Michael St. Pierre

October 1, 2021

The Little Flower’s Recipe for a Quiet Life

Today, October 1 is the memorial of The Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux. While I still contend that St. Francis de Sales is the “patron saint of The Quiet Life” due to his insistence on the avoidance of rushing, Therese may also be a member of the TQL team.

This diminutive Carmelite nun changed the world through her “little way”, promoting the sanctification of even the smallest aspects of everyday life. Her autobiography has become a spiritual classic.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of teaching a class for aspiring deacons. Their reaction to Therese was mixed. Some found her to be flaky. Others loved her style. All respected her approach to life.

One of Therese’s strategies for godly living was simplification, inspiring her to write this brief prayer:

“Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be and becoming that person.”

In another spot she writes, “Holiness consists simply in doing God's will, and being just what God wants us to be.”

It’s good to be simple. In fact, it’s a beautiful quality of The Quiet Life. St. Therese, pray for us!