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DE L’ENFANT JESUS
1873—1897
ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE CARMEL OF LISIEUX
BY
MGR. LAVEILLE
APOSTOLIC PROTONOTARY, VICAR-GENERAL OF MEAUX (CROWNED BY THE FRENCH ACADEMY)
Translated by REV. M. FITZSIMONS, O.M.I.
New York, CINncINNATI, CHIcAGo, SAN FRANCISCO
BENZIGER BROTHERS
PUBLISHERS TO THE HOLY SEE
First published 1928
NIHIL OBSTAT : GEORGIUS D. SMITH, Censor deputatus.
IMPRIMATUR: EpDM. CAN. SURMONT, Vicarius generalts.
WESTMONASTERII, Die 264 Novemébris, 1928.
On Sale at THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF LISIEUX
Depot FoR CaNADA: 4508, RESTHER STREET, MONTREAL Depot FOR UNITED STATES: 442, CiLLEY Roap, MANCHESTER, N.H.
Made and Printed in Great Britain
WT 4
LETTER TO THE AUTHOR
From MONSEIGNEUR BAUDRILLART ?!
CATHOLIC INSTITUTE OF Paris, 74, RUE DE VAUGIRARD, September 12, 1925.
MONSEIGNEUR AND DEAR CONFRERE,
You have graciously announced to me the publica- tion in the near future of your Life of St Thérése de l Enfant Jésus. The news has filled me with joy both on your account and hers, a sentiment which I had experienced the moment I learned that the Carmelites of Lisieux had chosen you to write a complete biography of their dear saint.
Assuredly, other biographies have already popularized this touching and holy life—biographies, too, of undeniable merit. Something more, however, remained to be done; it was fitting that a biography, definite as possible in facts, rich in document and doctrine, should be given to the clients of her in whose honour sanctuaries of prayer are being raised throughout the Christian world, and whom millions honour with tender devotion in the hidden sanctuary of the heart.
Who among spiritual biographers of our day is pos- sessed of wider experience or surer doctrine than yours ? How numerous the saints, both men and women, how many the Founders and Foundresses, whom you have already studied in their life and works. What a number
1 Translator’s note: This letter forms the Preface to the
French editions. Vv
v1 LETTER-PREFACE
of diverse figures have been delineated by your pen. How many minds and characters, differing widely, yet all one in a common sanctity, you have intimately known.
Has not your historian’s pen therein acquired a singular suppleness, your judgement a more searching keenness ? In this special work, however, the ordinary qualities of the writer and historian, be they even possessed in an eminent degree, are not sufficient. The sense of the supernatural must be there, added to a profound know- ledge of ascetic and mystical theology.
In all these respects nothing is wanting to you. Were you not formed in that grand school of spirituality of Bérulle and Condren which Abbé Brémond so justly calls the French school of the seventeenth century? Have you not for years taught in the Scholasticate and Novitiate of the Oratory, showing priestly souls the road to perfection? Have you not also found the Carmel closely associated with the beginnings of the Oratory in France ?
Surely all these reasons point you out for the delicate task of depicting a life original in its extreme simplicity. You are indeed in a position to understand it com- pletely.
That the word “ original” will be disputed I have no doubt. In the opinion of many, original is but a polite word for eccentric.
Original it is, however, amongst all the lives of the saints, because in it the development of the interior life is not supported by a chain of external events of notable importance or of actions capable of attracting attention. What could be more disconcerting than this to the historian who is merely an historian? ‘‘ Where shall I begin—what facts are there to take hold of?” he anxiously asks himself.
Neither are there in evidence those extraordinary trials which call forth the special talent of the psychologist or theologian. A“ little way of confidence and abandon-
LETTER-PREFACE Vii
ment ” lovingly followed for a few years under the guidance of a very holy rule; that is all.
All, yes; but how priceless that a//! What consola- tion is to be found therein for the thousands whose lives are spent without events worthy of notice, but not without trial and suffering. What consolation, what example, and what comfort, too. What a blessing it is that the lessons of such a life should be brought to light by a master-hand.
Do not expect from me, dear Monseigneur, what is called a letter of approbation for your work. It would be of no advantage, and I would not presume to write thus to you. I have allowed my admiration for the author and for his undeniable talent to dictate these lines. This is not, however, the only motive which has determined me to write them, and to authorize their publication if you judge proper.
The Rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris knows that he owes a particular debt of recognition to St Thérése de l’Enfant Jésus. He would hold himself ungrateful if he did not seize every opportunity of proclaiming the singular blessings, ‘‘ the shower of roses ”’ which, in times of difficulty, the dear little saint has shed over the Uni- versity he directs. He has experienced her immediate protection, and even at the risk of astonishing certain intellectuals, he will ever continue to proclaim the fact.
Likewise, he will meditate, and incite others to meditate, on the lessons which the life of St Thérése directly holds for “ intellectuals.”
The lesson of simplicity. I do not deny that there are men of superior intelligence, accustomed to the highest studies and most learned research, whose souls remain as simple as that of a child in presence of religious truths. In the measure that they remain simple before men, are they so before God. ‘These, unfortunately, are exceptions. The greater number esteem themselves too great and too strong to submit their intelligence. Or,
Viil LETTER-PREFACE on the other hand, they require so many arguments, and place so many conditions, that they are never satisfied. Let them turn their eyes to this sweet child, white and straight as a lily, whose gaze is fixed peacefully on the highest truths, where candour of soul brings with it light to the understanding.
The lesson of faith amid trials to that faith. Whatever the candour and good will of a soul, it is almost impossible in a time like ours that a man who studies and thinks, who by force of circumstances and the necessities of his work finds himself confronted with many diverse systems, is not at some time or other tried in his faith. God, then, in His infinite wisdom ordained that this same child should experience in the midst of severe physical sufferings the anguish of this trial of faith, and that though living in the very heart of the supernatural, she should feel doubts about the reality of the supernatural. And withal her faith never wavered, any more than that of St Vincent de Paul when severely tempted in faith regard- ing the Blessed Eucharist.
Lessons of confidence, too, in the ultimate effects, distant perhaps, yet certain, of all work done for God. How many times we have felt that we work in vain, that we speak and write without result. Our work remains obscure, or we appear to bear no fruit whatever. And still we labour for God and our neighbour. Why, then, such poor result ? Listen to little Sur Thérése. When about to die at the age of twenty-four, she uttered these astonishing words: “I feel that my mission is now to begin.’’ God will choose the moment when He will draw from our efforts the good He desires; nothing that has been done for Him will be definitely lost.
Sometimes even glory, the glory so dear to those who seek to influence the minds of men, will come abundantly. And I speak not only of the glory which in heaven is the fruit of grace, the crown of a saintly life. Is there, humanly speaking, in the world today a glory equal to
LETTER-PREFACE 1x
that of our humble Carmelite? What name is more frequently on men’s lips—what hero’s portrait has been so rapidly multiplied, so widely scattered ?
Her renown carries the name of the little town in which she lived to the ends of the earth. Beautiful town of Lisieux, long appreciated by those who know it, charmingly situated in the midst of rich and fragrant valleys and tree-studded plains, possessed of the most beautiful and artistic monuments in Normandy, its old houses jealously preserved; astir, too, with industrial activity, thus joining modern life to history without taking away any of its beauty—what more was wanting to this town? And yet, how few visited it, how few even mentioned its name!
The name became united with that of Thérése, and behold, Lisieux has become a world-city equal to the most celebrated. As Teresa and Avila, Angela and Foligno, Francis and Assisi, so Thérése and Lisieux have become inseparable names. Pilgrims come in crowds, and Lisieux takes its place for the centuries to come, among the holy cities of the world.
May your book, dear Monseigneur, maintain and even increase the glory of Thérése de l’Enfant Jésus here below; may it multiply the number of souls eager for her powerful intercession, and at the same time increase our love of Him for whom she wished to live and die.
ALFRED BAUDRILLART, Bishop of Himéria, Member of the French Academy.
FOREWORD
N September 30, 1897, a young nun of twenty-four died at the Carmel of Lisieux. Her life had been
so humble and so hidden that one of her com- panions, seeing that she was fading away, wondered what facts worthy of attention could be mentioned in the death notice.
And soon afterwards, her poor coffin was taken to the cemetery, accompanied by a few relatives.
Twenty-five years later, this almost unknown maiden was proclaimed a wonder-worker as renowned as she was bountiful, and her relics, raised to the altar, became the object of tenderest homage and veneration.
After another interval of two years, on May 17, 1925, in presence of more than 4,000 priests and 60,000 faithful, the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius XI, placed the crowning aureole on the forehead of the little nun of Lisieux. Almost a million spectators, gathered in Rome from every continent, standing there beneath the marvellous illumi- nations of St Peter’s, hailed the young Carmelite in the splendour of her canonization, and Thérése de 1|’Enfant Jésus became the most popular saint in the world.
In face of this wonderful enthusiasm, this “‘ hurricane of glory’! which has raised the name of a lowly nun above all human renown, what can be said in her praise that has not been surpassed a thousandfold, that would not display miserable insufficiency ?
Thus I will guard against undertaking the eulogy of the new saint after the solemn declarations of Pius X, Benedict XV, and Pius XI on the sublime quality of
1 Expression of Pius XI in his address to the pilgrims of
Bayeux. xi
xii FOREWORD
Thérése’s virtues, and the rare fruitfulness of her spiritual doctrine.
The task is, however, comparatively easy to a biographer who is solely desirous of following with exactitude the unobtrusive events of this brief life, spent entirely in the intimacy of her family and within the walls of an unknown cloister.
These events are, besides, the substance of this super- natural and resplendent life which the Church has just glorified. To appreciate all its splendour, it will not be out of place to show in their simplicity and in their original setting, the daily actions which were its partial source and habitual condition.
These have already been given with incomparable charm in the Histoire d'une Ame, unequalled in its admirable simplicity, enlightening doctrine, sweet and impressive unction. Is not full satisfaction given in this book, multiplied as it is in thousands of copies, to the curiosity and devotion of all the admirers of “little Therese ”’?
I had thought so at first; but more attentive examina- tion of the book has shown me that several traits in the saint’s character have been omitted by her, probably through humility. These traits have been diligently noted by her companions in religion, more especially by those who were in a twofold manner her sisters here below. These testimonies, duly recorded in the acts of the different canonical processes, form two large volumes, the examination of which has revealed to me Thérése’s life, not only as seen by herself in the mirror of her modesty, but viewed from the outside with an unequalled keenness of perception and unerring judge- ment.
Certain it is that the young saint did not reveal every- thing. Yet how can one dare to undertake her biography, even with the aid of additional information, after her own heavenly-worded pages which in their
FOREWORD Xili
numberless translations have already revealed to the world the exceptional beauty of her soul ?
Two motives have conquered my fears: the confidence which the Rev. Mother Prioress of the Carmel of Lisieux, the saint’s sister, has reposed in me by charging me with a mission which will remain the great honour of my life, and the desire to show my gratitude to “ little Thérése ” who has given to my family and to me undeniable marks of her protection.
Let me add that the fact of having been a member of the pilgrimage to Rome which, in 1887, allowed Thérése Martin to submit the question of her vocation to Leo XIII, inspired in me a special attraction towards the young Carmelite who was so eager to give herself to God.
At all events, I have tried to find motives for under- taking a task which at first seemed rash.
Being incapable of producing anything to equal the graceful pages of the Histoire d'une Ame, I have borrowed Thérése’s own words whenever she has appeared to me to give the events of her life in their fullness. I have done this especially as regards her confidences and effusions on the mysteries of divine love, of which she speaks so faimiliarly with charming candour, but also with a supernatural wisdom under the impulse of the Holy Spirit.
Keeping to my role of biographer, I have avoided long dissertations on the diverse stages of Thérése’s spirituality, leaving this to other writers who, with more or less success, have undertaken to study her progress towards sanctity according to traditional classification.
For the details that are not in the Histoire d’une Ame, and which consequently form my own contribution to the work, I have scrupulously followed the testimony of the nuns at the Carmel and other well-known persons who were called to give evidence at the process of Beati- fication.
Every page of my manuscript has been submitted to
xiv FOREWORD
the careful revision of noted theologians and to the three Carmelite sisters of St Thérése de l’Enfant Jésus, so that the work appears with the explicit stamp and approbation of the most authoritative witnesses both as regards facts and doctrine.
With this book will close, so far as I can judge, an already long series of works consecrated to the glory of many saints. In revealing her admirable and engaging inner life, may it surround with new splendour the pleasing figure of the maiden of Lisieux.
May dear little Thérése, on her part, shed around the last years of her biographer a little of that peace-giving joy which she has so frequently sown in earthly paths. May her angelic smile console the last hour of a priest devoted to the glory of her name; may her helping hand lead him to the arms of God!
\
AUTHOR’S NOTE TO THIRD FRENCH EDITION
TuirTy thousand copies of this book have been sold in afew months. ‘This shows that the dear saint has visibly blessed it, and that Providence has made use of it to benefit numberless souls.
Further information which I have received for the preparation of this third edition has enabled me to revise carefully the text. I have also been able to insert at the end of the book documents which fix certain family events regarding the saint’s ancestors.
CONTENTS
PREFACE. LETTER TO MGR LAVEILLE FROM MGR BAU-
DRILLART . P ‘ 4 F 3
FOREWORD é 4 : . , : CHAPTER I
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN—ALENCON—THE FATHER AND MOTHER
OF THERESE MARTIN ; _ ej : CHAPTER II
EARLY INFANCY OF “‘ LITTLE THERESE” . s - CHAPTER III
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE—HER FIRST GREAT TRIAL . CHAPTER IV
LISIEUX—-LES BUISSONNETS < 3 : 5 CHAPTER V
THE BENEDICTINE CONVENT—STRANGE MALADY—FIRST COMMUNION—SUDDEN SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION .
CHAPTER VI
VOCATION TO CARMEL—STRUGGLE AGAINST EXTERIOR OBSTACLES WHICH RESTRAINED HER—JOURNEY TO ITALY . . . . . .
CHAPTER VII
THE CARMEL OF LISIEUX—THERESE AS POSTULANT, AND HER RECEPTION—TERRIBLE TRIAL—PROGRESS IN DETACH- MENT 7 : ‘ : “ :
CHAPTER VIII
PROFESSION—-APPARENT SEVERITY OF GOD, AND THE DIS- INTERESTED LOVE OF HIS SERVANT—GRACIOUS GIFT OF JESUS TO THERESE—POETRY OF THE YOUNG CARME- LITE—CORRESPONDENCE ON SPIRITUAL MATTERS— CELINE’S ENTRANCE } , ; ‘
XV
76
98
130
172
203
xvi CONTENTS
CHAPTER IX
INTERIOR LIFE AT THE CARMEL—DIVINE LOVE THE SOURCE OF ALL THERESE’S PERFECTION—QUALITIES OF THIS LOVE AND ITS PRINCIPAL MANIFESTATIONS—THERESE’S DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND THE SAINTS .
CHAPTER X
CHARITY OF ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS TOWARDS HER NEIGHBOUR—HER DEVOTION TO THE NOVICES UNDER HER DIRECTION—HER SPIRITUAL HELP TO TWO MISSIONARIES : 3 : : 2
CHAPTER XI
SUFFERING’S ROLE IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD DISCERNED AND INTERPRETED BY THERESE—HER PERFECT PRACTICE OF MONASTIC VIRTUES PROPERLY SO CALLED: POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE—HER LOVE OF THE CROSS THE CONDITION AND CONSEQUENCE OF HER LOVE FOR JESUS ; 2 : . ‘ :
CHAPTER XII
IDEA, ADVANTAGES AND NECESSITY OF THE “LITTLE WAY OF SPIRITUAL CHILDHOOD ”’ . .
CHAPTER XIII
THE VIRTUES OF THE “ LITTLE WAY ”’ IN PRACTICE: HUMILITY, SIMPLICITY, SPIRITUAL POVERTY, CONFIDENCE— THERESE’S CONSECRATION TO MERCIFUL LOVE AND ITS EFFECT ON HER LIFE :
CHAPTER XIV
BEGINNING OF HER ILLNESS—THE ‘‘ HISTOIRE D’UNE AME ?—
THE ‘‘ NOVISSIMA VERBA ”’—END OF EXILE—FUNERAL CEREMONIES °
CHAPTER XV
FIRST PHASES OF HER GLORIFICATION—CONTINUOUS ‘“‘ RAIN
OF ROSES ”—SCEUR THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS RAISED TO THE ALTAR :
. . . .
APPENDIX .
PAGE
233
253
286
302
319
344
381
428
ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
CHAPTER ‘I
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN—ALENCON—THE FATHER AND MOTHER OF THERESE MARTIN
her father’s side came originally from Athis-de-
l’Orne, a borough of some importance situated in the Domfront district. As far back as the sixteenth century we find agriculturists here named Martin, but authentic record of “ little Thérése’s ” parentage dates from April 2, 1692. On this day was baptized in the church of Athis a child named John Martin. Of a lineal descendant of this John Martin was born a son, who was baptized in the same church, April 16, 1777, and received the name Pierre-Francois.
This child was later to be the grandfather of the glorious Carmelite whose life-story we are about to narrate. In him we recognize the head of that saintly family from which she has come; to his influence may be attributed in no small measure her eminent and highly developed virtues.
os bave ancestors of St Thérése de |’Enfant Jésus on
At the period of their son’s baptism the parents of Pierre-Francgois Martin lived near the church of Athis* in the house at present occupied by registration officials
1 For the paternal ancestors of the saint see the booklet Athis-de l’Orne and Blessed Thérése de l Enfant Fésus, by M. VAbbé Madeline of Athis-de l’?Orne (Flers-de-l’Orne, Im-
primerie Catholique). I
2 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
and the sacristan. Afterwards they moved to a more completely rural dwelling, the “ Quentiniére.”” From here, as it would seem, Pierre-Francois set out for Alengon for his first military training.
The military expeditions of the Empire soon accus- tomed him to war, and he acquitted himself so well that we find him in 1823 captain in the rgth Light Infantry garrisoned at Bordeaux.’ Here, in an old house in the rue Servandoni, on August 22, his wife, Marie- Anne-Fannie Boureau, gave him a son, who was baptized Louis-Joseph-Aloys-Stanislas, and was third of a family of five children.?
The brave officer was absent from home at this time, his company taking part, apparently, in the expedition to Spain led by the Duke of Angouléme with purpose of re-establishing the throne of Ferdinand VII.
The child was baptized privately, and weeks of waiting for the father’s return followed. But he was not to return to Bordeaux until November. It was decided, therefore, that the solemn baptism should not be deferred so long, and on October 28, 1823, the cere- mony was performed in the church of Saint Eulalie by the Abbé Martegoute, chaplain of the prisons in that city.
The saintly Archbishop of Bordeaux, Mgr d’Aviau du Bois de Sanzay, attested in writing (January 14, 1824)
1 In the Appendix at the end of this book may be read the particulars of Captain Martin’s military service, and copies of a certain number of documentary records (certificates of baptism and marriage) concerning the ancestors of the saint.
* M. Louis Martin, father of Thérése, had one brother Pierre, early destined for the navy, but he was lost in a ship- wreck while still young.
He had also an elder sister, Marie, who married, but died in her twenty-sixth year, 1846.
‘Two sisters were born after him : Frangoise—in English, Fanny —who, after her marriage, died in 1853, aged twenty-seven; and Sophie the godchild and favourite sister of Louis, who died at the age of nine years.
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 3
to the authenticity of the certificate of baptism. It was probably on this occasion that he said to the parents: “Rejoice, for this child is one of the predestined !” This prophetic vision vouchsafed to the virtuous Archbishop was truly to be fulfilled in the life then opening.
Captain Martin was himself one of the most powerful instruments of divine grace in the training of his son; from the beginning he set himself to infuse into this youthful mind his own deep faith and ardent piety. As far as his public duties permitted he watched over the education of Louis, took care to have him thoroughly instructed in religious truths, and made him also com- mence his classical studies.
At length the hour of retreat sounded for the brave soldier. Bearing with him the esteem of his superior officers, decorated with the Cross of Saint Louis, which he had obtained at the age of forty-seven during the Spanish campaign,? Captain Martin left Bordeaux for his native district, there to seek a well-earned repose
1 The following is a copy of the register of baptism: “‘ In the year One thousand eight hundred and twenty-three on the twenty-eighth of October, has been baptized by me, priest, undersigned, Louis-Joseph-Aloys-Stanislas Martin, born the twenty-third of the month of August last, legitimate son of sieur Pierre-Francgois Martin, Captain in the Nineteenth Light Infantry, and of dame Marie-Anne-Fanny Boureau his wife, living at No. 3, rue Servandoni. He had for godfather Léonce de Lamothe, and for godmother Ernestine Beyssac who have signed with me
“*Jn-Ant. Martegoute, priest, de licentia parochi. Léonce de Lamothe; Ernestine Beyssac, Jules Guibre. Fanie Martin, née Boureau. Copy conformable to the original: Jaure, Curé de Sainte-Eulalie.
