St. Theresa of the Child Jesus

While in the process of founding Central Catholic High School, Bro. Florentius put his project under the patronage of St. Theresa of Lisieux, who had just been canonized in 1925, ten years before Central opened its doors, and who was extremely popular because of the many miracles and favors attributed to her. She remains the patron of Central Catholic to this day and by her similarity to Mary, our Good Mother, serves as another contributor to Marist Spirituality. October is the Month of Mary, particularly under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary, so it is fitting that both be mentioned on this first day of October.
Marie Francoise Therese Martin was the youngest of five sisters, and as such was her father's princess, especially after her mother died. Looking back, Theresa considered herself "spoiled" but a grace received one Christmas Eve helped her mature spiritually so quickly that at age 15 she sought admission into the Carmelite Convent in Lisieux where three of her sisters were already under vows. Her short life was "hidden and unknown", and she did not consider herself anything but a ordinary Carmelite. Yet her sanctity advanced quickly in those nine years in the convent, and her canonization followed extremely fast after her death in 1897. Her motto was the dictum of St. John of the Cross, "Love is repaid by love alone." She came to realize how much love God had for her, how pleased he was with the "little way" and she returned God's love by a total gift of herself...to the Church...as patron of missionaries...and to the suffering she underwent, both from her tuburculosis and from the criticism of the other nuns in the convent. Her spirituality consists in sanctifiying the present moment, or as we would say in simple terms. asking God to make holy even the most simple tasks, like doing laundry. The "Little Way" is similar to Mary''s, and a way for all of us. May the reading and reflection on these slice of bread be made holy, and may St. Theresa serve as a model for us busy people today.
Bro. Rene