THE LITTLE WAY of Thérèse the Little Flower by Samuel Bastian - HTML preview

CHAPTER III

Poverty

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n Thérèse’s view, poverty was extremely important. She gave it a first-place role in the hearts of the little ones.

INatureitselfshowsthis.Eveninrichfamilies,achildowns nothing. Everything belongs to the parents, who give what is needed. In the same way, the soul who enters the way of childhood must see herself as owning nothing.

Thérèse saw this as the surest way to never lack anything. She explained it by looking at poor families. Even there, the little child receives what he needs. But once he grows up, the father says: “Now work and provide for yourself.”

"Well, it was to avoid ever hearing that, that I never wanted to grow up. I felt myself incapable of earning my living—the eternal life of Heaven. I have never been able to do anything by myself alone. So I have always remained little, with no other occupation than gathering the flowers of love and sacrifice and offering them to the good God for his pleasure." [17]

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[17] COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

A father gives his child only what is useful at the moment. He does not hand a whole loaf of bread, but only enough to satisfy hunger. He does not give an entire wardrobe, but provides day by day. This is how God acts toward His little child.

Few souls accept this help little by little. They want to be enriched all at once. We like to store provisions for the future.

This desire shows itself in worldly life and in spiritual life. Many say: “I want to rely on God—but also on myself. I wish I could measure my progress, keep account of my good works, and see myself holding a spiritual fortune, like coins in my hand. That would give me security for tomorrow.”

But this is false notion. No security can preserve us from sin or give strength for sacrifices. Only God’s grace can do that.

And God does not give grace in advance. That is why it is called actual grace—because it is given at the moment it is needed, and must be renewed each moment. Thérèse wrote:

"Many a time have I noticed that Jesus will not give me provision for the future. He sustains me from moment to moment with nourishment that is ever new. I find it in me without knowing how it is there. I believe quite simply that it is Jesus himself, hidden in the depths of my poor little heart, who acts in me in a mysterious manner, and inspires me with all He wills me to do at the moment."

She also said: "Let us deem ourselves of the number of quite little souls whom the good God must sustain every moment."

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God wills that we ask for grace as He gives it—day by day—so we remain dependent and turn to Him continually. Jesus taught us to pray not for bread for the year, but for each day: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

This is how Thérèse prayed:

"What matters it to me, Lord, if the future is dark may be—

To pray to you for the morrow, ah, no, not my way.

You keep my heart pure, let your shadow cover me Only for this one day." [18]

In this way, the soul practices poverty even while loaded with graces and bent under the treasures from Heaven.

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All gifts placed in the child’s hands remain God’s treasures. He alone is their Master and may take them back whenever He wills.

This is true of supernatural graces and virtues, and also of natural blessings like health, intelligence, work, or position.

The truly poor soul stays free from attachment, receiving and surrendering with equal trust.

Near the end of her life, Thérèse wrote: "I have received the grace to be no more attached to the goods of mind and heart than to those of the earth."

Job gave a great example of surrender: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away… blessed be the name of the Lord." ( Job 1:21)[19]

Thérèse prayed even more tenderly to her heaven Mother:

"All that he has given me may Jesus take back again.

O tell him never must he feel, in anything, constrained with me…"

Job accepted God’s will with resignation. Thérèse went further.

She wanted Jesus to feel free to take back everything, without hesitation, following only His pleasure.

[18] STORY OF A SOUL: CH 8, ‘MY SONG FOR TODAY

[19] STORY OF A SOUL: CH 10,

Here we see the delicacy of her childlike heart.

Little souls, if you aspire to spiritual childhood, let your Father enrich you at one moment and seem to strip you at another. Cling to nothing more than you cling to Him. May His will be dearer to you than His gifts.

Then you will be truly poor in spirit—poor in appearance, but rich in reality.

You will be like the child who looks at his mother with the same love whether she dresses him in holiday clothes or takes them off. He loves not the gift, but the hand that gives or takes. He feels loved, and that is enough.

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Thérèse said of humility that even in old age one can remain little. She said the same of poverty: "As for me, if I live to be eighty, I shall always be just as poor. I don’t know how to save up; everything I have I spend immediately to purchase souls."

[20]

But what will remain at the end of life to purchase Heaven? She answered with childlike confidence: "I shall have no works of my own. Well, the good God will reward me according to his own works."

She wanted to appear before God with empty hands, not to teach that good works are useless, but to show her trust. Her life was full of virtue. She never missed a chance to practice it. But she did not store merit for herself. She offered everything to Jesus for souls.

She called this “playing” at the bank of love. It was not laziness, but wisdom. Knowing God’s Heart, she trusted His investment.

[20] COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

Her hope was not profit. It was confidence. She believed that at her last hour, Jesus, seeing her come with empty hands after spending everything for souls, would Himself be her holiness.

He would clothe her with His merits and make her holy forever.

She wanted nothing but God Himself.

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Because of this, she did not worry about riches. Her treasure was already safe in her Father’s hands. To obtain it, she only needed to love Him and trust Him completely.

Poverty and humility walk side by side in the Little Way.

Perfection here is not in growing greater, but in becoming smaller; not in wealth, but in poverty. We must accept being poor and weak—and better still, we must love being so until death.

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