The Little Flower

"At last I have found my vocation, my vocation is Love!"

                            -St. Therese of Lisieux

Millions of Catholics all over the world know and love St.Thérèse of Lisieux. I am one of the devoted and when we decided to drive to Paris to meet Eric and Ellen, I told Ryan it was my deepest wish to make a pilgrimage to Lisieux to personally thank her for always helping me along my faith journey, most especially since moving abroad and asking for her intercession. This may seem foreign to some to pray to someone who is not God, nor his Son Jesus, who is the one and only mediator between God and Man. However, the Church teaches that just as we would ask a family member or close friend for their prayers, we can also call upon the saints in heaven who lived examplary lives of holiness and devotion while on earth.

I was first introduced to Thérèse many years ago during a very difficult time in my life. Although I was not a Catholic,  I was on my way to a deep conversion. I was the same age as Thérèse when she died of tuburculosis in the Carmel convent in Lisieux when I mysteriously contracted a virus that entered my digestive system leaving me weak, nauseous and unable to eat. I had up to that point never really experienced suffering before and did not understand why it was happening nor how to cope with my situation. It was at this dark moment that our good friend Tom placed a copy of Story of a Soul into my hands. After reading her memoir, I was immediately taken in by this young, Carmelite nun whose ordinary life became extraordinary after submitting her will completely over to Jesus and finding her vocation to love and embrace suffering.

I was captivated by her "little way" - which encompasses giving over our own will, and making small sacrifices that only God can see. It is seeking out holiness in the ordinary and everyday life. Through her little way, Thérèse trusted completely in God's providence and came to understand that one must become like a child in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. For me, it puts holiness in reach, even for someone like myself who sometimes feels like a hopeless case!

I took Thérèse as my Confirmation name when I entered the Catholic Church in the Jubilee Year 2000 and her picture has been on my nightstand and on my desk at work ever since. In her I see what is possible - to become a Saint! I am encouraged by Thérèse as I face the joys and sorrows of life and know that holiness cannot be acheived by anything we ourselves accomplish, but only through the graciousness of God's love. I have learned too that suffering may be a gift in disguise - through it we often become more dependant on the One who has written his name on our hearts.

I know I received many graces after making this pilgrimage. After asking for her prayers back in December, I told her I would make my way to the Basilica built in her honour in Lisieux somehow to thank her for her little gifts should she wish to grant them. I am deeply grateful that this dream was fulfilled and will continue to share with others my love and devotion of "The Little Flower."

Basilica of St. Thérèse, Lisieux, France.

Dome of the Basilica built for St. Thérèse in Lisieux.

Shrine to St. Thérèse  in the Crypt of the Basilica.

 

Replica of the statue Our Lady of the Smile which healed Thérèse as a child.

Carmel Monastery where St. Thérèse  found her vocation and lived as a cloistered nun until her death.

Crucifix and crown given to St. Thérèse on the day of her final Profession.

St. Thérèse's Carmelite habit.

“When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens, I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth.” 

                                - St. Thérèse, The Little Flower

 

 

Cartes Postales de Paris

After a rather long hiatus, I figured I needed to start writing again more regularly. Things have been a bit hectic for both of us - me with my new job and Ryan ever-busy with new projects, but as I love to write and find it relaxing, I will make a more conserted effort to keep the blog more up-to-date. It has been a great few weeks with visits from fantastic friends and even a little bit of good weather. I have to admit, though, I am a bit homesick. We would have been home for a visit right now. Our flight was booked, but with everything going on we just didn't feel it was the best timing. Instead, we are coming to Seattle in June. More on that to come...

One of the main reasons we decided to move to Europe was the amazing opportunity we'd have to take short getaways to other destinations. Afterall, the whole mainland of Europe is smaller than the U.S. Our good friends, Eric and Ellen, came a very long way to see Europe and visit us, so we decided to meet in Paris for a long weekend. Ryan and I drove from The Hague to Paris in just a few hours to meet them. Door to door it was shorter than driving across Washington State to say Spokane. When's the last time that I was able to say that I drove to France?

I do love Paris. Even if it is atrociously expensive and not as well kept as it deserves to be (sadly I found it a bit dirty), the cathedrals, beautiful architecture, baguettes and cheese, and of course one of my favourite landmarks, the Eiffel Tower, make up for it! We rented an adorable apartment in the city where we enjoyed Ryan's culinary expertise and lots of French wine. We walked all over the city, rode the Metro and only got lost a few times. Highlights of the trip for me: reuniting with Eric and Ellen, attending Mass at the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, French onion soup and the best cappuccino I've ever consumed in Montmarte, the smell of Paris rain, the view from the Eiffel tower at night, French bubbly, and our visit to the small town of Lisieux (I will write a separate blog on this special pilgrimage).

Here are some postcards of our fabulous getaway to Paris. And since it's only 3 and a half hours away, it's likely we'll be back again.