Therese of Lisieux
Presentation: November 7, 2009
Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, PhD
Brief Description of Presentation
Therese Martin, commonly referred to as St. Therese of Lisieux or the Little Flower, was a French mystic who died at the age of 24 in 1897. She was the youngest daughter of large, very loving, French family. Her mother died when she was four, an experience which deeply hurt her and drove her to an early wisdom beyond her years. Late in her life she was asked to write a memoir of her life and family. Entitled The Story of a Soul, and published posthumously, it became an immediate sensation. Within months after her death, the printing press could not keep up with the demand for copies. Her writings are all contained in the one book, The Story of a Soul, which constitutes one of the clearest and purest springs of mysticism. Her popularity has been and remains almost inexplicable.
The session will take time to describe the historical setting of Therese's life and then expound upon her wisdom and spiritual insights.
Prayer Exercise
Centering Prayer
Preparation for Session and Bibliography
Preparation article: "Our Perennial Fascination With Therese Of Lisieux" by Ron Rolheiser, OMI. To view and print out the article, click on this link: http://www.ronrolheiser.com/pdfs/perennial.pdf
The primary source is Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, Third Edition, Translated by Fr. John Clarke. It contains her three manuscripts: in 1895, for her sisters, a memoir of her childhood; in 1896, for her sister Marie, memories of her last private retreat; and, in June 1897, for her prioress, Mother Marie de Gonzague, a reflection on her religious life.
"Therese of Lisieux: A Way for Today," by Iain Matthew published in The Way Supplement 89, 1997, pp. 16-27.
Click on http://www.theway.org.uk/back/s089Matthew.pdf
"Key Elements in Therese's Spirituality: The Little Way, Noticing the Unnoticed Drops of Blood," by Ron Rolheiser, OMI
Click on http://www.ronrolheiser.com/pdfs/key_elements.pdf
"Journeying with Therese," by Jane Khin Zaw published in The Way Supplement 89, 1997, pp. 6-15
Click on http://www.theway.org.uk/back/s089Zaw.pdf
About Fr. Ron Rolheiser
Ronald Rolheiser, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, is president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He is a community-builder, lecturer and writer. His books are popular throughout the English-speaking world and his weekly column is carried by more than sixty newspapers worldwide. For much of his priesthood, he taught theology and philosophy at Newman Theological College in Edmonton Alberta. From 1998–2004 he served his religious community, The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, on their General Administration. In August 2005, he began a five-year assignment as the President of the Oblate School of Theology. Among other degrees, he received a Ph.D/STD University of Louvain, Belgium, 1983. His specializations include systematic theology, philosophy, Augustine, mysticism and spirituality.
His publications include:
Secularity and the Gospel: Being Missionary to our Children, The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, 2006.
The Restless Heart, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1988. Re-released, Doubleday, New York, 2004, winner of the 1990 Winnifred Sanford Award, for best popular spiritual book in the United Kingdom.
The Holy Longing, Doubleday, New York, 1999, winner of the Catholic Press Book award for 2000, in spirituality.
Against an Infinite Horizon, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1995 and Crossroads, New York, 1996.
The Shattered Lantern, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1994, and Crossroads, New York, 1995, winner of the Catholic Book Award for best paperback spirituality book, USA Catholic Book Awards, 1996.