Followed by the attestation of Mgr d’Aviau. 2 This decoration was conferred on him by Charles X August 20, 1824.
4 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
and to provide for the future of his children. With this end in view, instead of returning to the little house at Athis where his parents had lived, he went to Alengon, drawn thither by the more favourable resources of educa- tion offered in that town. From henceforth his life was to be one long series of charitable works and saintly example.
From Alencon the old soldier, accompanied by his children, went sometimes to Athis to visit the cousins and other relatives who remained in the old homes. Young Louis delighted in these visits to country homes where the service of God predominated over every other thought. It was time, however, to consider his future career. The army was not without attraction for the son of Captain Martin, but what seemed to be a chance occurrence was to lead him to more peaceable occupations. In the town of Rennes Captain Martin had cousins, watchmakers by trade. During a visit there Louis discovered his taste for this profession, and began to learn it merely as an amateur. During his sojourn in Rennes he received from his parents letters which show the character of the people of Normandy ennobled by the ancient faith. From his mother, a daughter of this rural district so attached to Catholic practices, he received the following letter on August 25, 1842:
“What a joy it would be to me, my dear Louis, to offer you in person my heartiest and best wishes. Yet we must bear the crosses which God sends us, and thank him every day for the favours he has bestowed. I felt that he conferred a great blessing on me when I saw you for the first time in your Breton costume, your young heart filled with enthusiasm. ... With what joy I pressed you to my heart, for you, dear son, are the dream of my nights and the constant subject of my thoughts.
* It was, however, at Strasbourg, where he was on the staff, that his discharge was definitely granted him in 1830.
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 5
“How many times do I not think of you when my soul, in prayer, follows the leading of my heart and darts up even to the foot of the divine throne. There, I pray with all the fervour of my soul that God may bestow on my children the interior happiness and calm which are so necessary in this turbulent world.”
Then this true Christian, in her fear of the pernicious effects of youthful presumption in her son, adds: ‘ Re- main always humble, dear son.’’!
In Strasbourg dwelt another friend of the Martin family, also engaged in the clockmaker’s business. Drawn to this city by the wish to be near one of his father’s old comrades, Louis still continued the delicate work to which he had commenced his apprenticeship. This gave him an opportunity of closely examining the mechanism of the celebrated cathedral clock which aroused his admiration. Gradually he found growing within him an attraction for this work, which requires
1 Unpublished letter in family archives. The letter written by his father to Louis on this occasion exhibits even more clearly the same Christian spirit. We give it as a novel and unique example of the type of family correspondence in Normandy at that period:
“May God be for ever glorified and loved above all things !
“My DEAR SON,
“ On behalf of your sisters Fanny and Sophie and all the family, I wish you a happy feast, in honour of your blessed patron, who is also my own as a Knight of Saint Louis, and to whom JI have and will ever have devotion. The bouquet which we are sending is a gift from your sister and godchild, Sophie. We should like to offer you in person our heartiest wishes, and clink glasses in sprinkling the bouquet; but let us make this sacrifice, since it is the will of the Master.
“We are, thank God, enjoying good health. I hope you also are equally blessed. In conclusion, my dear Louis, I give you with all my heart the kiss of friendship for myself and all the family.”
6 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
in addition to skilled hands so much application and taste. But Louis had higher aspirations than the study of an earthly career.
He had progressed in the practice of prayer and the frequent use of the Sacraments. Under this influence his thoughts no less than his love tended towards the joys of heaven. The beauty of creation, especially as shown in its varied aspects in the land of Normandy, filled him with delight, and was to him a mirror in which he contemplated the divine Creator. At the sight of the flashing dawn or the waning sunset his handsome and clear-cut face reflected in turn his gladness in the beauty of the divine plan, or his sadness at parting with things which must pass with the day.
He had reached his twentieth year when he reflected, with faith already supported by experience, that beyond all passing earthly splendour is the light of an eternal day which shines for those happy beings who contem- plate the divine beauty. He realized that this great joy must be won by toil on earth, realized too that the surest way towards possession of the eternal reward of the invisible world is voluntary renunciation of the fleeting though alluring shadows which claim our attention here below. We find this youth, then, on a morning in September, 1843, slowly climbing up the slopes of Mount St Bernard, gazing with wondering eyes at the majestic peaks above. He had travelled across France, partly on foot, partly by stage-coach, to seek at the Monastery hidden here amid the snows the secret of his vocation.
As he climbed upward, the wonderful stillness, the peaceful aspect of the wide spaces around, formed a powerful attraction towards this holy solitude, where he hoped to find, in familiar and daily communion with the Holy of Holies, that blessed peace for which his soul thirsted. On the threshold of life, with a realization of
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 7
the storms that would beset him, he already said with the Prophet at sight of the city which was to shelter him: “* Haec requies mea in saeculum saeculi,’’*
Louis Martin was received by the Superior of the Augustinian Monks with that kindliness and sweetness which instinctively opened all hearts. The Prior knew immediately that this clear-countenanced youth had not come merely for a night’s shelter. His desire was to shield his innocence there till death, to devote his life, in accordance with the object for which the Monastery was founded, to the rescue of unfortunate travellers buried in the mountain gorges beneath the snow, or frozen by the glacial blast.
An attraction towards solitude, or the desire to be im- molated in the service of others, is not always a sure mark of religious vocation. ‘The postulant must have already received the remote preparation which would fit him for the functions of the Order to which he seeks admission. Thus the Prior set himself immediately to find out the capabilities of his young visitor.
“‘ Have you finished your Latin studies, my son ?”
Louis replied in the negative.
“TI am sorry,” said the Prior, “ for it is an essential condition for admission to our brotherhood. But be not discouraged. Return to Normandy, work diligently, and when you have completed your humanities, we will gladly admit you to our Novitiate.’’?
Sad at heart, the pilgrim returned down the steeps of the glaciers, like a traveller who has been driven back into exile from the shores of his native land.
Would Captain Martin’s means allow him to incur the expense of his son’s classical studies? A loyal effort was made; Louis set himself earnestly to the study of Latin under the Curé of St Leonard of Alengon. But illness soon compelled him to lay aside his books, and he
1 “This is my resting-place for ever and ever,” Ps. cxxxi 14. 2 See Histoire d’une Ame: Introduction.
8 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
decided finally to return to the watchmaker’s workshop. After some time in Paris, where in all probability he completed his apprenticeship, he returned to the little town in Normandy made dear to him by family ties. Here he lived with his parents in the rue du Pont-Neuf, dividing his time between work, prayer, and some suitable distractions, in which he was joined by a few chosen friends, devoted like himself to works of charity.
In this way he lived until his thirty-fifth year, thinking still perhaps of the monastic life; at all events manifesting no desire to enter the married state, although his mother wished him to marry.
About this time a young daughter of Normandy, Zélie Guérin, born at Saint Denis-sur-Sarthon (Orne), presented herself at the Hoétel-Dieu of Alengon, directed by the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul. She belonged to one of the most religious families of the district. Her forefathers had given asylum to the clergy during the Revolution, and her own father was familiar in his child- hood days with the ruses employed to evade the enraged pursuers of his uncle, a priest whom they had concealed in their house. Later, this child, having come to man’s estate, was to take his part, like Pierre-Francgois Martin, in the military campaigns of the Empire, was afterwards to serve as a gendarme, and then to retire to Alencon after forty years of military service.
1 Below is a résumé of the military service of M. Isidore Guérin, maternal grandparent of Thérése Martin. Born at Saint Martin l’Aiguillon (Orne) July 6, 1789, he entered the army on June 6, 1809, and went through his first military training at Wagram. Some months later he was in the Oudinot Division. He remained there after the defeat of Vittoria until the battle of Toulouse, and on the fall of the Empire returned home. He entered the foot gendarmerie, October 1, 1816, and passed into the mounted gendarmerie, June 1, 1823. He served first in the Compagnie de la Vendée; then, from February 23 1827, in the Compagnie de l’Orne (2nd Legion) at Saint Denis sur-Sarthon (Orne). On September 10, 1844, he left the
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 9
He had three children: an elder daughter, Marie Louise, who died, a Visitation nun, at Le Mans; Zélie, with whom we shall be largely concerned in the course of our narrative; and a son, Isidore, who early gave signs of his attraction to the medical profession.
As pupil of the Dames de l’Adoration at Alencon, Zélie Guérin had received a careful education, as attested by her numerous successes in study; she had also been formed there to true piety, and desired to serve God in the person of His poor. She confided her wishes to the Superioress of the Hétel-Dieu, who declared unhesi- tatingly that God had other designs for Zélie than the religious life.
Disappointed, but sustained by faith, the young girl remained with her brother, sister, and parents, to await the decision of Providence regarding her future.
Her father, in 1843, had purchased a comfortable house, No. 42, rue Saint Blaise, where later he lived with his children. But the expenses consequent on the education of his son and daughters had made consider- able inroads on the pension of the old soldier. Zélie, understanding that she was destined for the married state, felt that she must increase her dowry in order to meet the calls of her future life. She was in considerable anxiety as to the means of so doing, when, on December 8, 1851, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, she was suddenly interrupted in the midst of an absorbing work Which excluded all freaks of the imagination. An interior voice seemed to give her this command: ‘‘ Have Alengon point lace made.’”! 'This was the reply given
service finally to retire to Alencon, where he died September 3, 1868. (Taken from the Archives of the Guérin family and the Archives of the Ministry of War.)
1 The “ point d’Alencon ” is manufactured from hand-spun and twisted linen thread, exceptionally fine and consequently very costly. These laces are composed of pieces measuring from twenty to thirty centimetres joined together by im-
10 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
by the Blessed Virgin to the anxious doubts which Zélie had confided to her.
The world-wide appreciation of this beautiful lace, the one kind in France worked entirely with the needle, is well known. Zélie Guérin studied the different processes of the manufacture, specialized in the assem- blage of the pieces already prepared, and finally placed herself at the head of one of those enterprises for the production of that light and delicate lace destined to complete the richest attire in the land. Her employées worked in their own homes, whilst she took charge of the orders, supplied the designs, and carefully watched over the execution of the work. Soon the lace which she produced was classed amongst the most beautiful; 500 francs a metre was a not unusual price for her work, so that the profits soon grew into a capital of some im- portance.
Isidore Guérin, Zélie’s father, lived at a short distance from the Church of Notre-Dame, and Captain Martin with his wife and son had at this time, as we know, a house in rue du Pont Neuf in the parish of Saint Pierre de Montsort.
Active, industrious, with a skilful hand, and a finely developed artistic taste, Louis Martin promised fair to become an expert in his profession; he had thoughts also of joining the lucrative business of jeweller to his trade of watchmaker. No acquaintanceship had as yet sprung up between the two families. Immersed in her daily task, Zélie Guérin satisfied herself with a petition to Providence to give her a worthy husband, Catholic not only in name, but in practice. She had asked God too, with profound faith, to bless her future union with
perceptible stitches, At Alengon the industry was started under the administration of Colbert about 1664, that Minister
having brought from Venice thirty skilled workers with this object in view.
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN II
many children, who might all be in some way conse- crated to His service.
One day as she was crossing the bridge of Saint Leonard she met a young man, whose dignified and distinguished demeanour claimed her attention in a remarkable manner. She did not know him, but an interior voice made manifest to her once more the provi- dence of God watching over her life: ‘‘ This is he whom I have prepared for thee.”” Those words led to the two lives being drawn together; and they were indissolubly united on July 13, 1858, in the Church of Notre-Dame at Alencon.
According to family records, the young husband, think- ing, as many saints had done, to join to the blessing of Christian marriage the honour of continence, expressed this wish to his wife on the evening of their marriage. He was, without knowing it, going against what she felt to be God’s design for her. Having learned this after a year, Louis renounced his plan of special perfection, and the young couple lived in conjugal fidelity, in perfect union of heart and will.
They had established themselves in the rue du Pont Neuf. The watchmaking, to which Louis had now joined the sale of jewellery, added to the Alencon point lace manufacture, proved a considerable source of income to the family. They set earnestly to work; reliable customers came in numbers; the future seemed assured.
The newly-married pair realized every day more and more the blessing of mutual charity. Endowed with a practical mind, with rare gifts of energy and untiring activity, Mme Martin was above all remarkable for her wonderful spirit of faith. One sole object dominated and directed her life. She could in all truth make this maxim of St Fran¢oise d’Amboise her own: “So act that in all things God be loved above all.”
Louis, with perhaps a calmer disposition, his taste for
12 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
religious communion with nature, his love for the poetry of light and shade ever varying with the mists of his homeland, was a model of that patient and active charity which lends so much charm and happiness to life in common. On one occasion he was seen to raise up a drunken man from the thronged street where he had fallen, then, without the slightest regard for human respect, take his box of tools, give him the support of his arm, and with gentle but firm admonition conduct him to his home. Again, one day at a railway station, having come across a poor victim of epilepsy dying with hunger and without sufficient money to take him back to his own village, the young man took off his hat, and, placing therein the first alms himself, went round to all the passengers for money to enable the poor sufferer to reach his home.
In the service of God, more especially in devotion to Jesus in the Tabernacle, did the intimate union of the newly-married couple find its full expression. M. and Mme Martin attended Mass every morning at half-past five; they knelt together at the Holy Table; and although very frequent communion was not yet in vogue in the French parishes, they endeavoured to receive the Holy Eucharist more frequently than every Sunday.
Despite the fatiguing duties of the household and the absorbing labour of the husband’s daily business, at a time too when the spirit of mortification was growing weak in the better class families, they observed to the letter the fasts and abstinence of the Church. Another practice of renunciation must have proved very meri- torious for them. It was customary at that time amongst the young country folk to come to Alencon every Sunday to make their purchases or on pleasure bent. The jewellers’ windows formed the chief attraction for the gentler sex. When a marriage was in view their fiancés were liberal in the purchase of rings, trinkets, ear-rings, and the other ornaments so much appreciated, especially
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 13
by village folk. But when the intending purchasers came to Louis Martin’s establishment on Sunday they found the door closed; all business was suspended here out of respect for the Lord’s day. This line of action entailed considerable loss for the young man. Some of his friends counselled a less rigorous practice which would not at the same time militate against the day of rest:
“* Leave the side-door at least open; in this way your shop will to all appearances remain closed, while pur- chasers can come in quietly and you will not lose good sales.”
“TI prefer,” replied Louis, ‘‘to draw down on my house the blessing of God.”
This spirit of faith so openly manifested showed itself in a still more touching way in the quiet of the home. They prayed in common, endeavouring to put into the prayer addressed to God the Father the fervour of Captain Martin, whose accents as he recited the Our Father moved others to tears.
A habitual practice in the household was the study of the Lives of the Saints, in whom they recognized a spiritual brotherhood.
One day, as the young wife read the life of Madame Acarie, who, after giving all her daughters to Carmel, consecrated herself also to God in the religious life, she exclaimed : “ All her daughters Carmelites! Is it possible that a mother may have so great an honour ?”!
With these thoughts in her heart she was glad to see her husband take his place each succeeding month at the nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. When- ever she accompanied him on a walk into the country, her greatest joy was to turn with him into some quiet church, where, in his devotion, he would prostrate before a tabernacle too often abandoned.
Absorbed in his business, Louis Martin allowed him-
1 Apostolic Process of Beatification and Canonization— Deposition of Rev. Mére Agnés de Jésus.
14 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
self from time to time one little recreation. He loved fishing, and often plied the hook along the Sarthe, whiling away a few hours in the charm of horizons veiled in blue mists. In this, as in other things, he wished that honest recreation should be seasoned with charity; eel and trout were sent for the most part to the Monastery of the Poor Clares at Alencon.
Following the example of her husband, Mme Martin was always ready to relieve misery and suffering. A servant in the household fell ill with a very painful attack of articular rheumatism. Her parents were poor and could not procure for her the proper treatment. The mistress devoted herself to the servant night and day until she was completely cured. At another time, Mme Martin was compelled to appear before a magis- trate in consequence of her endeavours to rescue a child from the maltreatment of two evil old women, who had taken charge of her education, but who were exploiting her in a shameful manner.
What, then, was wanting to these true Christians save to be enabled to transmit their own virtues to a numerous posterity ? God gave a grand answer to the prayer of His servants; in a few years nine children were born to them.
They wished that each child from its entrance into the world should be consecrated to the Queen of heaven by receiving the name of Marie, and in time Marie-Louise, Marie-Pauline, Marie-Léonie, and Marie-Héléne, came to increase the joy of the home.
The parents, in their desire to multiply here below the noble works of their family, sought from God, by the intercession of St Joseph, ‘a little missionary.”
They believed that their prayer was heard when to
1 Unpublished letter of Mme Martin to her daughters Marie
and Pauline, January 17, 1875: Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux.
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 15
the little daughters who filled the house with laughter and song was added a baby brother, who received the names of Marie-Joseph-Louis. Alas! scarce had he learned to smile at his mother, when, five months after his birth, he departed from this earth to intercede amid the angels for his parents and sisters.
Supplications and novenas were renewed with re- doubled fervour; a priest, a child who would be a “ great saint,” was the goal of all their desires. Another little cherub seemed sent as an answer from above, but eight months later he too, Marie-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste, de- parted, to fulfil in heaven the mission that God saw fit to deny him in this world.
With this second cross, they understood that ‘ the thoughts of the Lord are not our thoughts, His ways are not our ways.’ And they ceased their supplica- tions for a missionary. But who, considering the lives of the remaining children of Louis Martin, would have the hardihood to say that God had rejected his petition ?
The two elder daughters were now old enough for school. Mme Martin considered that she could not do better than confide them to the care of her saintly sister, the Visitation nun, so Marie-Louise and Marie- Pauline were sent as boarders to the convent at Le Mans.
In order to meet the additional expense of educating her children and provide generally for her growing family, the courageous mother resolved to apply herself with renewed energy to the development of her lace industry. She accepted large orders, devoted long hours to the training of her workers, attended personally to the extensive commercial correspondence entailed, and brought to her artistic work so much activity and good taste that in a short time the renown and extent of her enterprise had greatly increased.
Such a life of activity left little time for recreation or rest. Mme Martin made a virtue of necessity. “ Truth
1 Isa. v 8.
16 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
to tell,” she wrote, ‘‘ I seek no other recreation than to sit at my window putting together the pieces of my ‘ Point d’Alengon.’’”!
In spite of all preoccupations her greatest joy was in her family life; it was, in fact, her one joy on earth, and she endeavoured to fulfil every duty to her children with characteristic simplicity, devotion, and good-will.
She had, as we know, one brother, Isidore Guérin, who, before he became the exemplary Catholic that we find him later, had been, as a young medical student, drawn to the dissipations of Paris life. We find his sister addressing to him at the time letters such as these:
‘““T am, my dear brother, greatly disquieted on your account. My husband constantly speaks to me with apprehension concerning you. He is well acquainted with Paris, and says that you will be surrounded by temptations which you will not resist because you are not sufficiently grounded in piety. He has given me an account of some of his own experiences, and shown me what courage is required to come out victorious. If you but knew through what trials he has passed! I beseech you, my dear Isidore, to act as he acted, be fervent in prayer, and you will not be carried away by the torrent. If you go under once you are lost. It is but the first step that costs on the road to evil as on the path to virtue; afterwards you will be carried on by the current.
“If you agree to do one thing which I am going to ask of you, and which you might well be willing to give me as a New Year’s gift, I shall be happier than if you gave me all Paris. You live quite near Notre-Dame-des- Victoires. Well! make a little visit there even once a day to say a Hail Mary to the Blessed Virgin. You will find that she will protect you in a special manner, she will give you success in this world and eternal happiness
1 Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, September 28, 1872.
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 17
in the world beyond. ‘Think not that my words to you come from exaggerated piety without solid foundation; I have reason for confidence in Mary; I have received from her favours known only to myself. . . . You know well that life is very short. In a few brief years you and I will have reached the end; how happy we shall then be if our life has not tended to make our last hours bitter.”"4
The youth profited so much by this advice that he became soon afterwards one of the most practical and devoted Catholics of his time. He set up in business as a chemist in the town of Lisieux, and married a pious young girl, Mlle Fournet. From this time onward a close friendship sprang up between Mme Martin and the newly-married couple. At their house in Lisieux she spent in company with her children the few holidays which she allowed herself. To her sister-in-law were addressed for the most part those simple yet typical letters wherein she traces such charming pictures of the home-life, or gives expression to supernatural hope in the midst of tears and trials; letters which her family has faithfully preserved, and which are to us so invaluable a treasure in compiling the biography of “ little Thérése.”
Neither did Mme Martin forget that, as elder sister, she had certain moral duties to her brother. Here is a novel example of her manner of persuasion.
An old pair, of the rich and egoistic type, had just built a costly house at Alencon. At the prospect of soon enjoying this grand dwelling, the wife exclaimed: ‘‘ Oh, how happy I am! Nothing is wanting to me; I have health and fortune, can procure everything I wish; I have no children to disturb my peace; indeed, I know of no one so well off as I am.”
