Because everyone must enter this small way-way of a golden simplicity, is childish only by its name-in this way of spiritual childhood, all purity, clarity of mind and heart, irresistible love of goodness, truth, and sincerity. Thérèse fascinates the world today by the magic of her example, example of holiness that everyone can and should follow. Pope Pius XI declared Thérèse’s spiritual way of childhood “ omen novum” in a speech in 1925: In a statue of Thérèse at the entrance to her basilica in Lisieux, she is holding a book with the words omen novum-meaning new sign, new message, or literally new omen. surrendering herself into God’s providence.” Thérèse taught that “Jesus does not demand great actions from us, but simply surrender and gratitude.” She may have been exposed to Jean-Pierre de Caussade’s teaching, since she “‘democratized’ holiness,” as Joseph Schmidt says, “making it clear that holiness is within the reach of anyone willing to do God’s will in love at each successive moment as life unfolds. Thérèse was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997, meaning that her teaching is seen as thoroughly reliable and trustworthy. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897), the uneducated French Carmelite nun who in her short, hidden life of only twenty-four years captured the essence of Jesus’ core teachings on love. Thérèse of Lisieux, Part I: The Little Way
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