There is in the community a sister who has the faculty of displeasing me in everything...for this Sister who gave me so many struggles, I took care to render her all the services possible...(including) my most friendly smile...One day at recreation she asked: " ...what attracts you so much toward me, every time you look at me I see you smile?" Ah! What attracted me was Jesus hidden in the depths of her soul...

St. Therese of Lisieux
Story of a Soul pp 222/223

I should desolate for having slept (for seven years) during my hours of prayer and my thanksgiving after Holy Communion; well, I am not desolate. I remember that little children are as pleasing to their parents when they are asleep as well as when they are wide awake...I remember that:"The Lord knows our weakness, that He is mindful that we are but dust and ashes." [ed: I believe this quote is from Psalm 103]

St. Therese of Lisieux
Story of a Soul p 165

Just as a torrent, throwing itself impetuously into the ocean, drags after it everything it encounters in its passage, in the same way, O Jesus, the soul who plunges into the shoreless ocean of Your Love, draws with it all the treasures it possesses.

St. Therese
Story of a Soul p 254

Your little bird...wants to be fascinated by Your divine glance. It wants to become the prey of your love. One day I hope that...you will plunge it for all eternity into the burning Abyss of this Love to which it has offered itself as a victim.

St. Therese of Lisieux
SS-200

These words of Isaiah...There is not beauty in Him, no comeliness etc.,"...(are)the whole foundation of my devotion to the Holy Face, or to express it better, the foundation of all my piety. I, too, have desired to be without beauty, alone in treading the winepress, unknown to everyone.

St. Therese of Lisieux

The little flower transplanted to Mount Carmel was to expand under the shadow of the cross. The tears and blood of Jesus were to be her dew, and her Sun was His adorable face veiled with tears.

St. Therese of Lisieux
Story of a Soul p 151
(the picture is actually a flower on mt. carmel)

Humility does not disturb or disquiet or agitate, however great it may be; it comes with peace, delight, and calm. . . . The pain of genuine humility doesn’t agitate or afflict the soul; rather, this humility expands it and enables it to serve God more.

—Saint Teresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection, 39:1-2

A hermit had a gift from God to cast out evil spirits.
One time he asked to learn what they feared most and what compelled them to flee.

“Perhaps it is fasting?” he asked one of them.
“We,” the evil spirit replied, “neither ever eat nor ever drink.”

“Sleepless vigils, then?”
“We do not sleep at all.”

“Flight from the world?”
“Supposedly an important thing. But we spend the greater part of our time wandering around the deserts.”

“I implore you to confess what it is that can subdue you,” insisted the elder.
The evil spirit, compelled by a supernatural force, was pressed to answer: “Humility—which we can never overcome.”


from The Ancient Fathers of the Desert: Section 1
V. Rev. Chrysostomos, trans.


(hat tip: Elizabeth Foss at her Real Learning site)