1 Unpublished letter of January 1, 1863. Some of the above lines contain an allusion to the supernatural counsel which she received on December 8, 1851, to undertake the manufacture of point d’Alenc¢on.
2
18 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
Mme Martin made the following comment to her brother on hearing the remarks of this lady:
“‘T have always heard, ‘ Unfortunate, thrice un- fortunate, is the person who can speak thus.’ And, my dear friend, I am so convinced of this truth that, at certain periods of my life, when I had that feeling of happiness, I could only dwell on it with fear and trembling, for experience has shown beyond doubt that true happiness does not exist here below; its semblance may perchance appear on earth, but it is the herald of misfortune. I have noticed it myself. No, happiness cannot be found here; good fortune carries with it a danger-signal. God, in His wisdom, has so ordained our life that we may never forget that this earth is not our true home.’’!
In confirmation of this seemingly rigid teaching, she gives a striking example. She tells of this old couple walking one evening through their new garden, at the end of which a deep trench had just been dug, and was left unprotected save for a few planks. In the growing darkness the husband and wife stepped on one of these slender planks, and both were dashed into the pit beneath, crushed and injured.
Oftentimes, however, these more serious lessons give place to an account of some little incident in lighter vein. Now it is a story of the children’s pranks as they romp around the table where the lace is being prepared, now the repetition of some ingenuous question or remark which shows already the bent of their character; often, too, comes the expression of deep intense gratitude for these treasures that Heaven has entrusted to her.
She had just put her baby, Héléne, under the care of a nurse, and in a letter to her brother she gives naive ex- pression to her feelings. “ I went to see her a fortnight ago. I think I never experienced a greater joy than when I took her in my arms; she smiled at me so sweetly that I thought I was looking at an angel. I cannot express
+ Unpublished letter to her brother, March 28, 1864.
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 19
what I felt. Never, I think, was seen, never will be seen a child so charming. My little Héléne, when shall I have the happiness of possessing her fully? I cannot realize that I have the honour of being the mother of so beautiful a little creature.’’!
Alas ! this cherished child was destined to leave, five years later, her mother’s arms for ever. How deeply this would wound that loving heart the foregoing lines reveal.?
In the meantime a poignant sorrow, the prelude of many another, now came to Mme Martin. Captain Martin, her husband’s father, who was in his eighty-ninth year, was lingering between death and life. On June 27, 1865, she wrote to her brother:
“My father-in-law died yesterday at one in the after- noon. He received the last Sacraments on Thursday. He died like a saint; as was his life, so,also,hisdeath. I would never have believed that it could have such an effect on me; I feel it most deeply.”*
She was destined to become familiar with the sight of death. In the course of the next few years two sons were born, and were quickly taken to heaven; then she had the sorrow of losing her own father, from whom she had never been parted.
On September 3, 1868, she wrote to her sister-in-law: “If you had but witnessed his holy death! I cherish the hope, I have even the certitude, that my dear father has been favourably received by God. May my death be like to his! We have already had three Masses said for him, and intend to have many more, so that he may be speedily delivered from purgatory if anything yet remains to be atoned for. His tomb will be quite close
1 Unpublished letter, April 23, 1865.
2 Little Héléne died of consumption February 22, 1870, at the age of five.
3 Unpublished letter.
20 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
to that of my two little Josephs.” And on November 1 of the same year, writing to her brother: “ If the good God hears my prayer, He will admit him this very day to paradise. Poor father! He was not accustomed to suffer. For myself I do not fear purgatory; to suffer seems quite natural to me. If God so willed, I would at once agree to expiate his purgatory and my own, so desirous am I that he should be happy.’’?
Added to this sorrow was disquietude caused by the frail constitution of her daughter Léonie, and the con- sequent difficulties regarding her education.
This valiant woman, who in spite of her delicate sensitiveness had gone through such trials with fortitude, whom sorrow had strengthened rather than vanquished, could endure without flinching the thousand little annoy- ances which add weight to the burden of daily life.
But to her cares as mother, wife, and mistress of a household, were added fears regarding the health of her sister, the Visitation nun, now threatened with phthisis. She dreaded the loss of this sister all the more because her two daughters Marie and Pauline were making wonderful progress under her charge, and their growing virtue was her greatest consolation amid crosses and vexations.
The gentle and reserved nature of Marie concealed, as is usual in timid people, a depth of tenderness which only required expansion to bring out its true worth.
The gracious and prepossessing disposition of Pauline, and her natural bent for learning, made her, notwithstand- ing her exuberant disposition, the joy of her teachers.
More especially after her father’s death did Mme Martin appreciate these happy traits of character in her children; their lovable qualities proved a wonderful solace to her in her sorrows.
Marie was asked to offer the pain of a dental operation for the soul of her grandfather: “ This morning at eight
1 Unpublished letter. 2 Ibid,
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 21
o’clock,”’ writes Mme Martin, “I took her to the dentist. She asked me if her suffering would really help ‘ the poor papa.’ On my answering in the affirmative, she never uttered a word; in fact, the dentist told me he had never seen a child so brave.”’ After a fresh examination, when the operation was declared unnecessary, she said to her mother: “‘ What a pity! the poor papa would no longer have been in purgatory.””?
Thus, in return for the pious education given to her children, this Christian mother tasted, even in the midst of hard trials, the consolations of faith. God willed to brighten with a few flowers the rough path which she trod, for, ere the end of the way be reached, more thorns still would there be to harass and afflict her.
On February 23 came the death of her fourth child, little Marie-Héléne. From the monastery of Le Mans her sister wrote: “ I cannot help considering you fortunate in giving to heaven these innocent souls who, later, will be your joy and your crown. Your faith and never- failing confidence will then receive a magnificent recom- pense. ... Rest assured that the Saviour will bless you; your joy hereafter will be according to the measure of the consolations refused you now; for if God, accepting your sacrifice, wills to give you this great saint whom you have so much desired for His glory,’ will you not then be well repaid ?’’?
These last lines would seem to contain a presentiment of the future. The admonition of the good religious was hardly necessary in the case of Mme Martin, for we find her, shortly afterwards, writing to her sister-in-law at Lisieux, who had received a similar cross: ‘“‘ When I
1 Unpublished letter to her brother and her sister-in-law, January 1869.
2 An allusion to the prayers of the Martin family to obtain from God a “‘ little missionary,” or at least a son who would do great things for the extension of God’s kingdom on earth.
3 Unpublished letter of February 23, 1870.
22 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
closed the eyes of my dear little children, when I laid them in the grave, my grief, though great, was always resigned. I never regretted the pain and anxiety I had endured for their sake. Everyone said: ‘ Better they had never been born.’ I could not agree to this view. I realize that my pain and anxiety cannot be compared to the eternal happiness of my dear children. ‘They are not lost to me for ever. Life is short and full of sorrow; we shall meet again in heaven.”
These and similar reflections were communicated to Sister Marie Dosithée, the fervent Visitandine, who, at the thought of such great spiritual strength in a life so sorely crossed, thus pays homage to the virtue of Mme Martin: “‘ I have fears,”’ she wrote to her brother, “ lest her health suffer from the effect of so many shocks. Her spirit of faith, however, and her wonderful courage re- assures me. What a valiant woman she is! Adversity has no power to overcome her, prosperity cannot deceive her; she is admirable.’’?
At the beginning of 1870 M. Martin handed over his watch-making establishment to one of his nephews.* He thought it well to give henceforward more active and practical help to his wife, whose lace industry continued to extend considerably.
A period of remarkable and unprecedented success opened for the family, until Alencon had to bow before the invasion of the victorious Prussian army. After having witnessed the sad spectacle of our soldiers suffering in the hospitals of the town from the wounds of battle or the contagion of disease, Mme Martin had to open her house in the rue du Pont-Neuf to nine German infantry soldiers, who, while refraining from insulting
? Unpublished letter, October 17, 1871. * Unpublished letter, October 28, 1868.
® He remained in the rue du Pont-Neuf, however, until J uly of the following year. :
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 23
violence, destroyed from the commencement the beautiful order established therein by its mistress.
“They have,” she wrote, ‘‘ reduced the house to a deplorable condition. ... The town is in desolation; everyone is in tears except myself.”
In spite of his consternation, M. Martin showed, like his valiant wife, the greatest courage. She herself is happy in testifying to the fact: “It is quite possible that the men between forty and fifty years will be called out; I am in hourly expectation of the order. My husband is not in the least alarmed. - He often says that if he were free he would soon be enlisted amongst the franc- tireurs.”
Of a lady who had succeeded in concealing her husband and saving him from the mobilization, the heroic French- woman exclaimed: ‘Is it possible that anyone would so act |”
The war was concluded before M. Martin was called to the colours. ‘The evils of invasion were confined in their case to material losses; their habitual order and economy in home life brought them through this tragic period without too much privation.
With the return of peace, M. and Mme Martin decided to retire to the residence in the rue Saint Blaise, which had become theirs by the death of the grandfather, M. Guérin.
The house was situated near the church of Notre-Dame. A simpler and more retired residence would be hard to find; adjoining on one side a quiet dwelling, it was separated on the other from the neighbouring house by a garden trellis. With its ground floor pierced by only two windows, with three arched windows to light its second floor, it appeared somewhat small for a large family; but the two elder girls, who were then boarders at Le Mans, spent only vacation-time at Alengon, and the parents, always adverse to ostentation, aspired to nothing beyond simplicity and good taste in their home. Witha
24 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
rather larger garden for her children's play, Mme Martin would have been perfectly content.
Before the retirement of M. Martin they had been blessed with two more children. Marie-Céline, born in 1869, was to brighten the household with her laughter; but Marie-Mélanie-Thérése, born in 1870, had gone to join her little brothers in paradise.
Of these the courageous mother wrote: ‘“‘ Four of my children are already in their eternal home, and the others —yes, the others—will also go to that heavenly kingdom, laden with more merits, for they will have been longer in the fight.’’+
Christian hope healed every painful wound, and gave her that resigned attitude of mind which was visible even to strangers, and which those little versed in the wonders of God’s love took for indifference or coldness.
In spite of fresh trials, destined to fortify their virtue, Louis and Zélie spent in this house six years of the purest joy and happiness.
Into this atmosphere of tender piety, of domestic peace and mutual forbearance, came on January 2, 1873, another child, hailed, like the rest, with transports of joy. It was the “‘ little missionary,” the object of such ardent longings and fervent prayers. Contrary to the expecta- tion of her parents, or to what anyone could foresee, this frail little daughter was destined to win to God, by the power of her intercession and of her miracles, more souls than the greatest apostle of foreign lands.*
The two elder girls, who were home for the holidays, were sleeping in their little room on the second floor when, towards midnight, M. Martin received this new gift from heaven. He mounted the stairs with light step,
' Histotre d’une Ame : Introduction, p. xxxi. 2 One day, as Mme Martin was singing, she seemed to hear the child singing also. Itwasahappy augury. The soul which
was about to make its entrance into the world was truly une ame chantante.
————
ANCESTRAL ORIGIN 25
and arousing them, announced in joyous tones, ‘‘ My children, you have a little sister.” Marie and Pauline joined him in fervent thanks to God.
To follow the life of the newly-born little one will be henceforward the unique object of our work. Before speaking of the wonders of this life, it was fitting that we should present to the reader those chosen souls whose wise guardianship partly explains its secret.}
1 Some readers may consider the details regarding the ancestors of Thérése too diffuse. In fact, had this work con- formed to the canons of an ordinary biography it would have been necessary to abridge. But the desire of Catholic readers to learn every detail connected with the life of this new saint seems to show that they would be glad to enter as far as possible into that family circle so worthy of her.
CHAPTER II
EARLY INFANCY OF ‘‘ LITTLE THERESE ”
to the child. Her future godfather, Paul Albert
Boul, son of one of M. Martin’s friends, although he lived in Alencon, caused some delay. Anxious on account of this delay, Mme Martin besought God that he would not allow her child to die without baptism.
At last, on the afternoon of January 4, everything was in readiness for the great ceremony, and the whole family set out for the church of Notre-Dame. ‘This church, with its three-sided porch surmounted by gracefully pointed arches, and lighted by small apertures of highly elaborate style, with its trifortum of rare elegance and its glistening stained glass windows of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century design, was a joy to artists, as well as to the faithful who came to pray and meditate within its walls smoothed by the long caress of the years. But it is not in the boldly curved arches, nor yet in the beautiful stained glass windows, each depicting an in- cident in the life of the Blessed Virgin,' that the most lively interest of the present-day pilgrim is centred.
In the first chapel to the left, near a baptismal font of rather original design, and, until quite recently, before a group representing the baptism of Christ, the flames of innumerable candles bend to the north wind which blows
M ARIE, the eldest sister, was chosen as godmother
1 The stained glass windows of Notre-Dame are admirably executed. They form two series. One depicts scenes from the life of the Blessed Virgin; the other scenes from the Old Testa- ment. Between the two series is a window showing the tree of Jesse. Allare in good preservation.
26
EARLY INFANCY OF “ LITTLE THERESE ” ay
through the crevices made in the window by the ravages of winter.*
Here persons of rank and wealth come side by side with the poor, to kneel in silent prayer and to offer their ex votos to the blessed soul regenerated long ago in this corner of the old church.
The Sacrament of Baptism was conferred by Abbé Lucien-Victor Dumaine, a priest of the parish and personal friend of the Martin family. This priest, who became later Vicar-General of Séez, was to be a witness in the process of beatification of the child, whom he regenerated that day to the divine life. But who, on that cold January afternoon, could have predicted for her so glorious a future ??
In accordance with her parents’ vow, this child received, like her sisters, the name of Marie, Francoise-Thérése being added, of which the last became her usual name in the family.
Pure as the dome of heaven studded with stars, white as a snow-clad countryside, Thérese was carried home in the arms of the faithful servant Louise, while the bells of Notre-Dame rang out in gladness. Mme Martin was now satisfied ; her mind was at rest.
Weeks passed by, weeks full of radiant hope. ‘The mother took to herself the charge of nursing her dear little one, on whose brow she seemed already to discern the divine light. But very soon her strength failed, and the child, too, began to decline. ‘Thérése was following in the way of the little angels who were gone. ‘They were calling her, perhaps; another sacrifice seemed to be
1 A slab to commemorate the baptism of Thérése Martin has recently been put up in this chapel. A statue of the saint with a richly ornamented altar has also been erected there. A new window depicting the baptism of Thérése has replaced the old one described above.
2 Abbé Dumaine was as learned as he was wise. He has left an important work on local history entitled Tinchebray et sa région au bocage normand.
28 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
demanded of the poor parents. Every means was em- ployed to avert the threatened calamity. The family doctor declared that one chance of life alone remained, to confide Thérése to the care of a healthy nurse.
Mme Martin had already had one of her children nursed by the wife of a farmer and mother of a large family living at some distance from Alengon. Her full name was Rose Taillé, but on account of her small stature, and, perhaps too, because of her prepossessing and pleasing manner, she was called by those who knew her ‘‘ little Rose.”’ The poor mother grasped eagerly at this one chance of saving the life of her child. “If it had not been so late,’’ she writes, ‘‘ 1 would have gone instantly to get the nurse. How long the night seemed! 'Thérése would scarce swallow a few drops of milk; the gravest symptoms that had preceded the death of the other little ones began to appear. I was sorely grieved that my poor babe could get no help from me in her feeble state. At daybreak I set out to find the nurse who lived at Semallé, almost two leagues from Alengon. My husband was away, and I did not wish to entrust to anyone else the success of my errand. In a lonely part of the road I met two men, and for a moment felt frightened; but I said to myself: ‘ Even though they should kill me, I do not care.’ I was sick at heart. At last I arrived at the nurse’s house, and asked her if she would come with me and remain with us, but she said that she could not leave her home and children; she would stay with me eight days and then take Thérése back with her. I consented, knowing that my child would be very safe in her care.’’!
The two women reached Alencon in the forenoon. At sight of the dying child the nurse shook her head discouragingly, evidently thinking that it was too late. Mme Martin, grieved beyond measure at the pitiful aspect of the babe, hastened to her room, and throwing
+ Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, March, 1873.
EARLY INFANCY OF “ LITTLE THERESE ” 29
herself on her knees before a statue of St Joseph, invoked, with tears but with hope that never faltered, that patron of every hope-bereft cause.
She then returned to the room below. Unexpected joy! The child, in the nurse’s arms, seemed to have come back to life. But the joy was fleeting, for, as though finally vanquished by the malady, little Thérése fell back again on the peasant’s lap; not a sign of life remained, not a breath, nothing! ...
Amid her tears, the heroic mother’s piety gave her sufficient courage to offer a prayer of thanks to God that death had come so gently to her little one.
Then, suddenly, Thérése opened her eyes once more, her features were reanimated, and she smiled as she gazed up at her mother. St Joseph had hearkened to that mother’s prayer; the child but a moment before at the point of death appeared now quite revived.
The nurse was obliged to return to her home, but carried away in her arms the little Thérése.
As may be easily imagined, a farmhouse in Basse- Normandie holds few attractions for a town-dweller. One or two apartments of stone or mud, with a roof of thatch, form the dwelling. To this retreat, surrounded as it is by evil-smelling stables, situated beside a cattle- pen which is a water-logged swamp during the winter months, and in summer little more than a manure-heap with pools of stagnant water, the Bocage peasant retires after his daily labour in the fields.
To one of these humble dwellings was the little invalid brought. This simple home, a one-storied building with three openings, had still its cradle, for a child had been born to the farmer but a year before. Three other playful and happy mites gathered round to gaze on the new-comer in smiling wonder. As tothe rest, the cottage was comparatively neat and clean, and Mme Martin knew from the good woman’s former services that “‘ little Rose ”’ could be relied upon to give conscientious care
30 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
toher charge. But internal troubles, so common amongst young children, are usually tenacious. Little Thérése had been in Semallé not quite three weeks when she got a fresh attack, which awakened anew her mother’s gravest fears. ‘
We find this letter from Mme Martin to her relations at Lisieux, dated March 30, 1873: ‘“‘ Since Thérése had been taken over by the nurse she had been very well, and had even grown a good deal. But the internal irritation was only allayed for a time and has, since Friday last, attacked her throat and chest. When the doctor visited her she was in high fever... . He told me, however, that he did not think her in danger. ‘Today she is better, but I am in great fear; I doubt whether we shall be able to bring her up. ... I have done every- thing I can to save her life. If now the good God wills to dispose otherwise, I will strive to bear the trial with all possible patience. There is indeed need to reanimate my courage. I have already suffered much during my life. I should wish, my dear friends, that you were more fortunate than I: it grieves me to see that trials also come your way.” ‘The concluding words of the letter refer to a recent fire which had caused great damage to a portion of the pharmacy belonging to M. Guérin. For the rest, the Martin family had not seen the last of their sorrows.
Before Thérése had gained health, Marie, her eldest sister and godmother, was attacked at Le Mans by typhoid fever and obliged to leave school.
For weeks she lay ill at Alencgon, anxiously watched over by her mother. Every day, and oftentimes the greater part of the night, were spent by Mme Martin at the bed- | side of her daughter. Meanwhile orders were pouring in, the workers had to be directed, and the lace delivered at the promised time. The poor mother was weighed down with the heavy burthen, but her faith did not for a
1 Unpublished letter.
iz
EARLY INFANCY OF “‘ LITTLE THERESE ”’ 31
moment fail. Even in her own sorrow she had a thought for the trials of others. She wrote, at this time, to Mme Guerin:
“* Each has his own cross to bear; some receive a heavier load than others. You have already begun to learn, dear sister, that life is not all strewn with roses. God, in His goodness, has decreed this in order to detach us from the earth, and to turn our thoughts towards heaven.’
She admits, nevertheless, that she herself had need of supernatural help in her great distress of soul.
**T never leave the sick-room, and sometimes remain on my feet the whole night. The grace of God is surely necessary at such a time as this to keep one from breaking down.”’?
Her husband realized the necessity of obtaining that grace, or at least of prolonging its effects, We find him imposing on himself, for his daughter’s cure, those primitive penances which, fifty years ago, were common in the cantons of Normandy, to obtain the intercession of some local patron saint.
On May 5 Mme Martin wrote to her daughter Pauline: “‘ Your father sets out this morning for the ridge of Chaumont to make a pilgrimage on behalf of Marie. He goes fasting and will return fasting. He wants to do penance in order that God may hear his prayers; he has to travel six leagues on foot.’
God had already, at this time, answered in part the prayers of the poor parents for their two sick children. On April 20 the mother had been able to write these reassuring words: ‘‘ The nurse brought our little Thérése here today; she is quite well and strong.”
Slowly, after frequent relapses, Marie too became convalescent, and once more gladness reappeared in the family circle. Sometimes little Thérése was the innocent
1 Unpublished letter. 2 Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, April 13, 1873. > Unpublished letter.
32 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
messenger of joy, although her visits had on a few occasions other unforeseen effects.
