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

She knows that nothing in herself was capable of attracting the divine glances, and His mercy alone brought about everything that is good in her.

How good God really is! How He parcels out trials only according to the strength He gives us.

I was undoubtedly big enough now to commence the struggle, to commence knowing the world and the miseries with which it was filled.

I had human angels, fortunately for me, to guide me in the choice of the books which, while being entertaining, nourished both my heart and my mind.

There are certain things that lose [5]their perfume as soon as they are exposed to the air; there are deep spiritual thoughts which cannot be expressed in human language without losing their intimate and heavenly meaning;

“Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name, nor for acquaintance with many, nor for the particular love of individuals.”

My mortifications consisted in breaking my will, always so ready to impose itself on others, in holding back a reply, in rendering little services without any recognition, in not leaning my back against a support when seated, etc., etc.

He wanted to give me souls, and my attraction for suffering grew in proportion to its increase.

Ah! what a surprise we shall have at the end of the world when we shall read the story of souls! There will be those who will be surprised when they see the way through which my soul was guided!

I understood that [20] LOVE COMPRISED ALL VOCATIONS, THAT LOVE WAS EVERYTHING, THAT IT EMBRACED ALL TIMES AND PLACES…. IN A WORD, THAT IT WAS ETERNAL!

“the smallest act of PURE LOVE is of more value to her than all other works together.”

Ah! I understand now that charity consists in bearing with the faults of others, in not being surprised at their weakness, [15] in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue we see them practice.

I don’t mean by this that I no longer have any faults; ah! I am too imperfect for that. But I mean that I don’t have any trouble in rising when I have fallen

The upward path of imperfection

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