Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower) [The Authorized English Translation of Therese's Original Unaltered Manuscripts]

by Thérèse of Lisieux

He willed to create great souls comparable to Lilies and roses, but He has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God’s glances when He looks down at his feet.

Perfection consists in [20]doing His will, in being what He wills us to be.

but soon God made me [32r°] feel that true glory is that which will last eternally, and to reach it, it isn’t necessary to perform striking works but to hide oneself and practice virtue in such a way that the left hand knows not what the right is doing.61

road that leads to this Divine Furnace, and this road is the surrender of the little child who sleeps without fear in its Father’s arms.

Jesus does not demand [5]great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.

For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy;

finally, it is something [25v°] great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.

He has always given me what I desire or rather He[15]has made me desire what He wants to give me; thus