Thus one Sunday “little Rose” brought her, all unexpectedly, to Alengon, and without any previous announcement took her to the rue Saint Blaise.
‘We did not expect Thérése,” writes Mme Martin; ‘the nurse arrived with her four children at half-past eleven, just as we were sitting down to table. She put the baby in my arms and went off immediately to Mass.
** Yes, but the little one would not have this; she criea until we thought she would swoon away. Everyone in the house was upset. I had to send Louise’ to ask the nurse to come back immediately after Mass, as she had intended to make some delay in purchasing shoes for her children. She left before Mass was half finished and came running up to the house. I was vexed at that; the babe would not have died from crying.
“‘ She became happy immediately. She is quite strong; everybody is surprised. I rocked her in my arms and walked about so much, trying to quiet her, that I had a pain in my back for the remainder of the day !’”?
What a consolation for Mme Martin, after months of anxiety, to feel at last reassured about the life which had seemed so near its end.
The child’s recovery could not indeed be attributed to delicate care. When the farmer’s wife was going out to the fields she placed Thérése on some straw in the bottom of her barrow, and thus wheeled her along the grassy paths through the clover and flowers to the spot where her husband was working. When milking-time came she carried the little one with her in her apron, so that Thérése lived constantly in the open air amidst the fragrance of the fresh hay and the scent of the ripe corn. In this way she became ‘“ browned by the sun,” and
1 A servant in the Martin family. * Unpublished letter to Pauline, May 5, 1873.
EARLY INFANCY OF “‘ LITTLE THERESE ” 22
grew daily more robust from inhaling the chemicals given out by the harvest-bearing fields.
From constant intercourse with this peasant family Thérése developed rustic instincts. Mme Martin had occasion to notice this almost every month when little scenes took place of which she chose to see only the pleasant side. She wrote on May 22 to her daughter Pauline:
'“T saw little Thérése on Tuesday last. The nurse brought her here but she would not stay, and cried loudly when she found herself left with us. Louise had to take her to the market where ‘“‘ little Rose ”’ had gone to sell her butter; there was no other way out of the difficulty. The moment she caught sight of her nurse she began to smile, and cried no more. She remained there selling butter with all the women until midday. I know I could not hold her long in my arms without being really tired. She weighs fourteen pounds. She will be very winning and graceful later on.’’!
The trifling incidents that went to make up the early days of Thérése differ very slightly from those which every mother may observe. Now comes what would seem to be the first manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the soul of the little child.
It was November 30, 1873; Thérése was eleven months old. Her mother, writing to Pauline, tells of her physical development, and notices the dawning reflection on her countenance of the inward beauty of a child of God:
“I expect that she will be able to walk unaided in five or six weeks more. You have only to put her standing beside a chair, and she remains quite steady—never falls. She takes her own little precautions to accomplish this and appears very intelligent. She is continually smiling ; she has the expression of one who is predestined.”
2 Unpublished letter. 2 Ibid, 3
34. ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
On January 11 following we find this letter:
‘My little Thérése has since Thursday been able to walk alone. She is sweet and lovely as a little angel. She has a charming disposition, that is apparent already; and she has such a winning smile. I long to have her with us again.”
Was it not remarkable to see this frail infant, only a year old, already revealing by her sweet disposition and the unmistakable light of her countenance, the abiding presence of God in her soul, finding His delight in its innocent depths ?
Thérése had been taken back to Alencon on April 2, 1874. The danger so feared by the family seemed to have passed. Marie, too, was growing strong again; Pauline, at the Visitation Convent, proved the constant joy of her teachers and the consolation of her mother; little Céline, of a lively and amiable disposition, and very quick intelligence, triumphed over certain symptoms which had given cause for disquietude. As for Léonie, everything gave promise for the near future of the expansion and activity, hitherto indeterminate, of her good qualities.
Gladdened by the constant caresses of their children, the parents soon forgot their distress of mind. ‘The sight alone of her who was to be the “little Queen ”’ was sufficient to fill their hearts with joy. ‘‘ Of all, except my first child, she is the most robust,” declared Mme Martin. ‘“ She will be pretty; even now she has a pleasing grace; she has a tiny mouth, which I particularly admire.’”?
In the midst of his happiness, M. Martin never forgot his debt of thanks to God. In May, 1873, after the cure of his daughter Marie, he went to Notre-Dame de Chartres to offer a prayer of gratitude. In October
* Unpublished letter to her brother and her sister-in-law, January 11, 1874.
* Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, June 1, 1874.
| |
EARLY INFANCY OF ‘‘ LITTLE THERESE ”’ a5
of the same year he went on the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, and brought back with him two large pieces of stone which he had detached from the rock of Massa- bielle, two yards distant from the spot of the Apparition.
To these pilgrimages of penance and thanks this fervent soul joined more assiduously than ever the practice of nocturnal Adoration.
Mme. Martin, on her part, surrounded as she was by her devout children who seemed already to give signs of the call to religious life, encouraged in the way of self- abnegation and piety by her saintly Visitandine sister, made daily effort to progress towards union with God, after the example of her husband. She wrote freely to her two eldest daughters, who were again together at the convent, of her intention to undertake a vigilant fight against nature. We give the letter in the familiar style
_ of her native Normandy. ‘‘ I must go to Vespers to pray
for the souls of our dead,” she writes on the evening of All Saints Day. “A day will come when you will go also to pray for me; but I must so act now as not to have too much need of your prayers. I earnestly wish to become a saint. It will not be easy; a great deal yet remains to be ‘ hewn’ off, and the wood is hard as stone. It would have been better to have commenced earlier in life, the task would have been less difficult, but ‘ better late than never.’ ’”!
Needless to say that we have here the language of humility, and that the struggle towards perfection had been undertaken long before.
M. Martin was a loving father, especially towards his younger children. So captivated was he by the charms of Thérése that he called her even then his ‘‘ Queen,” and sought to provide many little pleasures for her.
The child must have been precocious beyond her age,
1 Unpublished letter to her daughters Marie and Pauline November 1, 1873.
36 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
for when only eighteen months old she was offered amusements which ordinarily belong to children more advanced. In June, 1874, M. Martin erected in their little garden a swing for the amusement of Céline and Thérése. It was wonderful to see how Thérése enjoyed the motion of the swing, imagining, no doubt, that she was floating on wings. ‘“‘ She acts just like an older child,’’ writes her mother. ‘‘ There is no danger that she will let go the rope; when the swing is not going high enough she calls out to us; we tie a cord in front to keep her from falling off, but notwithstanding that, I cannot feel at rest when I see her perched aloft.’
This exercise did, no doubt, appear somewhat violent for a child of her age; but God, who had such glorious designs for her, preserved her by means which sometimes seemed to defy the laws of nature. The following incident, related by Mme Martin, gives a striking ex- ample of this:
* Quite lately I had a singular experience with the little one. It was my custom to go to Mass every morning at half-past five. At first I did not dare to leave her alone, but, seeing that she never awakened, I decided at last to leave her. I put her therefore to sleep in my bed, and placed the cradle so close beside it that it was impossible for her to fall out.
“One day I forgot to place the cradle thus as a pro- tection, On my return I sawno Thérése. At that very moment I heard a cry, and looking, found her sitting on a chair close to the bed. Her head rested on the bolster, and there she was sleeping, uneasily, for she was in an uncomfortable position.
“I cannot understand how she fell in such a way as to get seated on that chair. I thanked God when I found that she had come to no harm. It was certainly pro- vidential; she would, in ordinary circumstances, have fallen to the ground. Her guardian angel was there
+ Letter to her daughters Marie and Pauline, June 25, 1874.
EARLY INFANCY OF “‘ LITTLE THERESE ” 37
keeping watch over her, and the souls in purgatory, whose intercession I ask for her every day, saved her.’’!
Up to this time, Thérése’s faculties had lain dormant in the silent torpor of early infancy. At most, the light of heaven which seems to caress the brow of every little child, as it smiles perhaps an answering smile to the angels, appeared more distinctly reflected in her innocent countenance than in that of other babes. Now her soul began gradually to awaken.
From the age of eighteen months Thérése manifested, in her own charming and naive way, a tender love for her mother. This was not always, be it admitted, “‘ the perfect love” without hope of recompense; nevertheless, Mme Martin smiled with delight at these first lispings of her little daughter.
“* Picture to yourselves,”’ she wrote to Marie and Pauline, “the baby coming to embrace me and stroke my face with her little hand. I can see that she has some idea behind it all. She wants ‘a scarf pin. ...’ The poor baba, she cannot bear to leave me, and is continually at my side; she loves going into the garden, but if I am not there, does not want to stay, and cries until she is brought back to me.’”
This good mother was soon to taste purer and deeper joy. She wished that the first words spoken by her child should be words of prayer, and on November 8, 1874, this baby, aged only twenty-two months, offered to the “good Jesus ” the love of her innocent soul with words and with a sincerity that delighted the heart of her mother.
“ My little Thérése,’’ she said, ‘‘ grows every day more charming; she prattles from morning till night. She sings little songs for us; but you must become accustomed to her in order to understand. She says her prayers like a little angel; it is ideal.’’®
Soon she was brought to church, and it was wonderful
1 Unpublished letter. pies “Ai 2 Unpublished letter to Marie and Pauline at the Visitation Convent. 3 Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law.
38 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
to see the interest which this child of two years took in the sacred functions; she seemed already to understand their meaning and import. Let her mother again describe her childlike actions, and her innocent remarks; we have nothing of greater worth than these accounts from so authoritative a witness to enable us to catch a glimpse of the first workings in this little soul.
“ Thérése continues always in good health: she has an air of well-being. She says very amusing things. She already knows how to pray to the good God, and goes every Sunday to a part of Vespers; if, unfortunately, she is left at home, she cries and will not be comforted.
“‘ Some weeks ago she was taken for a walk on Sunday. She had not been ‘ at Mass’ as she said herself. On returning from the walk she began to cry vigorously, saying that she wanted to go to Mass. She opened the hall door and ran away, in torrents of rain, towards the church. When we had run after her and brought her back, her tears and lamentation lasted a good hour.
“‘ Once she said out aloud to me in church: ‘ I have been at Mass here, and I have prayed well to the good God too.’ When, on her father’s return home this evening, she did not see him say his prayers, she said: ‘ Why do you not say your prayers, papa? Have you already been to church ?”
“Since the beginning of Lent, I go to six o’clock Mass, and often she is awake when I leave the house. Before I go, she says to me, ‘ Mama, I am going to be very good.’ In fact, she never stirs, but goes off to sleep again.’”!
Allowing for the influence of example in religious exercises which affects the children of Christian families, the fact remains that a child of two years, whose attraction for the things of God was so great as to draw her towards the church in torrents of rain, manifested by her unusual courage, the interior influence of the Holy Spirit urging her, even then, “‘ to refuse nothing to Jesus.”
* Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, March 14, 1875.
EARLY INFANCY OF ‘‘ LITTLE THERESE ”’ 39
Mme Martin’s heart rejoiced at these first gleams of supernatural light; but to those joys were often added the sudden and passing anxieties of a mother; such as when Thérése fell one day against the leg of a table and cut her forehead so badly that it was feared she would bear the mark all her life; or when, scarcely cured of one cold, she would contract another. But children, as we know, although liable to be affected seriously by the least accident, recover just as quickly. The clouds soon dis- appeared after each little storm, and the first smile of Thérése, on recovering from these not very serious attacks, brought back the light anew to her mother’s face.
From this time onward the family enjoyed frequent periods of tranquil happiness.
There is a painting which represents the complete group of children gathered around M. and Mme Martin in their sitting-room, in the rue Saint Blaise, during the quiet evening hours, probably towards the end of Sep- tember when Marie and Pauline were on vacation at Alencon. In the subdued lamplight each one is occupied or at rest according to inclination. ‘The father, his grave countenance rendered more venerable by his already white hair, has opened a newspaper, but he is more concerned with his children than with the news of the day, and he is speaking to Léonie, who is finishing some school task. Marie is leaning on the back of her mother’s chair. Her attention is centred on little Thérése, who, kneeling on her mother’s lap with joined hands and eyes raised heavenwards, addresses herself to the little Jesus, whom she seems almost to see, as through a transparent veil. Kneeling at her mother’s feet, Céline joins her prayer to that of her little sister whose dearest companion she was henceforth to be, while Pauline has interrupted her reading and sits smiling at the angelic child in converse with God. A beautiful and homely picture they make, a picture which gives an idea of the tastes and family life of the Martin household. Its members did not, it is true,
40 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
form a rigorously closed circle, but their habitual inter- course scarcely extended beyond their nearest relations.
The deep affection of Mme Martin for her brother is already known to the reader. The more she knew of her sister-in-law, a woman of tender devotedness and solid piety, the more did she appreciate her friendship, and Mme Guérin became the confidante of all her joys and sorrows.
Mme Martin always made of her visit to Lisieux a special holiday; not indeed that she sought relaxation for herself, but she knew what pleasure it gave the children to have a few hours’ play with little Jeanne Guérin and her sister Marie.
In the same way, the greatest pleasure of New Year’s Day for the two families was the interchange of many and various presents, which on the one side and on the other aunts and uncles sent as New Year gifts to their little nieces.
One outing, however, had for Mme Martin a deeper, if not a sweeter, charm than the visit to Lisieux. She prized her day in the Visitation Convent of Le Mans above all others. ‘This holy soul, who had at one time serious thoughts of the religious life, felt a profound attraction for the recollection and the self-abnegation of the cloister. When she found that her dearly loved sister had been attacked by phthisis, and that her days were numbered, her devotion redoubled towards the fervent religious who had, in great measure, been a mother to her two eldest children. |
Mme Martin was anxious also that this dear sister should see her little Thérése, who gave, even as a child, so great promise of virtue. Who knows? Perhaps this little daughter would one day occupy in a convent choir the place that she had thought destined for herself. So, one morning in April, 1875, they set out by train for Le Mans. “I took with me,” writes Mme Martin, “little Thérése, who was delighted to travel by train. . . .
EARLY INFANCY OF ‘‘ LITTLE THERESE ” 41
When we had arrived at Le Mans she was tired and began to cry, but became quite bright afterwards, and behaved like a grown girl all the time we remained in the parlour. Why she cried when we went in I do not know; her heart was full; the tears fell freely. She was convulsed with silent weeping. Perhaps the grille frightened her. Afterwards all went well. She answered every question addressed to her, as if she were undergoing an examina- tion.
““'The Superioress came to see her, and gave her some little presents. When I said to her ‘ Ask the good Mother for her blessing,’ she caused a general laugh by replying: ‘Mother, will you come home with us ?’ ’’4
We may smile at this little incident, but can we not see, even in this childish request, the inclination of the little soul towards everything which spoke of God, were it even the austere vesture of a religious ?
But are we to suppose that Thérése was altogether free from childish caprice, from those quick flashes of child- nature, where a word or a cry reveals the naturally self- willed temperament of all very young children? This would be the more astonishing, since, according to the testimony of Mme Martin, her husband had been in- clined at first rather to spoil the little one. But even amidst childishly persistent and unreasonable demands, an ingenuous remark, an unexpected request, proved that Thérése was losing nothing of her growing piety.
One day, when she offered some resistance, Mme Martin insisted on obedience from her little daughter. She wrote afterwards to Pauline that “little Thérése is very lovable.” Then she adds: ‘‘ On Sunday, after I had gone to bed, she told me that she had not said her prayers. I replied: ‘Goto sleep; you shall say them to- morrow.’ But that did not satisfy her. To end the matter, her father helped her to say them. But he was
1 Unpublished letter to her brother and her sister-in-law, April 29, 1875.
42 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
not the teacher all the time. They had to say ‘ Grace.’ He was not sure what this was for. In the end he had said everything nearly according to her ideas, and we had peace until the following morning.”
Negligible details, the reader may be inclined to say at first. Perhaps so, if it were question of an ordinary child; but what seriously-minded Catholic will not be interested in searching for the first traces of divine influence in a soul which was to become afterwards so fruitful a source of supernatural charity ?
The love of this innocent soul for God, and her attrac- tion towards heaven where His presence could be eternally enjoyed, led Thérése at times to give utterance to un- expected wishes. One day she surprised her mother by throwing her arms around her and telling her that she wished her to die. ‘‘ Oh, how I wish you would die, my poor little mother.’’ On her mother protesting, Thérése explained: “‘ But it is that you may go to heaven, since you say we must die to go there.’ And Mme Martin adds: “‘ She expresses the same wish to her father in the fervour of her love for him.’’!
The desire of pleasing our Lord, or at least unwilling- ness to cause him pain, prompted her even at so early.an age to overcome certain imperious tendencies which arose instinctively in her nature.
After leaving school Marie began to give lessons to Céline, who was three years and eight months older than Thérése. Thérése eagerly insisted on being allowed to stay in the room during lesson-time; nor was this without profit, for Mme Martin records that, at the end of December, 1875, before her third year was completed, Thérése knew almost all her letters and was even begin- ning to read.?
1 Letter of Mme Martin to her daughter Pauline, December 5,
* Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, December 23, 1875.
-
EARLY INFANCY OF “ LITTLE THERESE ”’ 43
Some months later in a letter to Pauline the mother wrote with ever growing delight: ‘“‘ She is endowed with more intelligence than I noticed in any of you.’
But the child’s anxiety to learn was sometimes em- barrassing. Marie, fearing that her work as teacher would be impeded by Thérése, did not always invite her tocome. But the little one was not to be denied; she came of her own accord.
““ One day,” Marie tells us, “‘ I saw her at the door of my room. She was trying to open it, but was too small to reach the handle. I waited to see what she would do; would she begin to cry, or would she call some one to open it forher? But no; she did not say a word, simply lay down outside the door in disappointment at her failure.
“I told my mother of the incident. She said to me: * She must not be allowed to do that.’
“On the following day the same thing happened. Then I said: ‘ Thérése, you are grieving the Little Jesus.’ She looked at me earnestly. So well did she understand that never since has she repeated that action.”?
Wonderful instance of divine solicitude; under the guiding influence of the virtues infused at baptism, virtues guarded and fostered by a mother’s loving care, the fear and love of God had already sown in the soul of this child of two years seeds which were daily springing forth into meritorious acts.
Mme Martin was mindful of the ambition of her early motherhood: ‘‘ That all her children might be con- secrated to God.”’ What a joy! For a long time she feared that this dream would never be realized; but her hopes began now to revive. The deep and earnest piety of Marie, supported by a ready and acute intelligence, her constant application, her simple and modest tastes,
1 Unpublished letter to Pauline, March 22, 1877. , 2 Unpublished note of Scur Marie du Sacré-Cceur (Marie), of the Carmel of Lisieux.
44 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
pointed undoubtedly to a religious vocation. The brilliant qualities of Pauline might have given grounds to fear vanity, but that she was as obedient as industrious and her earnest preparation of class-work was exceeded by her fidelity to religious exercises. The account of her progress at the Visitation Convent was her mother’s great joy and consolation. ‘‘ You are my true friend,” she wrote to Pauline; ‘‘ you give me courage to bear trial with patience. ... I feel grateful to you for the joy that you are to us all. God will be your recompense in this world as well as in the next, for duty faithfully done brings its reward of happiness even here below.’”*
Despite the inequalities of an uneven temperament, Léonie showed so real an attachment to her aunt in the convent as to give rise to the thought that she might one day join her there. In 1875 Sr Marie-Dosithée wrote to her brother, M. Guérin: “‘ Léonie inspires me with great hopes for the future. True she is somewhat difficult to manage, but she has a heart of gold. I find in her a fund of good sense and great force of character. When this child sees her duty nothing will hold her back from carrying it out.’’?
In 1875 Céline was six years of age. ‘“‘ She is,” says Mme Martin, “‘ very gentle, she learns easily, and will be a charming child, if God leaves her with us.””®
As to the little Benjamin of the family, who manifested so clearly by her unexpected remarks and precocious reflections the impress of the Holy Spirit, there was good reason to hope that she would one day be united to Him for ever.
In order to keep alive these high aspirations, Mme Martin gave her moments of leisure to the reading of some book which portrayed the joys of the religious life, joys which
1 Unpublished letter to Pauline, December 5, 1875.
* Unpublished letter: Family Archives.
® Céline was, in fact, of a delicate constitution. Unpublished letter of November, 1875.
‘
EARLY INFANCY OF ‘‘ LITTLE THERESE ”’ 45
had at one time won her own heart, and which she desired now more than ever for her children.
““I am reading at present,’ she wrote, ‘‘ the life of St Chantal. Iam rapt in admiration. It is all the more interesting for me, because I have a great love for the Order of the Visitation; I love it now more than ever. How fortunate are they who are called to that sacred retreat.”
And some weeks later we find the following: ‘‘I do nothing but dream of the cloister and solitude. Indeed, with the ideas that I have, I do not know how it was not my vocation either to remain unmarried or to enter a convent. I would now wish to live to a great age, so that I might retire into solitude when all my children have been brought up.’”?
