Today is a good day to start the St. Therese novena

Apart from St. Paul, the wonderful writer, St. Thérèse of Lisieux is my favorite saint. Even if I weren't Catholic, which I am, I think she would be one of my most admired people ever. I haven't read her book Story of a Soul yet, but I've come across some of her words that reveal her wisdom and highlight exactly why she's the most relevant saint today.

On her quest to glorify God, she says:

"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love."

On spirituality, she says:

"Sometimes, when I read spiritual treatises, in which perfection is shown with a thousand obstacles in the way and a host of illusions round about it, my poor little mind soon grows weary, I close the learned book, which leaves my head splitting and my heart parched, and I take the Holy Scriptures. Then all seems luminous, a single word opens up infinite horizons to my soul, perfection seems easy; I see that it is enough to realize one's nothingness, and give oneself wholly, like a child, into the arms of the good God. Leaving to great souls, great minds, the fine books I cannot understand, I rejoice to be little because 'only children, and those who are like them, will be admitted to the heavenly banquet'."

On prayer, she says:

"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward Heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy; in a word, something noble, supernatural, which enlarges my soul and unites it to God.... I have not the courage to look through books for beautiful prayers.... I do as a child who has not learned to read, I just tell our Lord all that I want and He understands."

Simple. :-)

For those who want to pray the St. Therese novena, today's a good day to begin, as many devotees would be praying with you.