroughly annotated editions of her own works and the many recent works of research and commentary, which have led him to develop and change some of his interpretations of the saint's life and character.
Father Conrad De Meester, OCD, a Carmelite priest from Louvain, Belgium, is the author of numerous works on the spiritual masters of Carmel: Thérèse of Lisieux, Laurent of the Resurrection, and Elizabeth of the Trinity. In particular, it was he who compiled the critical edition of the Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity for Les Editions du Cerf. He has two titles to his name published in English: With Empty Hands: The Message of Thérèse of Lisieux (St Paul Publications Australia, 1982) and St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Her Life, Times and Teachings (ICS Publications, Washington, DC, 1997). The Power of Confidence is a revised and updated edition of the masterpiece which won him his well-deserved reputation when it was first published as a doctoral dissertation twenty-seven years ago.
Carmelites are celebrating the 150th year of Therese's birth. Read this as the first of several books in her honor and as a part of that celebration. I am going to need to go back over the book and reread places to prepare my review, but Oh, this was marvelous. Yes, I love St. Thérèse, but not every book about her is this good.
This was the assigned text for my lay carmelite group, which we read over several months. I wish the author had written a bit more literally about St Therese’s life—I found myself lost in the prose at several points.