. But these hopes of long life and of peaceful old age in the retirement of the cloister were not to be satisfied.
God had other designs for that chosen one who was preparing souls to be consecrated to Him in the religious life. By the merit of suffering heroically endured she will complete the spiritual formation of her elder children, and will obtain for little Thérése—that child already predestined—grace to become, one day, the purest victim of God’s merciful love.
1 Unpublished letter to her daughter Pauline, December 5 1875. 2 Unpublished letter to Pauline, January 16, 1876.
CHAPTER III
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE—HER FIRST GREAT TRIAL
surround me with love: my earliest memories
are of smiles and tender caresses.”* ‘Thérése attributes her early attraction towards good, which we have already noticed in its commencement, to the in- fluence of this holy affection and the example of every family virtue. We must add to these the austere action of trial which raised her young soul, deprived from the first of the unstable happiness of earth, towards the joys of heaven.
Before setting out to follow her progress in the path of virtue, we must first complete the picture of this family life where self-denial was the sustaining force of charity, and where the devotedness of each called forth from the others the most meritorious effort by the influence of example. Notice first these actions which, in their daily exercise by the parents before the eyes of 'Thérése, must have given her little by little a high sense of duty. The traits thus described will serve to bring into clearer outline the picture of this Christian home.
i | my whole life God has been pleased to
We have already given the reader an idea of Mme Martin’s zeal for work; but her husband, although retired from his former business, did not leave his wife unaided in her lace industry.
On the front of the house occupied by the family was a marble slab bearing this inscription: ‘‘ Louis Martin, Manufacturer of Point d’Alengon,” and this notice gives
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 8. 46
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 47
an indication of the very real part which the master of the house took in the work. It was M. Martin who trans- acted all the business outside the house and took charge of the delivery to distant places. He also often kept the accounts. These occupations gave him opportunity to practise virtues of which little Thérése, an astute observer from her infancy, took note, and marked the progress.
Thus he would on no account take goods on credit; everything must be paid for on the spot. ‘The workers too must be paid regularly ‘‘ in order that,”’ as he said himself, “a justly earned wage or a sum of money due for goods received may not be retained unjustly, and further- more, to safeguard oneself from running into debt by inadvertence.”’ Neither would he increase his income by frequent speculation, even ifjustifiable. Hewould say: “I know I could easily take large profits by the skilful manipulation of my capital, but speculation is a slippery incline, and I have no desire whatever to follow too closely the fluctuating values of those perishable securities.”
His strictness in observing the rest from servile work prescribed for the Lord’s Day, his scrupulous care in carrying out the Church’s exercises of penance, are already known to the reader. In this respect also his wife surpassed the ordinary practice of the faithful. What an example of self-denial and sacrifice we find in this noble woman who, having come to Lisieux eight months before her death to undergo an operation for an incurable disease of long standing, refused to partake of the evening meal prepared for her “‘ because it was an Ember Day, and she intended to keep the fast.”
To such heroic souls as hers are the supernatural manifestations of heaven vouchsafed. We have seen with what tenderness Mme Martin watched over little Héléne until her death at the early age of five and a half years. Recalling afterwards a slight untruth that had
48 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
escaped the child in its innocent prattling, the mother was reflecting sorrowfully one day before a statue of the Blessed Virgin that her Héléne might be in purgatory, when from this statue, which was later to play a part in the life of Thérése, came the reassuring words: ‘‘ She is here at my side.””*
With Heaven-sent communications this devout Catholic was also to experience, after the manner of certain saints who were physically tormented by the demon, the brutality of the powers of hell raised in jealous strife against her virtues. One evening,? as Mme Martin was sitting alone in the lower room, a passage of an edifying work which she had just laid down led her to meditate on the trials inflicted on the servants of God by the spirit of darkness. She said to herself: “‘ Such attacks of the evil one will never be directed against me; only the saints are destined for trials of this nature.” At that moment an enormous weight, as of the claw of some wild beast, bore down upon her shoulder. After the first sensation of terror caused by this ferocious attack followed the
calm of a soul which feels above all that it is in the hands of God. ;
Such were the lives that came daily under the notice of little Thérése. With “‘her quick intelligence, her open and impressionable mind,”* she observed these examples attentively, admired them, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit grew to love more and more these devoted parents whom she felt to be the harbingers of the divine goodness to her in her weakness. ‘‘ No one can imagine,” she wrote, ‘‘ how I loved papa and mama. I showed my affection for them in numberless ways, for
1 This statue had been presented to M. Martin before his marriage by a pious lacy in Alengon, who was called ‘ the saint.”
2 This happened before the birth of Thérése.
3 Unpublished letter of Mme Martin.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 49
I was very demonstrative ; the ways I employed make me laugh now when I think of them.’’!
With this tender affection as its inspiration and guiding force, the piety of her young soul developed. She wished to be a joy to her parents; she knew that they owed their perfection in every good to the great love they had for God; she understood, besides, that the beneficent Being must be loved above all, his commands obeyed, every- thing that would displease him avoided, and she set herself with all the ardour of her nature to follow these dictates of conscience. Nor was hers the unquestioning piety of a child satisfying itself in the incoherent recital of a few prayers; the first dawnings of reason in Thérése were applied to discerning the relation between the obligations imposed by God and the eternal recompense of heaven. Eternity of happiness is a reward—a reward which must be won by merit; this truth grasped already by the childish intelligence formed the keynote of her life. “‘ Thérése told me this morning,” writes Mme Martin, ‘ that she wished to go to heaven, and, to obtain this, she would always act like a little angel.’’?
Her lofty idea of the goodness of God led her to believe, in her innocence, that the Almighty would never separate a child from its mother, even should that child offend him ever so much. Hear her in this little dialogue: “* Shall I go to heaven, mama?” “ Yes, if you are very good.”’ ‘‘ Ah, mama, if I was not good I should then go tohell. But I know what I would do, I would fly up to you in heaven, and you would hold me close in your arms. How then would God be able to take me away ?””® And her look confirmed her conviction that God would be powerless to touch her if she were once in the arms of her mother. |
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 8. 2 Unpublished letter. 8 Letter of Mme Martin to her daughter Pauline, October 29, 1876, 4
50 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
Some months later she gave an example of more orthodox theology. On her sister Céline asking ‘‘ How can God be in a little host ?”’ Thérése replied: “‘ That is not so wonderful, since God is all-powerful.” ‘‘ And what does all-powerful mean?” “‘ It means that he can do everything he wills.’
We have been left the following charming picture sketched by Mme Martin in one of her letters to Pauline, still at the Visitation Convent.
“Céline and Thérése are inseparable. Two more loving companions could not be found. When Céline is taken away for lessons Thérése is immediately in tears. Alas! what is she to do? Her little friend is going from her. . . . Marie takes pity on her and brings her also, and the poor baby sits at the table with them for two, or maybe three, hours. She is given pearls to string or a piece of cloth to sew. She does not dare to stir, and from time to time gives vent to a deep sigh, especially when her needle comes unthreaded, for she is not able to thread it and she dare not disturb Marie. ‘Then the big tears roll down her cheeks. Quickly Marie turns to console her, threads her needle again, and the poor little angel smiles through her tears.’’?
But while her little fingers were busy her ears were open to all that was being said, and Thérése carried away in her naturally retentive memory many precious ideas, especially regarding the things of God.
Thus she learned by listening much more quickly than by reading.
While ever showing a predilection for holy things, Thérése set herself, at the age of four, to learn by heart little pieces of poetry which she recited in the family circle, to the great delight of everybody. As can be well imagined, Mme Martin found in these little family
. Letter of Mme Martin to her daughter Pauline, May 10, 1077. * Unpublished letter, March 4, 1877.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 51
gatherings around Thérése a solace in her heavy toil. Let us again hear her tell the glad thoughts that filled her heart.
“This dear little one,’ she wrote to Pauline, ‘‘ is the joy of usall. She will be good; the seeds of goodness are plainly there already. She speaks only of God; she would not omit her prayers for all the world. I wish you could hear her recite little verses that she has learned by heart. Never have I seen anything so pleasing. Without any help she gets the exact expression and tone of voice. This is particularly true when she recites:
“ Sweet little child with locks of gold, Where, think you, hath the Lord his Home ? —Wide earth doth the Almighty hold; He ruleth, too, the great blue dome.
When she comes to the last line she raises her eyes to heaven with an expression truly angelic. We never tire of hearing her repeat it, so beautiful is her rendering; there is something so heavenly in her expression that we are enraptured.’
The influence of this family life where all were so united in the bonds of affection and holy joy, the atmosphere of tender love and piety ruling and penetrating every word and action, had a profound effect in the formation of Thérése’s character.
To the undaunted faith and devotion of her mother, to the unfailing goodness—unmingled with weakness— of her saintly father, to the charming tenderness of sisterly
_ affection, did this child owe, after God, her sweet gracious- ness as well as her desire to diffuse peace and joy around her, and her imperative wish to please, at any cost, the good Jesus whom she saw so ardently loved in her home. Before noting the final indications of the educative action of her parents, let us try to understand the part
1 Unpublished letter to Pauline, March 4, 1877.
52 ‘ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
which the influence of her sisters had in the formation of her character.
We have on this subject the invaluable testimony of the saint’s own words: ‘‘ I remember,” she writes, ‘‘ the great love which I had at this time for my dear godmother (her sister Marie), who had just finished her studies at the Visitation Convent. Without seeming to do so, I took note of all that was done and said before me; I think I judged of everything then as now. I listened attentively to whatever she taught Céline. To obtain the favour of admission into the room during lessons I was very well- behaved and obeyed her in everything. She also gave me numerous little presents, which, although of small worth, pleased me immensely.””*
Mme Martin shows by the following incident Marie’s authority over her godchild.
“* Marie loves her little sister very much and finds her charming. Indeed, if she did not she would be hard to please, for the little one dreads lest she should go against Marie’s wishes in anything. Yesterday I wanted to give her a rose, knowing the delight she took in flowers, but she begged me not to cut it; Marie had forbidden that. She flushed crimson with emotion. In spite of all I cut two roses for her, but she would not dare to appear with them in the house. It was useless to reassure her that the roses belonged to me. ‘ No,’ she said; ‘ they are Marie’s.” A very small thing disturbs the child.’’?
Notwithstanding her continual contact with the little one in her almost maternal capacity of first instructor, it was not this eldest sister who had the most marked influence on the formation and future of Thérése. Strange to relate, it was the example of a sister who lived as yet far away from her; stranger still, it was a little word
concerning the vocation of Pauline which decided the destiny of Thérése.
1 Histotre d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 11. * Unpublished letter to Pauline, May 21, 1876.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 53
She tells us this expressly herself:
“From the time I commenced to speak, whenever mama asked me ‘ Of what are you thinking ?’ my in- variable answer was ‘ Of Pauline.’ Sometimes I heard others say that Pauline would be a religious; then, without knowing too well what it meant, I thought to myself “I also will be a religious.’ That is one of my first memories, and since then I never once changed my resolution. Her example it was that, from the age of two years, drew me towards the Divine Spouse of virgins.’”!
Wonderful message from the God of Love to this faithful soul through that sister who, after having un- consciously drawn her towards the cloister from her earliest years, was afterwards to be her official guide in the way of perfection. ‘This declaration of Thérése regarding the unusual manifestation of God’s Providence towards her should be carefully borne in mind. It was this consciousness of vocation to a life of perfection, a con- sciousness prudently but constantly entertained, which explains the heroic resolution of Thérése, at the age of three, never to refuse anything to Jesus.
The influence of Léonie on the education of Thérése seems to have been lessmarked. Naturally a very delicate child, she had to content herself with courses of studies in the town of Alengon, so that she was little at the house. There were times, however, when her affectionate nature expanded, and she lavished her tenderness on Thérése, whose generous heart responded with gladness. ‘‘ Dear little Léonie,”’ she writes, “‘ held also a large place in my heart; she loved me very much. In the evening, when she came home from lessons, she took care of me while the rest of the family went fora walk. Iseem to hear even now her gentle voice in the sweet refrains with which she sang me to sleep. I can recall her first Communion perfectly. I remember also her companion, the poor
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 11.
54 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
child whom mother had dressed, according to a time- honoured custom among families in easy circumstances, at Alencon. This little girl never left Léonie’s side for an instant during the whole of that happy day, and in the evening at dinner she was given the place of honour.’’*
This incident throws one more light on the picture of that charitable mother, who sought above all else to teach her children by good example.
Céline, on account of her tender years, could not have the same influence as the other sisters on the life and habits of Thérése. Nevertheless her precocious qualities formed a real attraction for her little companion, for she also was a charming child. “I believe,’ her mother wrote, ‘‘ that Céline will be a great consolationtome. She has an exceptionally good disposition, quite above the ordinary. She is already most anxious to find out how she should prepare for her first Holy Communion.’’?
But she was above all the confidante of her little sister, her constant companion in every childish game and recreation. It was Céline, more than any other, who was to create around Thérése that atmosphere of radiant joy, whose memory made her ever afterwards bless “ these sunny years of childhood.” It was also from her child- hood companionship with Céline that 'Thérése learned the sweetness of a pure and tender attachment which was to prepare her to receive later into her virginal heart, already trained to the immolation of self, the outpourings of divine love.
What more pleasing than this scene from the life of the two sisters, traced by Mme Martin ?
“Céline and Thérése love one another dearly: they never require other company than themselves alone. The nurse gave Thérése a cock and hen of the smaller variety of fowls; at once the child gave the cock to Céline. Every day, after dinner, Céline goes to catch the little
1 Histoire d’une Ame, p. 12. * Unpublished letter to Pauline, October 8, 1876.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 55
cock. She catches it immediately, as well as the hen which, nevertheless, is not so easy to seize hold of; but Céline is so agile that with one bound she has it in her hands. Then they bring them in beside the fire and there amuse themselves for quite a long time.
“On Sunday Thérése took it into her head to leave her own cot and go to sleep with Céline. The maid, on coming to dress her, found no Thérése. She saw her at last, but the little one clung to Céline, saying: ‘ Do | leave me here, Louise; you see that we two are like two little white chicks that cannot be separated.’’!
Should Céline leave the table before Thérése, the latter would immediately leave her dessert unfinished and go join her sister. Oftentimes thoughts of higher things, or some pious word or remark, were intermingled with their innocent amusements. ‘‘On Sundays,” Thérése relates, “‘ as I was too small to go to Church, mama remained at home to take care of me. Under- standing the circumstances, I tried to behave very properly, and walked about only on tiptoe in order not to make any noise ; but when I heard the door being opened it was the signal for an outburst of joy. I would rush to my dearlittlesister, saying: ‘O Céline, give me quickly some of the blessed bread !’ One day she had none... . What was I to do? I could not remain deprived of it, for I called this feast my Mass. Al! at once I conceived a brilliant idea. ‘You have no blessed bread. Well then, make some!’ Céline opened the cupboard, took out the bread, cut off a morsel, and reciting over it the Ave Maria in a solemn tone, triumphantly presented it tome. And I, having first made the sign of the Cross, ate it with great devotion, finding that it tasted exactly like blessed bread.”’?
Thus, in every circumstance, in the simplest actions
1 Letter to Pauline, November 8, 1876, reproduced in part in Histoire d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 14. 2 Histotre d'une Ame, ch. i, p. 14.
56 ST THERESE DE ‘L’ENFANT JESUS
as well as in religious rites, we find the soul of this child penetrated with sentiments of piety which fostered in her respect for the things of God.
We have passed in review some outstanding examples of religious courage and devotion, given by the parents to their children from their very infancy. The force of good example would not, it is true, have influenced Thérése so powerfully had not these loved ones who watched over her with such solicitude surrounded her at the same time with love. It was by love that they developed divine charity within her to so high a degree— charity urging her to sacrifice and even to death.
In all Mme Martin’s dealings with her daughters, tenderness was governed by virility of character. Hers was that strength of will which would never, for any consideration, foster a dangerous disposition in her children. On the other hand she was ready, when occasion offered, to shower upon them the sweetest and most touching marks of attachment.
She has alluded, herself, to the loving condescension which she showed to the childish desires of Thérése. .
“She. will not go up the stairs alone,”’ she writes, ‘without calling out at each step ‘Mama! Mama!’ An- other step, another cry of ‘Mama!’ And if, by chance, I forget to reply at each call ‘ Yes, my little child !’ she remains there without moving a single step.’”!
On the part of her father, we see examples of even more demonstrative affection. The moment he returns from business, Thérése runs to him, throws her arms around him, and unceremoniously seats herself on his foot. Her delight is then to have herself carried along, mounted in this way. Mme Martin smilingly reproaches her husband for complying with every wish of Thérése. * Well, after all,” he says, “‘is she not the Queen?” And
1 Letter of Mme Martin, quoted in the Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ipo: a
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 57
he forthwith takes her in his arms, seats her on his shoulder, embraces her, and showers upon her every mark of tenderness.
This upbringing by love, where the thought of God and the desire to please Him above all held so large a place, had no hurtful influence on the development of the normal qualities of Thérése. Grace perfected nature, without destroying it. Like all children of her years, she loved play; not the more violent open-air pastimes,’ but indoor amusements, for which she was well pro- vided with a varied collection of playthings, toy-carriages, dolls of different models, and ribbons to adorn them.
She was delighted with a box of delicious bonbons which her uncle and aunt in Lisieux sent her on the occasion of a baptism. When afterwards someone spoke in her presence about the wealth of a rich proprietor, she clapped her hands and exclaimed that she preferred her aunt’s present to all the lands of this potentate.
But beyond everything else, before her toys and even cakes, she preferred flowers: garden flowers whose rich colours filled her eyes with delight, flowers of the field above all, for her inborn love of subdued elegance and delicate beauty found its counterpart in the simple and too often unappreciated charms, the unobtrusive radiance and graceful formation of wild blossoms.
In her innocent soul were springing up and blossoming forth, promiscuously perhaps, these thoughts so beauti- fully expressed by a recent poet in the lines which we give here in paraphrase: ‘
“Flowers of the meadows and woods, mountain blossoms and sweet water-flowers that are rocked to sleep by the song of the reeds. And you fair buds that bloom within orchard walls vieing with the butterflies in your tints of white and red. Flowers clothed in the purple of evening; golden and azure blossoms forming mystic
1 She liked the open-air exercise of the swing, but this taste seems to have been an exception.
58 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
censers, as you spread perfume from your white corollas. Gentle-faced flowers, and flowers with eyes of blue, heather blossoms which seem a bright reflection of the sunset on the steep hillside slopes. Primrose and lily, first-fruits of the spring, silver daisies that deck the fields with stars. Flower of the Gauls, vervain that gave to our ancestors the mystic portents of the future. The limpid stream waters you with its rippling wavelets—the virgin soil doth nourish your deep-set roots. For good and for bad, for all, you exhale your perfume, sweet sisters, God’s own flowers of the fields !’”
Thus it was a red-letter day for Céline and Thérése when M. Martin brought them to the “ Pavillon.” It stood on the outskirts of the town, a small house, quaint with its rustic furniture, surrounded by a large garden where, during the summer months, strawberries, currants, geraniums, and beautiful deep-coloured roses abounded. Thérése returned home laden with enormous bouquets, formed not so much of the roses from the “ Pavillon ” as of daisies, buttercups, and wild poppies, gathered here and there along the paths. She seems to have under- stood, even at this early age, the symbolism of flowers offered in token of love. And so, in surrounding with wild flowers the statue of the Blessed Virgin, held in such honour in the home, or St Joseph’s image before which her mother was wont to kneel, she intends to signify the oblation of her soul and her life. At all events, she never prayed more fervently than in the oratory prepared for the “‘ month of Mary.” Her eldest sister assures us of this in convincing language. “It is quite a ceremony,” she writes to Pauline, “‘ this preparation for the ‘ month of Mary.” Mama is so very particular about it, more par- ticular than the Blessed Virgin herself. She wants haw-
1 Henry Thédenat, Quelques vers, p. 19: Paris, Jouve.
2 The statue thus honoured was that before which Mme Martin had already obtained an extraordinary favour, and which was afterwards to become lifelike and smile on Thérése.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 59
thorn branches reaching to the ceiling, the walls decorated with evergreens, etc.... Thérése is in wonderment at it all. Every morning she goes bounding with glad- ness there to say her prayers. If you knew how frolicsome and ingenious she is. I have a wonderful admiration for this little ‘ bouquet.’ Everyone in the house showers affection on her.’’!
Not alone had Thérése retained, under the action of divine grace, her childlike candour and grace of manner, but she was remarkable for the charming spontaneity of her language and the originality of her lively repartee, which showed itself from time to time in racy and piquant phrases. One morning Céline was tormenting her father to bring her and 'Thérése to the “‘ Pavillon,’’ as he had done the evening before. In a half-jesting, half- serious tone, M. Martin said: ‘‘ Are youjoking ? Doyou imagine that I can bring you there every day ?” Thérése was over in a corner amusing herself with a little wand and seemingly quite occupied with her toy. Suddenly she turned with a nonchalant air: ‘“‘ Oh, we need not flatter ourselves with the notion that papa will bring us there every day !”? Céline hung down her head, and ““ papa ”’ laughed heartily.
