Therese of Lisieux
I want to give myself totally to Him...I want to live no longer but for Him.Collection: God
I would prefer a thousand times to receive reproofs than to give them to others.Collection: Kindness
He longs to give us a magnificent reward. He knows that suffering is the only means of preparing us to know Him as He knows Himself, and to become ourselves divine.Collection: Mean
It's true, I suffer a great deal-but do I suffer well? That is the question.Collection: Suffering
At this time I choseas friends two little girls of my own age; but how shallow are the hearts of creatures! Oneof them had to stay at home for some months; while she was away I thought about her veryoften, and on her return I showed how pleased I was. However, all I got was a glance of indifference-my friendship was not appreciated. I felt this very keenly, and I no longer soughtan affection which had proved so inconstant. Nevertheless I still love my little school friend,and continue to pray for her, for God has given me a faithful heart, and when once I love,I love for ever.Collection: Love
The science of loving, yes, that's the only kind of science I want I'd barter away everything I possess to win it.Collection: Winning
At the time of Holy Communion I sometimes picture my soul under the figure of a little child of three or four years, who at play has got its hair tossed and its clothes soiled. These misfortunes have befallen me in battling with souls. But very soon the Blessed Virgin hastens to my aid: quickly, she takes off my dirty little pinafore, smoothes my hair and adorns it with a pretty ribbon or simply with a little flower... and this suffices to render me pleasing and enables me to sit at the Banquet of Angels without blushing.Collection: Children
She is more Mother than Queen.Collection: Mother
Holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God, aware of our weakness, and confident - in the most audacious way - in His Fatherly goodness.Collection: Heart
If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.Collection: Past
In trial or difficulty I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.Collection: Mother
Love is a universe of its own, comprising all time and space.Collection: Love Is
Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.Collection: Eye
Go often to Holy Communion. Go very often! This is your one remedy.Collection: Holy
The greatest honor God can do a soul is not give it much; but to ask much of it.Collection: Giving
Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you- for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart... don't listen to the demon, laugh at him, and go without fear to receive the Jesus of peace and love.Collection: Faith
We must do everything we are obliged to do; give without reckoning, practice virtue whenever opportunity offers, constantly overcome ourselves, prove our love by all the little acts of tenderness and consideration we can muster. In a word, we must produce all the good works that lie within our strength - out of love for God.Collection: God
I want to shine like a little candle before His altar.Collection: Shining
Apart from the Office [the daily prayer of the Church] which is a daily joy, I do not have the courage to search through books for beautiful prayers. ... Unable either to say them all or to choose between them, I do as a child would who cannot read - I just say what I want to say to God, quite simply, and he never fails to understand.Collection: Beautiful
I had wondered for a long time why God had preferences and why all souls did not receive an equal amount of grace [...] Jesus saw fit to enlighten me about this mystery. He set the book of nature before me and I saw that all the flowers He has created are lovely. The splendor of the rose and whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. I realized that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wild flowers to make the meadows gay.Collection: Jesus
For me, prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glance towards heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter from the depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy.Collection: Gratitude
Let us not be justices of the peace, but angels of peace.Collection: Peace
Much later, when I understood what perfection was, I realized that to become a saint one must suffer a great deal, always seek what is best, and forget oneself. I understood that there were many kinds of of sanctity and that each soul was free to respond to the approaches of Our Lord and to do little or much for Him - in other words,to make a choice among the sacrifices He demands.Collection: Sacrifice
Look at Him while He is looking at you.Collection: Prayer
I prefer to be accused unjustly, for then I have nothing to reproach myself with, and joyfully offer this to the good Lord. Then I humble myself at the thought that I am indeed capable of doing the thing of which I have been accused.Collection: Humble
I prefer the monotony of obscure sacrifice to all ecstasies. To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.Collection: God
Never stop wanting for your magicCollection: Magic
If a little flower could speak, it seems to me that it would tell us quite simply all that God has done for it, without hiding any of its gifts. It would not, under the pretext of humility, say that it was not pretty, or that it had not a sweet scent, that the sun had withered its petals,or the storm bruised its stem, if it knew that such were not the case.Collection: Sweet
And it is the Lord, it is Jesus, Who is my judge. Therefore I will try always to think leniently of others, that He may judge me leniently, or rather not at all, since He says: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.Collection: Jesus
What offends Him and what wounds His Heart is the lack of confidence...Your heart is made to love Jesus, to love Him passionately...We have only the short moments of our life to love Jesus!Collection: God
The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.Collection: Spring
It is only love which makes us acceptable to God.Collection: God
Receive Communion often, very often...there you have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured. Jesus has not put this attraction in your heart for nothing.Collection: Jesus
How happy I am to see myself as imperfect and to be in need of God's mercy.Collection: God
Love needs to be proved by action.Collection: Needs
Prayer and sacrifice can touch souls better than words.Collection: Prayer
Trials help us detach ourselves from the earth; they make us look higher than this world.Collection: Looks
Discouragement itself is a form of pride.Collection: Faith
Sufferings gladly borne for others convert more people than sermons.Collection: People
Do not fear to tell Jesus that you love Him even without feeling it. That is the way to force Jesus to help you, to carry you like a little child too feeble to walk.Collection: God
Suffering is the very best gift He has to give us. He gives it only to His chosen friends.Collection: Giving
Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender.Collection: Faith
God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized; so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a saint.Collection: Inspire
True charity consists in putting up with all one's neighbors fault's; never being surprised by his weakness, and being inspired by the least of his virtues.Collection: Suffering
When one loves, one does not calculate.Collection: Love
When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens,I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth.Collection: Rose
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.Collection: Love
Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.Collection: Faith
It isn't enough to love; we must prove it.Collection: Life