← [[appendix-c-f2a|Consolation in Prayer]] | [[formation-II-a-handbook|Table of Contents]] | [[appendix-e-f2a|Fr. Saverio Cannistrà Letter to OCDS]] → # St. Thérèse's Christmas Story One of the convincing stories about St. Therese’s life was her childhood conversion at the age of fourteen. Grace intervened to change her life on Christmas day in 1886. The following year she entered the Discalced Carmelite convent. In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, she referred to this Christmas as her “conversion” (Chapter V): I was really unbearable because of my extreme touchiness; If I happened to cause anyone I loved some little trouble, instead of forgetting about it, I cried like a Magdalene and then when I began to cheer up, I’d begin to cry again for having cried. I was quite unable to correct this terrible fault. I really don’t know how I could entertain the thought of entering Carmel when I was still in the swaddling clothes of a child! God would have to work a little miracle to make me grow up in an instant, and this miracle He performed on that unforgettable Christmas day. On that luminous night, the gentle, little Child of only one hour, changed the night of my soul into rays of light. It was December 25, 1886, that I received the grace of leaving my childhood, in a word, the grace of my complete conversion. We had come back from Midnight Mass where I had the happiness of receiving the strong and powerful God. Upon arriving at Les Buissonnets, I used to love to take my shoes from the chimney-corner and examine the present in them. This old custom has given us so much joy in our youth that Celine wanted to continue treating me as a baby since I was the youngest in the family. Papa had always loved to see my happiness and listen to my cries of delight as I drew each surprise from the magic shoes, and my dear King’s gaiety increased my own happiness very much. However, Jesus desired to show me that I was to give up the defects of my childhood years. He permitted Papa, tired out after the Midnight Mass, to experience annoyance when seeing my shoes at the fireplace, and that he speak those words which pierced my heart: “Well, fortunately, this will be the last year!” I was going upstairs to remove my hat, and Celine, knowing how sensitive I was and seeing the tears already glistening in my eyes, wanted to cry too, for she loved me very much and understood my grief. She said, “Oh, Therese, don’t go downstairs; it would cause you too much grief to look at your slippers right now!” But Therese was no longer the same; Jesus has changed her heart! Forcing back my tears, I descended the stairs rapidly; controlling the poundings of my heart, I took my slippers and placed them in front of Papa, and withdrew all the objects joyfully. I had a happy appearance of a Queen. Having regained his own cheerfulness, Papa was laughing. Celine believed it was all a dream! Fortunately, it was a sweet reality; Therese had discovered once again the strength of soul which she had lost at the age of four and a half (when her mother died,) and she was to preserve it forever! On that night, Jesus made me strong and courageous, arming me with His weapons. Since that night, I have never been defeated in any combat, but rather walked from victory to victory, beginning, so to speak, “to run as a giant.” The source of my tears was dried up…The work that I have been unable to do in ten years was done by Jesus in one instant…I could say to Him like His apostles: “Master, I fished all night and caught nothing” (Lk5:5.) More merciful to me than He was to His disciples, Jesus took the net Himself, cast it, and drew it in filled with fish. He made me a fisher of souls. I experienced a great desire to work for the conversion of sinners, a desire I 49 01.24 1-24-2024 OCDS Formation II, Year A hadn’t felt so intensely before. I felt charity enter into my soul, and the need to forget myself and to please other; since then I’ve been happy! Therese’s conversion story is not simply a sentimental touch, mingled with Christmas presents and little children. Her “Christmas conversion” has deeper meaning. Her participation in God’s saving Grace - the realization that God is working within the nitty-gritty of everyday life is the lesson at the heart of her Christmas story. Thus, Therese’s Christmas story is clearly reflecting the teaching of St, John of the Cross. The knowledge and light shines so purely and simply in the intellect in such a way that frees all intelligible forms — causes darkness because it dispossesses the intellect of the customary light (see A. 1. 14:10). This is an important teaching of John’s understanding of the term, “darkness.” It is truly a “sheer grace” (for Therese) to pass through the senses to spirit “in darkness and concealment,” and to experience the “loving knowledge of God” in contemplation. St. Therese’s participation in God’s invitation amid her dark night experience - this enlightenment, and the spiritual theology that flowed from this Christmas story, transformed the Catholic Church and brought Therese the status not only of being the greatest saint of her time, but eventually being named a Doctor of the Church. --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation II Year A: The Ascent of Mount Carmel* (US National Formation Program, 2024).