This atmosphere of tender affection, where the child- hood of Thérése passed quietly amidst prayer, innocent amusement, and family love, contributed, as we know, to develop her spirituality; but although we have on her own testimony that she was not really spoiled by her parents, still self-love, which, as a consequence of original sin, has root in the souls of all, even the predestined, was sometimes to make itself felt in her virginal nature.
Thérése recognized these attempts, weak and fleeting attempts, yet sufficiently distinct to leave an imprint
1 Unpublished letter. 2 Unpublished letter of Mme Martin to Pauline, October, 1876.
60 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
on her memory, which, in her humility, she has noted in the Histoire d'une Ame.
About the age of three she had some fits of the wayward stubbornness so usual at that age. Her mother mentions this without extenuation, but without disquietude, recognizing in Thérése the good qualities which are its corrective. ‘‘ My little Céline,” she writes,‘‘ is altogether inclined to virtue; it is in every fibre of her being. Sheis the soul of candour and has an instinctive horror of evil.
‘* As to the ‘ little ferret,’ not much can yet be predicted about her; she is still so young, so heedless. She has a remarkable intellect and a heart of gold; she is very affectionate too, and absolutely frank. It is quaint to see her running after me to make her confession: ‘ Mama, I have pushed Céline once and I hit her once, but I will not do it again.’ And so for everything she does.’’!
In spite of the precaution of the parents, who, while tenderly loving this child, never overlooked her slightest unruly caprice, Thérése appears in a few rare instances as aspoiledchild. But what touching regrets make amends for this momentary forgetfulness; with what promptitude the fault is atoned for! Let us hear her own words:
“TI recall perfectly one day, when I was amusing myself on the swing, my father who was just passing by said to me: ‘ Come and kiss me, little queen.’ Contrary to my usual custom, I would not stir, but replied in a defiant tone: ‘ Come yourself, papa!’ He very rightly did not listen to me. Marie was present at the time. * Bold little one !’ she said to me, ‘ how naughty to answer papa in that manner.’ Immediately I got down from that ill-fated swing; the lesson had gone home. The whole house resounded with my cries of contrition; I climbed the stairs in all haste, not calling ‘ Mama’ now at each step; I thought only of finding papa and of being reconciled to him, which was speedily accomplished.’”?
1 Letter to Pauline, May 14, 1876. 2 Histoire d'une Ame, ch. i, p. 10.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 61
The same, or an almost similar, scene was repeated be- tween Thérése and her mother. Mme Martin herself recounts it. “The other day I wished to embrace Thérész before going downstairs, but she appeared to be sound asleep. I would not risk awakening her, and was turning away when Marie said ‘ Mama, I am sure she is only pretending to be asleep.’ Hearing this, I bent down to kiss her; but she immediately hid herself under the coverlet, saying, with the air of a spoiled child, ‘I don’t want anyone to look at me.’ I was not in the least pleased, and took care to make her realize it. :
“Two minutes afterwards I heard her crying, and soon, to my great surprise, found her at my side. She had got out unaided from the cot, had come down the stairs with bare feet, tripping over her nightdress, which was too long for her; her little face was wet with tears. ‘Mama,’ she said, throwing herself down at my knees, ‘I have been naughty; forgive me.’ Pardon was quickly granted. I took the little cherub in my arms, pressed her to my heart, and covered her with kisses.””! Would we not be tempted to say “‘ Happy fault which is atoned for by so touching a reparation ’’?
The child adopted the practice, from her earliest years, _ of making known even involuntary little accidents of which she might have been the cause. Let us hear her mother speak on this subject:
** As soon as she has done the slightest thing out of the way everybody must know about it. Yesterday, having quite accidentally torn a little corner of the wall- paper, she got into a pitiable state. ‘Then papa must be told as soon as possible. When he came back, four hours afterwards, everyone had forgotten about it; but she ran to Marie and said, ‘Tell papa quickly that I have torn the paper.’ She stood there like a criminal awaiting sentence, but she has the idea in her little
1 Letter to Pauline, February 13, 1877.
62 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
head that pardon will come more easily if she accuses herself?”"?
Not content with accusing herself, she makes an effort to repair the harm done, and this by means so quaint and simple as to draw an indulgent smile from her parents and redoubled tenderness from all.
One day she broke a little vase which her mother had given her. Immediately, as was her custom, she came to show what she had done, and, seeing the look of dis- pleasure on her mother’s face, she commenced to cry. A moment afterwards she came to her and said: “* Do not be vexed, little mother; when I earn money of my own, I promise I will buy you another.” And Mme Martin adds in her letter to Pauline: ‘“‘ As you can see, I shall have to wait some time for it !’’?
Notwithstanding these little clouds, everything con- tributed to the joy of Thérése. Her intelligence, her animation and charming grace of manner became every day more attractive. Her highly developed piety was, all unknown to herself, drawing wonder from those around her. But what solidity could be guaranteed to virtue, developing as hers now was, amid the smiles of her parents and sisters, scarcely interrupted by occasional gentle reprimands? Might not all her acts of devotion, now sustained by a mother’s watchful love, be checked by any discouragement? Divine Providence must guide the future.
In order to increase and grow strong, Thérése’s infant piety required, like every other, the fortifying influence of trial. God, in His immutable design, early bestowed on her this chastening influence to such an extent that she could write later, she who, as a child, had been so fondled
1 Letter of Mme Martin to Pauline, May 21, 1876.
* See unpublished letter of May 14, 1876: Archives of the Martin family.
-
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 63
and caressed: “‘ The Cross has never, from my cradle, ceased to accompany me.”
To the little attacks of illness and physical suffering, borne smilingly without a word of complaint, Thérése felt already the need of adding voluntary privations. Marie had brought from the Visitation Convent a special chaplet, used amongst the boarders to count their acts of virtue. Each bead was movable, and could be separated a space from the rest; every act of self-sacrifice was marked by moving on a bead. She gave Céline and Thérése each a chaplet. From this time onward Thérése was to be seen, almost all day, with the chaplet in her hand, moving forward a bead for every tiny sacrifice that she succeeded in accomplishing.
The two little sisters encouraged each other un- ceasingly to renew these sacrifices. They called their acts of virtue “ practices,” so that in their conversation, and even at their games, there was continual question of “* practices.”
One day, as they were having a very earnest discussion on this point in their garden of rue Saint Blaise, their mysterious conversation aroused the curiosity of a neigh- - bour who leaned out of the window in a vain attempt to understand their meaning. Finally she stole down quietly to the maid to ask her what were these “‘ practices ” which seemed so deeply to interest the children.’
This indiscreet step did not prevent either Céline or Thérése from reverting on every occasion to their favourite discussion. Of small importance, however, is more talk about these little privations, or even noting their number. The acquisition of solid durable virtue was the real end directing all.
Soon it became evident that Thérése was not counting her chaplet in vain. ‘ How happy I was at this time!” she declared afterwards. ‘ Not only did I begin to enjoy life, but virtue had for me a real’charm. I had then,
1 Mme Martin alludes to this in one of her letters.
64 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
I think, the same dispositions as now; I exercised already great control over all my actions. Thus I had acquired — the habit of refraining from complaint when anything belonging to me was taken away; also when accused unjustly I preferred rather to remain silent than to offer excuse. In this there was no merit on my part; I simply acted naturally.”
These ‘‘ natural’ actions were none the less con- sciously done for God, since, according to her mother, the child “‘ put her hand in her pocket a hundred times a day to move forward a bead on her chaplet every time she had practised a mortification.” But they were accomplished so easily and sweetly as to leave no doubt that the “‘ little sprite ”’ lived under the continual guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Her love of wild flowers is already known. One Sunday, when she had spent the afternoon in the country gathering cornflowers, daisies, and buttercups in abun- dance, she returned home, glowing with delight, and set herself to arrange in clusters her wealth of blossoms. Her grandmother, Mme Martin, too old to realize certain delicate attractions of child-nature, claimed the flowers to decorate a little altar erected in the house. Poor Thérése felt the tears welling to her eyes, but controlled herself so well that only Céline, who knew her intimately, perceived her emotion; she gave away her dear flowers one by one to the very last.?
In further ways, too, Thérése was to find that, in order to please fully her divine Lord, the mere adoption of a certain round of practices did not suffice; she must show herself ready toaccept gladly His good pleasure in allthings.
A little incident which took place at this time is referred to later, as symbolizing the spontaneous and whole-
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 16. * Cf. R. P. Carbonel, Histoire de Sainte Thérése de l’Enfant
Jésus pour les enfants (Eng. trans., Little Thérése, Burns, Oates and Washbourne).
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE Leog
hearted acceptation of God’s will in all things. This early recognition of the importance of generosity with our Divine Lord grew afterwards to be the keynote of all her virtue.
“One day,’’ she writes, ‘‘ Léonie, realizing, I suppose, that she was now too old to play with dolls, came to us (Céline and myself) with a basket full of dolls’ dresses, pretty bits of cloth, trimmings, etc. Placing her doll on the top of these, she said to us: ‘ Here, little sisters, choose for yourselves.’ Céline looked, and chose a ball of silk braid. After a moment’s consideration, I put forward my hand and said ‘I choose everything.’ And I carried off basket and doll without further ceremony.
““My whole life could be summed up in this little incident of my childhood. Later, when I realized what was meant by perfection, I understood that in order to become a saint, great sufferings must be endured, all thought of self must be put aside—in a word, the most perfect must be sought in all. I realized that there are in holiness many degrees, that each soul is free to corre- spond with the advances of Our Lord, to do little or great things for His love, to choose between the sacrifices that he asks. Then, as in my childhood days, I cried out :‘ My God, I choose all! I do not wish to be a saint by halves. _ I am not afraid to suffer for Your sake; only one thing do I fear—my own will. Take it from me, for I choose everything You will.’ ’”
These generous t ndencies could only be in their commencement in the child of four years. But, to the grace of Christian education, and the influence of edifying example which had so largely developed Thérése’s piety, was now to be added the heavenly protection of her saintly aunt, recently taken from this world, and a share in the merit of severe physical suffering which for long months her mother was to endure.
1 Histotre d’une Ame, ch. i, p. 15.
a
66 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
On February 24, 1877, Mme Martin received from one of the Visitation nuns at Le Mans the following lines: ‘‘ The life of our dear Sr Marie-Dosithée, that was so edifying, closed this morning by a death one might envy. She was quite conscious and preserved an admirable calmness to the end. One evening, almost the last before her death, she said to our mother: ‘O Mother, I have no other thoughts but of love, trust, and abandon- ment. Help me to thank God for it all.’
‘* We can say that we have now another protectress in heaven, for it would be difficult to find a more saintly ending to a holier life.’’?
Sustained in her great sorrow by this hope, Mme Martin induced her children,and more especially 'Thérése, to implore the protection of their aunt, now, she believed, among the blessed in heaven. Through the intercession of her dear sister, joined to that of the Holy Virgin Mary, she hoped for a miracle of which she personally stood in need.
In her early years she had hurt herself so severely against the corner of a table as to cause a permanent swelling in her breast. This had not been very painful in the beginning, but developed in time into a fibrous tumour. Without a word of complaint, never inter- rupting her fatiguing work, or failing in a single duty to her family or her religion, Mme Martin had for sixteen years felt this malady doing its fatal work. The time came when intense pain made it no longer possible to hide her condition from her family. They immediately took her to a doctor in Alencgon, M. Prévost. For the sake of form he began to write a prescription. ‘‘ Of what use will it be ?” asked Mme Martin. ‘The doctor, looking at her, said in a low voice, “‘ It is useless; I give it to please patients.”
In spite of this, M. Isidore Guérin recommended an
* Cited by Mme Martin in an unpublished letter to her brother, February 26, 1877.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 67
operation. For this end he took his sister to an experi- enced medical man in Lisieux, who declared that it was now too late.
Given up by the doctors, having no other prospect than death in the midst of terrible suffering, this coura- geous Christian returned to Alencon, took up again her ordinary round of life, having no other thought but to persevere unfailingly and unostentatiously in duty, to the end.
On her return home she wrote to her sister-in-law: “You are really causing yourself too much anxiety on my account; you put me toshame byit. I donot deserve that people should be so concerned about me; my life is not so precious.”’!
She gave up, however, her lace industry, well knowing that she would never enjoy the leisure thus acquired. She resigned herself to the inevitable with barely ex- pressed regret. ‘“‘I have given up in good earnest my point d’Alengon and now begin to live on my income. All things considered, I believe it is time. My greatest | fear is that I shall not enjoy my retreat for long, although I can say that it has cost me dear.’’?
The image of death had become familiarto her. She looked it unflinchingly in the face, although it seemed to her that she would still be of use in this world in order to finish the education of her children now that her sister was gone. Once more she began to cherish the hope that, by the all-powerful help of the Queen of heaven, and the intercession of her dear Visitandine, a pilgrimage to Lourdes would restore her to health. She wrote to her daughter Pauline: ‘‘ It was about ten or fifteen days after your aunt’s death that, rightly or wrongly, this con- fidence which I cannot explain entered my mind, and with it a great desire to live for another few years in order to bring up my children.’’?
1 Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, January 28, 1877.
2 Ibid., May 10, 1877. 8 Unpublished letter, May 13, 1877.
68 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
A pilgrimage to Lourdes from the diocese of Angers was organized for June 18, 1877. Mme Martin, with her three daughters, Marie, Pauline, and Leonie, suc- ceeded in being enrolled amongst the pilgrims. “ The trouble and expense are considerable,’ she wrote; “but if I obtain the favour so greatly desired, I shall not be paying too dear for it. Moreover, it seems to me that the greater the sacrifices I shall make, the more disposed will the Blessed Virgin be to hear our prayer.’’?
Her chief reason for taking the children was the hope which she placed in their fervent prayers, for with unparalleled faith they prepared to besiege the Im- maculate Mother by their supplications.
The journey was more fatiguing than had been anti- cipated. Overwhelming heat, unsuitable food, and the difficulty of finding proper sleeping accommodation in Lourdes all contributed to weaken the invalid.
The visits to the piscina were without success. On her return home she wrote to her relatives in Lisieux: “ I was immersed four times in the piscina, the last time two hours before we set out for home. I was in the icy water above my shoulders, but did not find it so cold as in the morning. I remained there over a quarter of an hour, hoping all the time that the Blessed Virgin would cure me. While actually in the water I felt no pain, but once out, the stinging recommenced as usual.
“For your sake I would have been doubly happy to be cured. Alas! the Holy Virgin has said to us as to Berna- dette: ‘1 will make you happy, not in this world but in the next," ""*
Strong in this hope, the courageous pilgrim set out on her homeward way, joining heartily in the hymns of the pilgrimage, while her daughters remained silent with grief and distress. But, on reaching Normandy, she
* Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, May 29, 1877. 2 Ibid,, June 24, 1877.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 69
broke down, and was forced to admit that the journey had increased her malady. Her husband, with Céline and Thérése, was awaiting her at the station. He had passed an anxious week, hoping every day for the good news that never came. He was grief-stricken, and the little ones were astonished to find that the Blessed Virgin had not hearkened to their innocent prayers. M. Martin was, as his wife tells us, surprised to see her come back as happy as if she had obtained her desired favour. “That,” she added, ‘“‘reanimated his courage and restored the good spirits of all.’
This attitude of the sufferer was adopted out of pure charity towards her family. To her daughter Pauline, whose solid foundation in virtue was well known to her, and whom, on that account, she wished to train in un- wayering acceptance of trial, she confided her real thoughts. ‘‘ I wish to know,” she writes to her, ‘‘ what your present frame of mind is, whether you are still
- wroth with the Blessed Virgin because she has not made _ you ‘leap for joy.’ Do not hope for much happiness
on this earth; you would meet with too many disappoint-
' ments. For my part, I know by experience the fickle-
ness of earthly joy ; if my hopes were not centred on heaven
_ I should indeed be unhappy.’’?
Nevertheless, in order to bring consolation to her loved ones and to sustain her own courage, the poor mother still continued to pray for a miracle. She greatly desired to see once more the dear family in Lisieux, always so affectionately helpful to her. She even planned to bring some of her daughters with her. ‘Telling her sister-in-law of the children’s longing to accompany her, she added: “The smallest is the most eager of them all. She will remember all her life that she was left behind at Alengon two years ago; when she refers to it, the tears come to her eyes immediately. She is a charming
1 Unpublished letter to Pauline, June 25, 1877. 2 Ibid,
"0 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
little creature, my Thérése; I assure you that she will succeed.””4
The poor child who feared that she would not be taken to Lisieux did not foresee the cruel necessity which would soon constrain her to this journey.
Mercilessly the dread malady progressed. June and July were months of intolerable suffering. No sleep or calm, not a moment’s respite for the poor invalid on her bed of pain, where she passed part of her days. She realized fully the gravity of her condition, and with that faith which had been the guiding light and the mainstay of her life, she prepared for the inevitable. ‘‘ I have made up my mind to it,” she writes, ‘‘ and am trying to prepare for death. I must not lose a moment of the short space which I have yet to live. These are days of salvation which will never return; I must, then, profit by them.’’?
In order to secure in an especial manner the grace of final perseverance, and to give even to the end a living example of devotion to religious duty, she made a final painful effort to be present at Mass in the parish church on the first Friday of August. At each step she felt as if her neck were being pierced by a stiletto. Agonizing pains all down her right side obliged her several times to stand still. She persevered in spite of all. In this condition of suffering she assisted at her last Mass, and from the Sacrifice of Calvary renewed on the altar drew courage to face the final combat.
The following weeks saw the gradual decline of the poor body sinking beneath the ravages of an implacable malady.
It was not thought well that the two youngest children, Céline and Thérése, should witness these scenes of suffering; those two whom the devoted mother had, up to the last, tended with loving care. It was decided
* Unpublished letter to her sister-in-law, July 8, 1877. 2 Ibid., July 15, 1877.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE ie
that they be taken to a friend’s house each day. On this subject we will consult Thérése’s memoirs.
“* Céline and I were like two poor little exiles. Every morning Mme X. came for us, and we spent the day at her house. Once, when we had not time to say our prayers before starting, Céline whispered to me on the way, ‘ Shall we tell that we have not said our prayers °’ “Oh, yes,’ I replied. Timidly she confided her trouble to this lady, who immediately replied: ‘ Well, my little ones, you shall say them.’ Then, leaving us in a large room, she went away. Céline looked at me stupefied; I was no less amazed, and exclaimed: ‘ Ah, that is no what mama would have done; she always helped us to say our prayers.’
“In spite of the distractions which they endeavoured to provide for us during the day, our thoughts were ever returning to our dear mother. I remember once when Céline was given a delicious apricot, her leaning towards me and saying, ‘ We wil! not eat it, we will give it to mama.’ Alas! our poor mama was now too ill to eat the fruits of this earth. She was never more to be satiated except by the glory of God in heaven, when she would drink with Jesus the mystic wine of which He spoke at His last supper, promising to share it with us in the kingdom of His Father.’’+
One last earthly joy was yet in store for this mother who was so anxious about the proper education of her children. Marie had continued to act as instructress to Céline and Thérése; and at the commencement of vacation, know- ing the encouragement that would result for her little pupils, and also in order to bring some consolation to her parents, she conceived the idea of imitating at home a school distribution of prizes. We have a description of the little scene in a letter to her aunt at Lisieux. “ I assure you it was quite a pretty sight. I had decorated my room with garlands of vinca, intermingled with
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ii, p. 19.
72 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
bouquets of roses. Wreaths of flowers hung from the ceiling. The rostrum was covered with cloth, and two armchairs were in readiness for the presidents of ‘ the august ceremony,’ Monsieur and Madame Martin. —
“ Yes, mama also took part in our distribution of prizes. Our two little girls were in white, and you should see with what a triumphant air they came up to receive their books and wreaths. Papa and mama gave out the prizes, and I, of course, called forward my pupils.’’*
This was the last gleam of happiness before Death made a break in the family circle. Mme Martin went from the president’s chair to her bed of suffering. Eight days later she writes: ‘‘ My strength is at an end... . If the Holy Virgin does not cure me, then my term of life is over; God wills that I find my resting-place elsewhere than on this earth.’’? .
This last message to her brother at Lisieux was dated August 16. On the 26th, Holy Viaticum was judged necessary. MM. Martin had the courage to go himself to the church, and to accompany to and from the house the Divine Saviour, who came to fortify the dying mother in her last journey. The holy Unction, with its saving effects of purification and renewal in grace, was administered to the departing soul. Thérése was present; she knew that a solemn separation was soon to take place, but she realized that by the mercy of the Almighty her heroic mother would not leave her for ever by returning to God.
