Her spirituality, often called the "Little Way," has inspired countless souls to seek holiness not through grand deeds, but through small acts of love and trust in God's mercy.
She once wrote, "I would like to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection."
In her simplicity, she taught us that striving for sanctity is not about scaling the heights with our own strength but about lifting our foot in trust and allowing God to raise us. This is the essence of climbing the ladder of holiness.
The Simplicity of the Little Way
She wrote, "I understood that if all the humble flowers wished to be roses, nature would lose the lovely adornment of the fields." Just as every flower has its place in God's creation, every soul is called to holiness in its own way.
Thérèse recognised that she was not called to be a great scholar or missionary, but she could love with great intensity in the hidden life of her Carmelite convent. Her "Little Way" consists of doing small things with great love. Whether it was enduring the faults of others, offering up her suffering in silence, or performing her duties with joy, she saw every moment as an opportunity to love God.
Trusting in God's Mercy
At the heart of Thérèse’s spirituality is absolute trust in God's mercy. She knew she could not reach the heights of sanctity by herself, but she relied on Jesus to carry her. In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, she wrote, "What pleases Him is that He sees me loving my littleness and my poverty, the blind hope that I have in His mercy."
This trust is beautifully reflected in her analogy of a child lifting
Humility: The First Step on the Ladder of Holiness
The ladder of holiness begins with humility. In the Gospel, Jesus says, "Whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12, RSV-CE). Thérèse lived this truth, never seeking recognition or exaltation. She embraced her weaknesses and imperfections, knowing that God's power is made perfect in weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
In a world that values self-promotion and achievement, her humility is a countercultural witness. She found joy in being unnoticed, taking the lowest place, and accepting humiliations without complaint. Her hidden acts of love and sacrifice were known only to God, yet they were the foundation of her sanctity.
Love: The Ladder’s Rungs
Holiness is not an abstract concept but is lived out in love. Thérèse understood that love is the highest calling: "At last I have found my vocation. My vocation is love!" She saw that every other calling - whether priesthood, religious life, or marriage—only finds its meaning in love.
She based her spirituality on Christ’s commandment: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12, RSV-CE). Love was the driving force behind her every action, even when dealing with difficult people. She once said, "A word or a smile is often enough to put fresh life in a despondent soul." For her, love was not about great heroic acts but about small gestures done with immense charity.
Suffering: The Climb’s Challenge
No climb is without its struggles. Thérèse endured great physical and spiritual suffering, yet she embraced these trials with joy. She understood suffering as a means of growing closer to Jesus. "Suffering is the very best gift He has to give us. He gives it only to His chosen friends," she wrote.
As she suffered from tuberculosis, she offered her pain for the salvation of souls, uniting herself with Christ’s Passion. She saw suffering not as a punishment but as a way to love more deeply. She teaches us that suffering, when accepted with faith, can become a means of grace and sanctification.
A Childlike Faith
Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3, RSV-CE). Thérèse embodied this childlike trust. She approached God with simplicity, speaking to Him as a loving Father.
Her spirituality encourages us to abandon the complexity we sometimes bring to our faith. Instead of seeing holiness as an impossible goal, she invites us to take small steps, trusting that God will do the rest. Just as a child does not worry about how it will be carried, she believed in God's love without hesitation.
Relevance for Today
Thérèse’s message is more relevant than ever in a world that often equates success with self-sufficiency. Her Little Way reminds us that sanctity is accessible to all, not just to those in monasteries or missionary fields. The mother changing nappies, the student struggling with exams, the worker dealing with difficult colleagues - all can find holiness in their everyday tasks by offering them with love.
She challenges us to seek God in the ordinary, to lift our foot in faith even when the next step is unclear. Holiness is not about being perfect but about being faithful in small things, trusting that God will lift us higher.
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She reminds us that the ladder of holiness is not climbed by human effort alone but by the grace of God.
Our role is to lift our foot - to make the small effort of love and trust - and allow God to carry us upward.
May her example inspire us to embrace the Little Way in our own lives, offering every action, no matter how small, for the love of God. And may we, like Thérèse, trust in Jesus to be our elevator to heaven, knowing that when we make the slightest movement towards Him, He rushes towards us with open arms.
Images of St. Therese of Lisieux Courtesy Of Archives du Carmel de Lisieux