The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of the Little Flower (with Supplemental Reading: Classics Made Simple) [Illustrated]

by Thérèse of Lisieux

Since his first attack of paralysis, we had noticed that Father used to get tired very easily, and I had often noticed during our journey to Rome that his face betrayed pain and exhaustion, though what had struck me most of all was the wonderful way he was advancing in holiness. He had completely mastered his natural impetuosity, and earthly things no longer seemed to concern him at all. Let me give you an example of this, Mother. During our pilgrimage, the days and nights we spent in our compartment seemed very long to some of the travelers, and they used to make up card parties, which often ended in quite a storm. They asked us to play one day, but we excused ourselves on the plea that we did not know enough about it. The time did not seem at all long to us, as it did to them; it was all too short to enjoy the magnificent views which opened out before our eyes. They were obviously annoyed at this, but Father very calmly defended us, leaving it to be understood that on a pilgrimage there ought to be a little more prayer! One of the players, forgetting the respect due to age, thoughtlessly remarked: “It’s a good thing there aren’t many more Pharisees about.” Father made no reply; he even seemed to take a holy delight in the incident, and before long found an opportunity of shaking hands with the speaker, at the same time accompanying this fine gesture with so kindly a word that it appeared as if he had not noticed the other’s rudeness, or at least had forgotten all about i...