“The touching ceremony of Extreme Unction,” she writes, “has left a lasting impression on my mind. I see again the spot where they placed me on my knees, I hear once more the sobs of our poor father.’”?
1 Unpublished letter of August 9, 1877. * Unpublished letter to her brother, August 16, 1877. 3 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ii, p. 20.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 73
The soul thus prepared broke its bonds August 28, 1877, half an hour after midnight. She had passed here below forty-six years of toil and trial, which give every ground for hope that she enjoyed the eternal peace of heaven after her death.
Before her mortal remains disappeared for ever from the eyes of Thérése, M. Martin took the little one in his arms. “Come,” he said, ‘‘ and kiss your dear mother for the last time.” And without uttering a word, the orphan touched with her lips the icy-cold forehead of the dead.
This little child, hitherto so lively and laughter-loving, so full of the joy of living, seemed transformed and suddenly matured by the terrible vision of death. She shed no tear; she looked on and listened in silence, but understood everything. She had been left by herself for a moment, and, while alone, was confronted with the sight of the coffin lying in the corridor. She had never seen one before. Instead of fleeing at the sight, she contemplated the dismal object sadly for several moments, raising her head to examine its form more closely, and to familiarize herself with this narrow bed, the last resting- place of poor crumbling humanity.
After the religious ceremonies in the Church of Notre- Dame the family returned home plunged in sorrow. “The whole five of us,” says Thérése, “ stood together in a group mutely gazing at one another in our grief. The maid seeing us thus was moved to compassion, and, turning to Céline and myself, she exclaimed: ‘ Poor little children, you have no longer a mother.’ Then Céline, throwing herself into Marie’s arms, cried: ‘ It is you who will be mama for us now.’ And I, accustomed as I was to follow Céline in everything, would also have imitated this action, so beautifully appropriate, but I thought that Pauline would perhaps feel sorrowful and forsaken,
1 Mme Martin’s daughters, now nuns, remember still the expression of unearthly serenity on her countenance.
74. ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
having no little daughter. I looked up at her tenderly, and leaning my little head on her heart, I said: ‘ As for me, Pauline will be my mama ’.’’+
The child of four and a half years was far from realizing to what an extent this chosen sister was to prove a mother to her, what a spiritual guide God was preparing for her in the person of Pauline.
The two elder sisters made every effort to show their earnest acceptation of the delicate duty entrusted to them in order to lighten for the two little ones the cloud of sorrow that had come upon their home.
The days following the burial were full of desolation and sadness. The grief-stricken family went out only to visit the cemetery. M. Martin was winding up his commercial affairs; his time was occupied by these and other cares of the same kind. What was to become of his orphan children, more especially the two youngest, now deprived of a mother’s guiding hand ?
Friends at Alengon and elsewhere proffered advice, and offered their help regarding the education of the children. M. Martin thanked them, but could not reconcile his rigid principles with their suggestions.
He remembered then that during her last agony, being no longer able to utter a word, his wife had turned to her sister-in-law with a long look of mute appeal, as though to confide to her the care of her children, and that Mme Guérin had promised to be a mother to them. He resolved to accept the kindly offer of his friends in Lisieux.
The sacrifice was bitter; he had to bid adieu to all the old associations, to friends of his childhood, to his “* Pavillon,” to every cherished custom and time-honoured
1 'Thérése in thus acting was unknowingly directed by a prophetic action of her dying mother, who, seeing Pauline by the bedside, had taken her hand with respect and kissed it. She seemed, by this action, to entrust her with the office of mother, which she was to fulfil during her whole life.
GROWING VIRTUE OF THERESE 75
habit. Above all, he had to leave his beloved graves. He did not hesitate, however, but asked his brother-in- law, M. Guérin, to look out for a house at Lisieux which would be large enough for him and his family.
On September 10, following, a suitable residence was found. ‘The necessary preparations were quickly accom- plished. M. Martin remained behind at Alencon for a time, to settle some matters of business, but during the first fortnight of November he took his daughters to their new home selected by M. Guérin, which bore the pleasing name of ‘‘ Les Buissonnets.’’?
1M. Martin himself was buried at Lisieux in 1894, and M. Guérin, in order to re-unite all together in the one grave, had the remains of Mme Martin, of her little deceased children, and of the two grandparents, M. Guérin and Mme Martin, brought from Alengon to the cemetery of Lisieux.
2 'The house was then as we see it today: red brick, mouldings, cornices, and carved wood, as shown by a painting done at that time. ‘The only change made later was to clear a space to the right and provide an additional exit for the convenience of pilgrims.
CHAPTER IV
LISIEUX—LES BUISSONNETS
ISIEUX, a group of picturesque steep-roofed houses, dominated by the bold spire and severe facade of a towering Gothic cathedral; a quiet retreat for the wood-carvers of Normandy, whose fine arabesques and fantastic monsters are displayed on the worm-eaten doors and window frames along the sides of the narrow streets; a melancholy little town in spite of its verdant surroundings and gaily-coloured flower gardens—such was to be henceforward the retreat of the Martin family after their great bereavement at Alengon.
The children’s first impression on their arrival was one of sadness. Besides the fact that they carried everywhere with them the thought of their dear one departed, the smoke-blackened porches of Lisieux with their grimacing figures, the high factory chimneys covered with a pall of thick smoke, contrasted unfavourably to them with the pretty, attractive homes of Alencon.
Little Thérése alone left the house in the rue Saint Blaise without regret, and she accuses herself of this later where she naively says “‘ Children love change.” Moreover, the welcoming smiles that awaited her at her uncle’s house kept her from remarking the rather depress- ing appearance of the old city.
M. Guérin’s house, a high, solidly constructed build- ing of the old type, stood at the corner of the Grande-Rue and what is now called ‘Place Thiers.”
With the master of the house we are already acquainted ;
76
LISIEUX—-LES BUISSONNETS sigh
some further traits will help to complete the sketch previously outlined.
M. Guérin, who at this time still conducted a flourish- ing pharmacy, was a man of medium height and dis- tinguished demeanour, a man whose keen look, decisive manner, and equally decisive speech, betokened unfailing honesty and uprightness. Imbued with the best tradi- tions of Christianity, endowed with an open and vigorous mind, he had early extended his studies beyond the circle of technical knowledge required for his profession, ; and had become so well versed in religious matters as to prove on occasion a formidable polemical opponent of the Church’s enemies. He had, moreover, a heart of un- changeable devotedness, as easily touched as it was con- stant in its friendship.
With her tender, affectionate nature, her readiness to lend an ever helping hand, Mme Guérin was the un- obtrusive but warming ray of sunshine in this grave and somewhat austere household. A descendant of one of those thoroughly religious families, which had given priests and even martyrs‘ to the Church, Céline Fournet became, as we know, the intimate friend of her sister-in- law, and her promise to prove a mother to Mme Martin’s children had cheered the last moments of the dying woman. But she counted especially on the loving-kind- ness of her daughters Marie and Jeanne to bring a ray of joy to the hearts of her youngest nieces now so pitifully left orphans.
The welcome given to the children was tender in its sincerity. Mme Guérin with her daughters stood at the door to receive the five exiles as they came accom- panied by their uncle to the house. Thérése must naturally have felt the least at home since it was her first
1 She was a relation of Thomas-Jean Monsaint, one time parish priest of Orbec-en-Auge, afterwards of Saint Roch, Paris, who was massacred at the Abbey on September 2, 1792. Cf. Joseph Grente, Les Martyrs de Septembre 1792 a& Paris.
78 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
time in Lisieux, but her aunt’s caresses soon brought a smile to the timid little face.
After a quiet night’s rest the orphan children were taken to their new home.
From the Pont L’Evéque road, on the east of Lisieux, we ascend by a rugged, winding path to a dwelling situated midway on the slopes of a hill. The town with its tiers of steep-roofed houses and its grey steeples spreads below. This is the house called Les Buisson- nets. A pleasant home, nestling amidst a wealth of foliage and commanding an extensive view of the varied landscape, it joined the advantages of comfort to its rural situation. In front spread a smiling little lawn studded with trees; at the back was a sufficiently large garden surrounded by an ivy-grown wall. No other sound broke the stillness save the clear notes of the nightingale from the lilac hedges or the shrill symphony of the crickets in the newly mown hay.
The sight of this dwelling surrounded by the fresh foliage of fir and ash trees in sombre bloom was for Thérése a real joy. But even this could only lighten in small measure the abiding impressions of sorrow left by her great loss. ‘‘ Immediately after my mother’s death,” she writes, ‘“my happy disposition changed completely. I, who had been so lively, so expansive, became timid and shy and sensitive to excess; a look sufficed to make the tears flow; I dreaded notice; I could not bear the company of strangers, and only recovered my former cheerfulness in the bosom of my own family.’”!
This trial continued for several years, becoming even more pronounced. It was alleviated for the moment by the tenderness of the Guérin family and the charm of that verdant home which was to be from henceforth the scene of the “‘ little Queen’s ”’ development.
Meanwhile the house is yet without its master. But
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ii, p. 22.
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M. Martin was already acquainted with this little nest, where he sought to shelter all that remained to him of his happiness; he had paid a visit there in September before completing arrangements with the owner. In a letter of November 16, his daughter Marie gives her first impressions: ‘‘ We are installed in Les Buissonnets. It is a delightful home with a smiling and cheerful aspect and its large garden where Thérése and Céline can enjoy their play. Only the staircase, and also the approach to the house, leave something to be desired.”
His daughter omitted to mention that although pleasing in appearance it was nevertheless a very old building, badly proportioned in construction, with very low ceilings. She refrained above all from calling the attention of this fervent Catholic to the long distance which separated it from the church; but she noticed the narrow pathway leading to Les Buissonnets; this path which M. Martin called later ‘‘ the way to Paradise.”’
As to the rest, she promised him peace and happiness in this quiet home. ‘‘I feel assured, dear father,” she says, ‘“‘that you will be contented here. Yes, we will endeavour to be so good, and to make your life so pleasant, that you will be compensated for the great sacrifice you have made for our welfare.’
On November 30,M. Martinarrived at Les Buissonnets. Without further delay they organized their new home-life.
A room on the ground floor opening on the garden at the rear of the house was given to Céline and Thérése. It was there that the “‘ little Queen ”’ was to offer so many innocent prayers to Jesus and his Blessed Mother.? But later on, when she was attacked by the severe illness of which we are soon to speak, her sister Marie brought her
1 Unpublished letter.
2 Tt is to this room that crowds of pilgrims come today, to see in a gallery fronted with glass—formerly Léonie’s tiny room— the little saint’s bed, the different objects that were formerly hers, and even the toys with which she amused herself.
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to her own room situated on the left front of the house and bathed in the light that streamed in through two large windows. It was in this room, now transformed into an oratory, that Thérése was to contemplate the heavenly smile of the Virgin Mother of consolation. She was to share it with Céline after the departure of her two elder sisters for the Carmel.
Céline, who now seemed possessed of her little sister’s lost vivacity, was sent with Léonie as day-boarder to the Benedictine Convent. Marie and Pauline, who remained at Les Buissonnets, looked after the home and took charge of Thérése’s education. The latter required to be urged forward with spirit, for although she had in earlier days learned her letters quickly, yet when the time came to form these into words, at about the age of three and a half years, she had returned to her games as if decided to end her learning at this point. From that time onward, it is true, she became more favourably disposed towards her books, but this entailed constant effort.
On Pauline, for the most part, devolved the charge of the child’s formation, a duty which she performed with tact and devotedness.
Having kissed the little innocent face upturned to her on awakening, she would make Thérése kneel by her side to say her prayers. The morning was then begun with a reading lesson. ‘The word “‘ cieux”’ was the first that Thérése could read unaided, and she ran joyously to announce this grand achievement to her father, who was in the room at the top of the house called the ‘* Belvedere,” which he had chosen for himself. To this room she came, in fact, every day after lessons to show him the marks obtained, and to enjoy his. affectionate recognition when it was a question of success.
M. Martin, whom sorrow had rendered prematurely grey, had no longer any other thought but to sanctify his remaining years by prayer, by works of charity, and by the education of his children. Little Thérése was the
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special object of his care. After daily Mass at the Cathedral, some time was given to working in the garden. Long hours were devoted to meditation and reading in the “Belvedere,” where he felt so close to heaven. Then each day he paid a second fervent visit to our Lord in the Tabernacle. Accompanied by Thérése, he would go to one or other of the churches where the Blessed Sacra- ment was reserved. It was thus the little one entered for the first time, while as yet her sisters did not even know of the existence of a Carmel at Lisieux, the chapel of that monastery where nine years later she was to take the veil.
These afternoon outings were given to Thérése by way of reward. Her teacher was as firm as she was de- voted. She required a definite amount of study done. If application to work was remiss, the evening walk was irrevocably cancelled. Pauline never went back on a decision once given, and M. Martin, at whatever cost, always ratified her verdict.
These prohibitions made Thérése appreciate all the more the long walks which were allowed her during the fine season.
The child’s early preference for the simple flowers of
1 Pauline’s firmness was ever tempered by gentle affection, as can be seen from the following incident:
One day Thérése returned hot and tired from a long walk and much talking. ‘‘O Pauline,” she cried, ‘‘if you only knew how thirsty Iam!’ Finding this a suitable opportunity ‘to drive home certain lessons, the elder sister suggested a sacrifice. ‘‘ Will you deprive yourself of a drink in order to save a sinner?” ‘“‘ Yes, Pauline,” said the little one with a deep sigh. Evidently the sacrifice was great. Seeing, however, that it had been accepted, Pauline, who suffered more than her little sister from the imposed mortification, decided to bring her a refreshing drink.
But should Thérése accept this and abandon the sinner to perdition? Pauline hastened to reassure her by explaining that, after having had the merit of sacrifice, she was also to have that of obedience, thereby gaining a further chance of assisting some soul in distress. Cf. R. P. Carbonel, op. cit.
6
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the hedgerows still continued. What joy it was to her to gambol through the thick copse amidst the woodland flowers and wild orchids. How triumphantly she re- turned in the evening, laden with bright-coloured bouquets and sweet-smelling garlands to decorate her little altar in the corner of the garden in honour of the God of Love.
Sometimes Thérése went out with her father along the banks of the Touques, and, with her little line, made cunning attempts to imitate him in throwing the hook. It was easy to see, however, that her mind was otherwise occupied, and soon, leaving her line and hook, she would sit down amid the flower-strewn grass. ‘‘ There,” she writes, “‘I became immersed in deep thought, and without even knowing what meditation meant, my soul plunged into mental prayer. I listened’ to the distant sounds and the murmur of the wind. At times the music of a military band in the town reached me in faint and undecided notes, filling my heart with a sweet melancholy. Earth seemed to me a place of exile, and I dreamed of heaven.”
We find expression of the same or even deeper impres- sions when, on one occasion, a sudden storm filled the skies with lightning flashes. ‘‘ I turned now to the left, now to the right,” declared the little one, ‘‘ in order to lose nothing of that brilliant spectacle. I saw a thunder- bolt fall into a neighbouring meadow, and far from being terrified, I was enchanted at the sight; it seemed to me that the good God was quite near.’”?
Sometimes along the rugged paths leading to Les Buissonnets, as well as in the streets of the town, were to be met old men looking for alms. Thérése always went up to them smilingly and offered the money that her father had entrusted to her. One evening, meeting a man who was in a particularly miserable condition, she resolved to pray for him on the day of her first Holy
1 Histoire d'une Ame, ch. ii, p. 24. * Ibid., p. 25:
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Communion, for she had heard that God grants every favour demanded of Him on that day.
But it was especially at her own home that the gentle child lavished her tokens of compassion on the poor who came every Monday to Les Buissonnets. At each sound of the bell 'Thérése went to open the garden gate. Then, quickly returning to her sister, she would say: “Pauline, it is a poor old crippled man. It is a poor woman with a family of little children; one of them is an infant in arms, and the mother looks pitifully pale. What shall we give them?’ And deep was the pity visible in her eyes. She ran immediately to the men- dicants with the bread or money that had been given her, At times she came back radiant with joy. ‘‘ Pauline, that poor person said to me, ‘God will bless you, my little one.’”’
The graces consequent on union with God were visibly increasing in this ingenuous child who sought our Divine Saviour with her whole soul. ‘“‘ As I grew up,” she declares, ‘I loved the good God more and more, and I frequently made Him the offering of my heart, using the words mama had taught me.’ I strove to please Jesus in all my actions, and I guarded with great care against ever offending Him.’’?
She strove no less to make those around her avoid the smallest faults. The servant, by way of fun, one day
let slip in her presence some little untruths. ‘‘ You know well, Victoire,’ she said, ‘‘ that this offends the good God.”
In this child of five years certain remarkable traits wete already present, which some theologians have attributed to mystic intuition.
All have especially remarked the impression which
1 These words ran as follows: ‘‘ My God, I give Thee my heart; may it please Thee to accept it, so that no creature can take possession of it but Thou alone, my good Jesus !”’
2 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ii, p. 26.
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she received when returning in the evening with her father from M. Guérin’s house. ‘‘I well recall,’ she says, “that I watched the stars with inexpressible rapture. ... I noticed with especial delight one group of golden pearls (the belt of Orion) in the vast firmament, finding that they formed a ‘IT’, and I would say to my dear father as we walked along: ‘ See, papa, my name is written in heaven!’ Then, unwilling to look any longer on this miserable earth, I would ask him to lead me, and, heedless where I trod, would turn my little face upwards, never -tired of contemplating the starry skies.””*
Childish perhaps this trait may be called, but place it side by side with the statement which 'Thérése was later to make: ‘“‘ The certitude of one day leaving this land of darkness far behind had been given me from my infancy. I did not merely believe this because of what I had heard from others, but I felt even then in my heart by intimate and certain inspiration, that another land, a more beautiful country, would one day be my lasting dwelling-place, just as the geniusof Christopher Columbus inspired him with a presentiment of the New World.’”?
While waiting to call her into solitude to speak more intimately to her heart, God revealed himself to her in the mirror of sensible objects. In this way her walks through the sunlit countryside, which seemed to have no other purpose than to serve as a distraction for Thérése and to fill her soul with joy, had their invisible and sublime profit.
On her return from her walk, the little one set herself to write out the exercises set by Pauline in the morning. She then passed the remainder of the day in frolicking around her father when she did not go with him to the “ Belvedere,” to contemplate once more the tranquil ex- panse of the blue firmament, where she could already read secrets so sublime.
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ii, p. 30. S1bid., ch. ix pt 20.
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The Christian formation of the child was continued in the evening when the family were gathered around a sparkling fire in the dining-room, where even today are the massive round table and austere-looking oak chairs which were silent witnesses of Thérése’s early years.
After an animated game of draughts, Marie or Pauline would take the Liturgical Year of Dom Guéranger and read some pages relative to the ecclesiastical season or an approaching feast. ‘They then passed on to some other attractive and instructive reading, so that both soul and mind had each their special nourishment.
Seated on her father’s knees, “‘ little Thérése °’ listened attentively but quietly to everything, and when the reading was finished, M. Martin, with his fine voice, would sing some melodious refrain as though to lull her to sleep.
Then all went upstairs for night prayers, and Thérése, on her knees beside her father, ‘‘ had but to look at him to realize how the saints pray.”
Once in bed, the little one invariably asked Pauline, as formerly she had asked her mother: ‘‘ Have I been good today? Is the good God pleased with me? Will the little angels come to hover round me?” The reply was always ‘“‘ Yes’; otherwise Thérése would have passed the night in tears.
Evenings such as these presented scenes more angelic than earthly ; but sweeter still was the supernatural charm of Sundays and feast-days.
Sunday, what a day of gladness for Thérése! It was not merely the day of rest, the weekly holiday. Rather was it the splendour of the ceremonies under the solemn arches of the cathedral whose clear-cut linés and sober decoration presented a chef d’awuvre of harmonious simplicity. Above all, it was the vision of Jesus in the Sacred Host.
At the appointed hour, the whole family went to the High Mass and took their places in one of the chapels
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at the Epistle side. This chapel being far from the pulpit, it was necessary to change their place during the sermon so as not to be deprived of the word of God. Each Sunday, then, might be seen a white-haired man holding by the hand a child of wondrously sweet coun- tenance coming down the nave in search of a favourable position, while her uncle, M. Guérin, seated in his church- warden’s pew, looked on, happy, as he said himself, to see his “‘ little ray of sunshine ”’ appear.
Thérése listened attentively to the sermon, endeavour- ing to follow the preacher. A sermon on the Passion of our Lord was the first she understood, and she was vividly impressed. Her age was then five and a half years. From that time onward she was able to grasp and appreciate the meaning of all the instructions.
The enchantment of sacred music and divine ceremony extended ordinarily to Compline. Asthe evening shadows spread through the old church, Thérése reflected sadly that this celestial dav was soon to end, and the morrow would bring its monotonous train of work once more. Then she dreamed of a never-ending Sunday, when the music of heaven’s choirs would continue without in- terruption. Everything seemed to raise her thoughts more and more above the things of earth, and by reason of a special grace, bring her into contact with supernatural reality.
