Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Doing Little Things With Great Love

St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, also known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, was a Carmelite Nun for only 9 years and died at the age of 24.  Entering the convent at the age of 15 by special permission, she found a regimen whose routine might be considered unexciting, but her approach to the routine tasks of prayer, gardening, laundering done mostly in silence except for brief periods of  recreation, fostered a way of life that is now known as "The Little Way."  What she did, even to dozing during prayer, and toward the end of her life, suffering from tuberculosis, she did with great love.  That was the secret to making what might appear "dull", fruitful and in the end, productive of sanctity. 
Most of us don't live on the cusp of exhilarating adventure, but in the rut of routine.  St. Therese's "little way" can make our day full of opportunities to grow in love if we do what we do with "great love."  Mother Teresa of Calcutta said the same thing when asked about her "futile" dealings with the dying.  It's an attitude, a giving of self and the love that matters, not the actual deed. St. Therese, whose life behind monastic walls made little impact while she was alive, but bore much fruit, and many miracles after her death.  Having never left the convent, she is the patron of missionaries, pilots, the ill and florists.  What impact can we have today, if we approach our duties, our work, our tasks with "great love"?
Bro. Rene

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