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

by Thérèse of Lisieux

I set to work with renewed zeal. Since taking the habit, I had already been given abundant light on religious perfection, and especially on the vow of poverty. When I was a postulant, I loved using nice things and having everything at hand when I needed it. Jesus bore that patiently; He does not like teaching us everything at once, but normally enlightens us a little at a time. At the beginning of my spiritual life, when I was between thirteen and fourteen, I used to wonder what else there was for me to learn. It did not seem possible that I could ever understand perfection any better than I already did. I soon found, however, that the more one advances, the further off one sees the goal to be. I am quite resigned, now, to seeing myself always imperfect, and I even make it my joy.