Sometimes, Sunday evening was spent with the Guérin family, where each of the five sisters was received in turn. When Thérése came Mme Guérin and the two cousins redoubled their attentions, making special efforts to give her pleasure, the more so because they feared that the little one would be made to feel ill at ease by her uncle’s serious conversation.
But the precocious development of Thérése had not been taken into account. Not only was she not wearied, but she listened with unsuspected eagerness to the grave and instructive remarks of M. Guérin. Her joy was
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mingled with a slight feeling of fear, when, to amuse her, M. Guérin seated her on his knee and sang “‘ Barbe-Bleue”’ for her in a stentorian voice.
Above even the happiness of Sunday the “ Little Queen ”’ loved the gladness of the principal feasts. She welcomed every succeeding holyday with redoubled fervour, for Pauline had taken care to explain to her the mystery commemorated on each festival. Especially when the time for Blessed Sacrament processions drew near did the soul of Thérése thrill with exultation. Other children, it is true, are delighted with the sight of splendid banners which reflect the azure sky, of white veils, of beautiful lace and golden copes, all ranged in splendour around the wayside altars on the Feast of Corpus Christi. But none of these imposing or beautiful objects could fully charm Thérése. Far higher went her admiration, her homage, and more especially her loving prayers. If she was happy in taking her place in the procession, among the little flower-girls carrying baskets laden with bright-tinted petals, her graceful costume or the kindness of her amiable companions counted for nothing in her joy. ‘“‘ What happiness,” she writes, ‘‘ to strew flowers in the path of the good God! But before letting them fall I threw them high in the air, and was never so happy as when I saw my rose petals touch the sacred Mon- strance.”’!
In-her devotion to the Blessed Virgin she gives evidence of the same tender love. The little child of five was thought too young to assist every evening at the May devotions. Butthat makes no difference. She will have a chest of drawers in her elder sisters’ room converted into a Madonna altar, with its tiny flower vases and its illumination consisting of wax vestas to serve as candles. Victoire, the devoted servant, will alone form the congre- gation at these ceremonies, of which the principal exercise will be the recitation in common of the Memorare.
1 Histoire d’une Ame. ch. ii, p. 28,
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Although the family scarcely held communication with anyone beyond its own circle, yet the virtues of little Thérése Martin began to attract attention.
An old lady who had often met her at the church, and who had remarked the ecstatic expression of her coun- tenance in presence of the Blessed Sacrament during the processions, said to one of her neighbours: “‘ That little one is an angel. I shall be greatly surprised if she lives long; but if she lives, you will find that she will be spoken of later on as a saint.”
A woman who came to work at Les Buissonnets one day insistently pleaded to be allowed to cut off a lock of the child’s hair, and carried it away as a treasure.
Whenever she accompanied her sisters in their walks through the town the passers-by turned and gazed as if fascinated, not by her physical grace, though this too was striking, but by a supernatural charm which seemed to radiate from her.
Withal, Thérése, who, more evidently from this time onward, lived in the continual presence of God, had nothing in common with those timorous devotees who, according to St ‘Teresa of Avila, ‘‘ do not dare to stir for fear their devotion should fly away.”
She remained full of eagerness for games suited to her age, and the weekly holiday on Thursday was always heartily welcomed as permitting her to resume her old sports with Céline. ‘They gambolled around the flower- beds in the garden, they entered into competitions of skill in arranging bouquets, then Céline would start class with her dolls.
Having but small attraction for dressing dolls, Thérése willingly entrusted hers to Céline, who, having ranged them in good order beside her own collection, gave her little regiment a course of morals or orthography. ‘Thérése greeted these tirades with peals of laughter; but she applauded still more when Céline, wishing to reward one of her speechless pupils, brought her to her sister, saying
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_ to the privileged one: ‘‘ My dear child, go and kiss your aunt.”
It was but proper that in this predestined life the simple and artless amusements of infancy should play their part. While giving herself daily more and more to Jesus, this little saint of five years had her hours of exuberance, with all the freshness and charm of early childhood.
Little Thérése had learned from Pauline that the sacraments are the principal channels whereby Jesus gives Himself to souls. She longed ardently to receive nourishment from the Divine Host which she had seen shining in the golden Monstrance. The practice then in vogue prevented her from approaching the Sacred Table for yet a long time; but knowing that the sacrament of Penance must be received in preparation for Holy Communion, she asked to be allowed at least to go to Confession as soon as possible. She was granted this privilege at the age of six. What was this child to tell the priest, this candid soul which had never from the age of three refused anything to Jesus ? In her examina- tion of conscience she had recourse to Pauline, who told her that she was about to speak to our Divine Saviour Himself in the person of the priest. So convinced was Thérése of this truth, that she asked whether she should not in consequence say to her confessor that ‘“‘ she loved him with all her heart.”
The confessor before whom she presented herself was the Abbé Ducellier, then parish priest of Saint Pierre, who, at the time of his death in 1917, was arch-priest of the same parish. He was an ecclesiastic of grave de- meanour, little inclined to confidences. With all this he could not but be moved by the exceptional candour of this angelic soul. After having heard her confession, wherein he found great difficulty in discerning real faults, he exhorted her with fervent words to imitate the Queen
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of Virgins. Then, in conformity with the practice of the time, he gave her simply a blessing.
Thérése was so small that she had to stand in the confessional. She succeeded, however, in passing her rosary through the grating to have it blessed, and came out radiant with happiness. It was dark outside, and Thérése stopped beneath a street lamp and examined curiously the rosary that had just been given back to her.
‘“‘ What are you looking at, Thérése ?”’ asked Pauline.
‘“‘ | want to see what a blessed rosary is like,” she said.
From that time onward she sought more than ever to please Jesus, in order to prepare for him in her soul a choice dwelling for the day when it would please him to come there in his corporeal presence.
She was seven years of age when the time came for Céline, then a day-boarder at the Benedictine Abbey, to prepare for her first Holy Communion. During the intervals of school-hours, Pauline undertook her remote preparation. ‘Thérése was admitted to the first instruc- tions, and she listened, eager to prepare her soul already for the great day which she had wished to bring nearer. She was told later that, on account of being too young, she must cease attending, and she remained away with a heavy heart, for it seemed to her that four years would ee too much to spend in preparation to receive her
od.
Obliged thus to fall back sometimes on her own thoughts, she restrained with difficulty her longing to receive the Holy of Holies. She conceived the idea of asking her sisters whether she could not join them secretly when they were to have the happiness of receiving Holy Communion. One Christmas Eve, before midnight Mass, she said to Marie: “‘ Oh, if you would only bring me with you tonight! ... This is what I would do, so that I, too, might receive the good Jesus. I would slip in amongst the others, quite near to you; I am so small that no one would notice me.’’ Her eyes shone
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with her desire, and she went away sadly when told that such a thing could not be thought of.
The Guérin family liked spending a holiday at Trouville during the fine season. Thérése was nearly six when in August, 1878, she went to join them there, accompanied by her father and sisters.
It was her first sight of the sea, and, susceptible as always to things sublime in which she discerned the image of God, she gazed enraptured, her eyes full of fervent and ingenuous admiration.
Passers-by were not slow to notice this tall man with snow-white hair framing a face still young, holding by the hand a child whose sweet and clear countenance, long golden tresses and angelic smile, made one think of a seraphic vision. One day a lady accompanied by her husband could not refrain from saying in a low tone as they passed: “‘ What a pretty little girl!’ And she asked M. Martin if the child belonged to him.'' The father, though pleased, signed to these passers-by not to address compliments to his little daughter. But she had so well profited by Pauline’s teaching, which had long aimed at fortifying her against all vanity, that she paid no attention to the flattering remark.
Having gone on the promenade des Planches one evening, accompanied by the other members of their party, this resort was abandoned, and she ventured to the isolated point of the Roches Noires which overhang the Fetée des Anglais. ‘There again she enjoyed moments of contemplation which made her realize still more the divine presence. The following gives her own account of the impression received at that time:
1 The same impression was produced at Lisieux. A lady, a friend of the family, said one day to Thérése’s sisters: ““ How do you account for that child’s angelic expression ? One sees other children with features as well formed, but she has heaven in her eyes.”
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“‘ Just when the sun seemed to bathe itself in the vast expanse of waters, marking out before it a sparkling pathway, I sat beside Pauline on a lonely rock. I con- templated for a long time this golden pathway, which she had told me was an image of grace lighting the way for faithful souls here below. ‘Then I pictured to myself my own heart as a frail little barque with snowy white sail in the middle of this way, and I resolved never to wander away from Jesus’ sight.’’*
Thus, then, at an age when ordinarily the first rays of reason struggle through the clouds of infancy, God was gradually taking possession of this little soul already in- undated at times with supernatural light. Assuredly it was the work of Divine Providence, who in His wisdom gives His gifts to whom He will; but much was also due to the Christian family who collaborated so actively in the divine work.
We have dwelt on the part played by her mother in the formation of Thérése. Pauline, whom the little one had chosen as her “‘ new mother,” set herself especially to continue this labour of love.
She took care, as we know, that this love should be without weakness. While refraining always from un- merited reproach, she never went back on a decision once given, and never passed over in silence the slightest imperfection in her little sister. She carried this firmness to the extent of making Thérése impervious to fear by sending her in the dusk to look for a forgotten object in some dark corner.
But with these apparent severities, what devotion, what affection and common-sense she displayed; more especi- ally when there was question of instilling into the young mind some abstract truth.
One day 'Thérése asked her why it was that God did not give equal glory in heaven to all His elect; she feared
1 Histoire d’une Ame, ch. ii, p. 35.
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that the less favoured would not be truly happy. Pauline sent her for her father’s tumbler, and placing it beside Thérése’s tiny thimble, she filled both with water to the brim. She then asked the child which of the two appeared the fuller. ‘Thérése replied that they were both equally full, since neither could contain any more. “Thus,” said the ‘ little mother,’ “‘ will it be with the elect. Each will receive in accordance with his capacity, and having therefore no cause to envy the others will be in his own sphere perfectly happy.” Thérése grasped this truth immediately; the apt illustration had carried the lesson home.
Though less manifest perhaps and less clear in detail, the father’s influence was, however, far reaching. This influence was primarily exercised by example. This fervent Christian had carried with him to Lisieux his cherished practices of Alengon, and Thérése, as she grew up, became each day more capable of appreciating their meaning and merit.
During the first years M. Martin, rising early, went every morning in all weathers to six o’clock Mass, to which his daughters Marie and Pauline accompanied him. ‘They afterwards induced him to change the hour to seven o’clock. He did so with regret, for he loved to be there in company with the poor, who went to the earlier Mass, and whom he looked upon as God’s favourite children.
Mass and thanksgiving ended, they returned to their rather distant home. ‘The father walked in silence and recollection. Marie asked him one day what occupied his thoughts so completely. “‘I continue,” he said, “to commune with our Lord.”
It was natural that the charity of such a soul should extend, as formerly, beyond the family circle. Scarcely had he settled in Lisieux, when he persuaded M. Gueérin to establish, in co-operation with the clergy of St Pierre, a society for Nocturnal Adoration, and he became, as at Alencon, one of its most devoted members.
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Little Thérése saw and understood everything. She kept these precious lessons in her heart, in order to make them her rule of life. Her father had, however, other and more personal influence on his daughter.
Besides the country walks which provided numberless occasions for counsel and instruction, there were the little meetings in the ‘‘ Belvedere.” ‘Thérése often joined him there, and would it be rash to think that she owed, in part, to these intimate conversations her unflinching faith, and her maturely developed disregard for earthly things ? We can form our opinion from the following lines, the only fragment left to us of the reflections with which M. Martin loved to animate his fervour:
‘“‘ Men,” he writes, ‘‘ torment themselves with anxiety, and make as much effort to preserve their life on the eve of death as if they had yet many hundred years to live. They act similarly in regard to everything else in the world; there is nothing that they will not do in their endeavour to immortalize themselves.
“* God, however, disregards their diligence. He knows the moment, decided by him from all eternity, when these: things shall be no more.
“This divine decree does not exclude all solicitude, but only undue anxiety, and extraordinary and exaggerated precaution. Let us do what we are able and leave the rest to Providence. ‘The Abbé de Rancé was right. ‘In vain does the sea rage and foam in its wrath, in vain do the waves hurl themselves aloft and roar, in vain is the vessel tossed to and fro. If the breath of Divine Providence fills its sails it cannot be wrecked; nothing will prevent it from coming to port.””!
Written perhaps near the large windows of his “‘ Belve- dere,” from whence could be seen every day the darkness strive for mastery against the dying light of evening,
1 The above unpublished fragment is unsigned, but there are
grounds for attributing it to M. Martin: Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux.
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spreading out before the eye illuminated by faith a type of universal decay, these lines express the serene faith and tranquil hope which were ever the foundations of Thérése’s piety. She learned, too, in these intimate conversations with her father, the lesson of tender love which was to be the guiding light in her relations with her divine Master. The following is an example of the ’ outpourings of love which M. Martin borrowed from the saintly Mere Barat, and which expressed his own feelings at the foot of his crucifix. ‘‘ My well-beloved Saviour, when I first bound myself to Thy service, I did not know the happiness that comes from belonging wholly to Thee; but today I know all that Thou art to me; and, with this experience, I wish to declare that before all earthly joys I prefer the honour and happiness of serving Thee.’”
We see they were kindred souls, this fervent Christian and his little daughter who was already so decidedly drawn into the way of divine union.
It happens occasionally, by the secret ordination of Providence, that new relations are established in mysteri- ous ways between two souls, sometimes by presentiments or visions of the future, which enlighten them in their mutual way of sanctity, but which often remain un- explained for long years.
Little Thérése, at the age of six, was the recipient of a communication of this kind.
Her father sometimes went on business to Alengon. One day when he had gone there, the child had a prophetic vision, which she relates as follows:
‘My father was away on a journey, and was not due to return for some time. It was about two or three in the afternoon; the sun was shining brilliantly, and all nature was in festal array. I was standing alone at a window which overlooked the garden, my mind occupied with joyous reflections, when I saw in front of the laundry
1 Private notes: Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux.
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opposite to me a man dressed exactly like papa, equally tall, and with the same bearing, but very bent and aged. I use the word aged to describe his general appearance, for I did not see his features, as his head was covered with athick veil. He walked slowly with regular step past my little garden. Immediately a feeling of unearthly fear took possession of me, and I called out loudly with trembling voice: ‘Papa! Papa!’ But the mysterious personage did not seem to hear me; he continued his walk without even turning round, and went towards a clump of fir trees which divided the principal path in the garden. I expected to see him reappear on the other side of the trees, but the prophetic vision had vanished.
“The whole thing had taken place in a moment, a moment so deeply graven in my memory that the im- pression is as vivid today after many years as was the vision itself.
“‘ My sisters were together in a room adjoining. Hear- ing me call papa, both experienced a feeling of fear. Hiding her emotion, Marie ran to me. ‘Why do you call papa thus, my little one, when he is at Alencon?’ I related what I had just seen, and, to set my mind at rest, they said that very likely the maid wanted to startle me and had covered her head with her apron.
“But Victoire, on being questioned, assured us that she had not left the kitchen. Besides, I could not banish the truth from my mind: I had seen a man, and that man resembled my father absolutely. Then we all went to look behind the clump of trees, and, finding nothing, they told me to think no more about it.
“Think no more about it! Ah, that was beyond my power. Often and often did my imagination bring up before me the mysterious vision. Often I endeavoured to lift the veil which hid from me its meaning, and deep down in my heart I held the conviction that it would one day be fully revealed to me.””!
1 Histoire d'une Ame, ch, ii, p. 32.
LISIEUX—-LES BUISSONNETS Q7
It was, in fact, destined to be revealed, and Thérése had little notion of the martyrdom she was then to endure. But the prophetic vision of her father “ bent and aged ” was from that time onward all the more painful to her, since, on her own avowal, she had not then the courage to dwell without terror on the thought that her “ dear king ”
could die. ' To draw her more closely to Himself, the Well-Beloved continued to detach her by means of trials from the fascination of earthly joy, and even directed her on the way of severest sacrifice.
j
CHAPTER V
THE BENEDICTINE CONVENT—STRANGE MALADY—FIRST COMMUNION—SUDDEN SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION
r [ NHE years between 1877, the date of Mme Martin’s death, and Christmas, 1886, which marked a pro- found transformation in ‘Thérése’s character,
marked, too, an epoch of trial scarcely interrupted by the
joy of her first Communion and the tender affection of her family.
These trials, as we have already mentioned in passing, form the strife through which God leads the souls of His predestined first away from sensible things, later from every other earthly attachment, on to intimate union with Himself.
Céline has delineated in remarkably precise terms the condition of her little companion at that time, a state into which, by divine permission, she fell back even after the marked development which we have described.
“'Thérése,”’ she declares, “‘ underwent (between these two dates) a period of darkness. ‘There seemed to be a veil thrown over those qualities that the Saviour had bestowed on her. . . . Inthe world she passed unnoticed. This impression of effacement was caused chiefly by her excessive timidity which made her hesitating in manner and paralysed every activity. She sometimes left herself open, it is true, to unfavourable interpretation by the fact that she hardly ever said anything in her own defence, always letting others speak. She suffered at this period from continual headaches, but her extreme sensibility
98
THE BENEDICTINE CONVENT 99
-and the delicacy of her feelings were to her the most fruitful source of pain—pain, however, which she bore uncomplainingly.
“Tt is important to note that, even during these years, she was, in spite of her apparent weakness, truly strong. This remarkable strength was shown to me by the fact that her troubles never in the least degree turned her from the path of duty. For my part, I have never discovered in her during this period instability of character, never heard a sharp word, nor noticed a falling away from virtue. She practised mortification at every moment and in the smallest things. She seemed to me to lose no opportunity of offering sacrifices to God.
“She regarded the trials of her youth as ‘the special providence of God, who wished to form her in humility. “I had all the more need of this austere formation,’ she writes, ‘ as I was not insensible to praise.’
“By reason of her extreme sensitiveness mentioned above, Thérése cried at the least thing that pained or distressed her, and when she had been consoled, she cried for having cried. She herself realized that this was great weakness, and she calls the sudden change which took place in her on Christmas night, 1886, ‘ her conversion.’ ””*
This acute sensitiveness existed in the child, as we know, from the death of her mother. Her passing sorrows were, it is true, partly assuaged by the loving atmosphere of Les Buissonnets, where every little family feast-day gave Thérése occasion for joyous expansion. But she had reached an age when the formation received at home ought to be completed by a more systematic education, and, moreover, covering a wider field. Léonie was just about to leave the Benedictine Abbey where
1 Deposition for the Apostolic process, p. 126. The fact that Thérése called her former state “ feebleness ”? and the change wrought in her on December 25, 1886, “‘ conversion ”’ must be attributed to her humility, for Céline shows above that, even during this period, her virtue never failed.
100 ST THERESE DE L’ENFANT JESUS
Céline had been admitted with her, and M. Martin being satisfied with the intellectual and moral training given at this convent, decided that Thérése should replace Léonie there, and the two youngest sisters found themselves together as day-boarders. It was to be, then, for the family only an apparent separation. Nevertheless, the entrance of Thérése into this convent school, worthy of all esteem, marks a new phase of the long trial she had suffered since 1877.
The Benedictine Abbey of Notre-Dame-du-Pré, of Saint Désir, is situated in a suburb of Lisieux at a con- siderable distance from Les Buissonnets. Founded in IOI1, it was for a long time devoted exclusively, as were the other convents of the same name, to the contemplative life; but in the seventeenth century its community began to give instruction to the young girls of the neighbourhood, and set up a boarding-school at the convent. Resuming its work after the interruption caused by the Revolution, the convent experienced during the nineteenth century periods of great prosperity. Its importance was, how- ever, diminished later on by the competition of new educational establishments.
In October, 1881, when Thérése first went there, it counted about sixty pupils from the town of Lisieux and the best families of the neighbourhood. The instruction given there was solid and rather above the ordinary. Its system of education was simple and thoroughly religious, displaying even maternal kindness. For the rest, the nuns could not avoid bringing together the daughters of the farmer class and the children whom city life had rendered more refined, whence arose a certain amount. of friction to the annoyance of the latter. On the whole, a good spirit prevailed, piety was in honour, peace and joy were the general rule.
‘ 1 From a manuscript notice on the Abbey of Notre-Dame- u-Pré.
THE BENEDICTINE CONVENT Io!I
We already know the delight that Thérése took in the beauties of nature, and what a radiant picture Les Buissonnets presented to her when she came to Lisieux. Great was the change on her entrance to the boarding- school. High grey walls ranged around in geometrical precision, faultlessly neat but somewhat austere-looking classrooms, a chapel built in Louis-Philippe’s time, inadequately compensating for plainness by its com- modious arrangements, a spacious garden, but hemmed in from any outlook—such was the retreat offered to the child