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Saint Thérèse, a model of apostolic zeal

Here are extracts from Pope Francis’ general audi-
ence in St. Peter’s Square on June 7, 2023, when he
cited Saint Thérèse of Lisieux as a model of apostolic
zeal:
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning! Here
before us are the relics of Saint Thérèse of the Child
Jesus, universal patroness of missions. It is good that
this is happening as we reflect on the passion for evan-
gelization, on apostolic zeal. Today, then, let us allow
the witness of Saint Thérèse to help us. She was born
150 years ago, and I plan to dedicate an Apostolic Let-
ter to her on this anniversary. (See page 27.)
She is patroness of the missions, but she never
went on mission. How do we explain this? She was a
Carmelite nun who lived her life according to the way The Pope recollects before the relics of Saint Thérèse
of littleness and weakness: she defined herself as “a began to feel that “charity entered her heart, with the
small grain of sand”. Having poor health, she died at need to forget herself” (cf. Manuscript A, 133-134).
the age of only 24. But though her body was sickly, her From then on, she directed her zeal toward others,
heart was vibrant; it was missionary. She recounts in so that they might find God, and, instead of seeking
her “diary” that her desire was to be a missionary, and consolations for herself, she set out to “console Jesus,
that she wanted to be one, not just for a few years, but [to] make him loved by souls”, because, as Thérèse,
for the rest of her life, even until the end of the world. noted, “Jesus is sick with love and [...] the sickness of
Thérèse was a “spiritual sister” to several mission- love cannot be cured except by love. This then was her
aries. She accompanied them from her monastery with daily resolution: to “make Jesus loved”, to intercede
her letters, with her prayer, and by offering continuous so that others would love him. She wrote, “I want to
sacrifices for them. Without being visible, she inter- save souls and forget myself for them: I want to save
ceded for the missions, like an engine that, although them even after my death” (Letter to Fr. Roullan, 19
hidden, gives a vehicle the power to move forward. March 1897). Several times she said, “I will spend my
However, she was often not understood by her fellow heaven doing good on earth”. This is the first episode
nuns: she received “more thorns than roses” from that changed her life at 14.
them, but she accepted everything lovingly, patiently, Brothers and sisters, such is the power of interces-
offering even these judgments and misunderstandings sion moved by charity; such is the engine of mission!
together with her illness. And she did this joyfully, for Missionaries, in fact — of whom Thérèse is patroness
the needs of the Church, so that, as she said, “roses — are not only those who travel long distances, learn
might fall on everyone”, especially the most distant. new languages, do good works, and are good at proc-
But now, I ask myself, we can ask ourselves, where lamation; no, a missionary is also anyone who lives
did all this zeal, this missionary strength, and this joy as an instrument of God’s love where they are. Mis-
of interceding come from? One episode that occurred sionaries are those who do everything so that, through
before Thérèse entered the monastery helps us to their witness, their prayer, their intercession, Jesus
understand this. It concerns the day that changed her might pass by.
life, Christmas 1886, when God worked a miracle in her This is the apostolic zeal that, let us always re-
heart. Shortly after that, Thérèse would turn 14 years old. member, never works by proselytism — never — or
As the youngest child, she was pampered by everyone constraint, — never — but by attraction. Faith is born
at home, but she was not raised badly. After returning by attraction. One does not become Christian because
from midnight Mass, however, her very tired father did they are forced by someone, but because they have
not feel like being there when his daughter opened her been touched by love. More than having many avail-
gifts, and said, “Good thing it’s the last year!” Thérèse, able means, methods, and structures, which some-
who was very sensitive and easily moved to tears, was times distract from what is essential, the Church needs
hurt, and went up to her room and cried. But she quickly hearts like Thérèse’s, hearts that draw people to love
suppressed her tears, went downstairs and, full of joy, and bring people closer to God. And let us ask the
she was the one who cheered her father. saint — we have her relics here — let us ask the saint
What had happened? On that night, when Jesus for the grace to overcome our selfishness and let us
had made himself weak out of love, she had become ask for the passion to intercede so that this attraction
strong in spirit: in just a few moments, she had come can be greater in people and so that Jesus might be
out of the prison of her selfishness and self-pity; she known and loved. v

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