← [[f2-c-03|The Grace of Christmas and a Vocation to Carmel]] | [[formation-II-c-handbook-toc|Table of Contents]] | [[f2-c-05|Entrance into Carmel — Climbing Mount Carmel]] → # Determined Determination — Pursuit of a Vocation in Carmel Required Reading: Story of A Soul, chapter VI, Determined Determination by Rudolf V. D’Souza, OCD (Appendix F), and CCC 2710 St. Teresa of Avila states unequivocally: “To those who want to journey on this road and continue until they reach the end, which is to drink from this water of life, I say that how they are to begin is important — in fact, all important. They must have a great and very determined determination to persevere until reaching the end, come what may, happen what may, whatever work is involved, whatever criticism arises, whether they arrive or whether they die on the road, or even if they don’t have courage for the trials that are met, or if the whole world collapses” (The Way of Perfection 21:2). The following explanation is essential to the overall understanding of Thérèse’s vocation: Overjoyed by her father’s consent, Thérèse was making plans for her future in Carmel and her sister Celine supported her. All her plans came up against major obstacles: Uncle Isidore, M. Delatroette (the ecclesiastical Superior of Lisieux Carmel), and the Bishop of Bayeux. Her uncle Isidore, however, changed his mind after receiving a letter from Thérèse’s sister Pauline in support of Thérèse. Her uncle was no longer the same. “Without making any allusion whatsoever to ‘human prudence,’ he told me I was a little flower God wanted to gather and he would no longer oppose it!” (pg. 167). Thérèse’s joy was short-lived. M. Delatroette would not hear of her entering before she was twenty-one. Her visit in person was a great disappointment: “Nothing would change the Superior’s attitude. He told me there wasn’t any danger in staying at home, I could lead a Carmelite life there, and if I didn’t take the discipline all was not lost, etc., etc. He ended by saying he was only the Bishop’s delegate, and if the latter wished me to enter Carmel, he himself would have nothing to say” (pg. 168). She left the rectory in tears. However, Thérèse was determined: “…I was determined to do all within my power, even saying I would go to the Holy Father if the Bishop did not want to allow me to enter at fifteen” (pg. 168). “I was growing in love for God; I felt within my heart certain aspirations unknown until then…”(pg. 168). “‘Love never finds impossibilities, because it believes everything is possible, everything is permitted.’ It was surely only love of Jesus that could help me surmount these difficulties and the ones that followed, for it pleased Him to have me buy my vocation with very great trials” (pg.172). On October 31, 1887, fourteen-year-old Thérèse put her hair up for the first time in an attempt to look older and went with her father to meet the Bishop of Bayeux. When the Bishop inquired about her vocation, Thérèse replied: “... I wanted to be a religious since the dawn of my reason, and I wanted Carmel as soon as I knew about it. I find all the aspirations of my soul are fulfilled in this Order” (pg. 174). Though the Bishop was very cordial and fatherly toward Thérèse, he had to inform her that he could not give his permission until he discussed the matter with the ecclesiastical Superior of the Lisieux Carmel (M. Delatroette). Thérèse was disappointed; but did not give up. “The more I approached the goal, the more I saw my affairs all mixed up. My soul was plunged into bitterness but into peace too, for I was seeking God’s will” (pg. 176). # Essential Points to Discuss • Thérèse continues to seek God’s will in prayer. “The choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty and in faith” (CCC 2710). • Determined determination means accepting the daily crosses without complaint. What actually strengthens the soul on its journey towards God is not hard penances but determination in growing the “interior virtues” (see Way 15:2). When the goal is set and one strives after the goal, there is no looking back. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk.9:62. For further understanding, see Determined Determination, D’Souza, OCD, Appendix F). Side note: Three days after the trip to the Bishop’s house, Thérèse and Celine joined their father on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Rome. It was organized by the Bayeux diocese to celebrate the golden jubilee of Leo XIII’s ordination to the priesthood. The pilgrimage was an excursion of the rich, a sightseeing tour sprinkled with religious overtones. The group stayed in “princely hotels” and dined in the finest restaurants; and seventy-five of the total one hundred and ninety-seven pilgrims were priests (see pg. 217). • “I crossed the city of Lisieux which was still wrapped in sleep; many impressions passed through my soul at that moment. I had a feeling I was approaching the unknown, that great things awaited me out there” (pg. 191). “The great things that waited Thérèse were not to be found in shrines or museums but in an inner healing and new found realizations” (pg. 217). a. As the pilgrims were journeying toward the intended destination, Thérèse meditated upon the excursion of the rich, princely hotels and finest restaurants: “Ah! far from dazzling us, all these titles... appeared to us as nothing but smoke… I saw that ‘all that glistens is not gold,’ and I understood the words of the Imitation [of Christ]: ‘Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name, not for acquaintance with many, nor for the particular love of individuals.’ I understood true greatness is to be found in the soul, not in a name…” (pg. 190). b. The second experience was related to priests and the Carmelite vocation of prayer. “Having never lived close to them, I was not able to understand the principal aim of the Reform of Carmel. To pray for sinners attracted me, but to pray for the souls of priests whom I believed to be pure as crystal seemed puzzling to me!” (pg. 190). The future Carmelite was about to make an important discovery: “I lived in the company of many saintly priests for a month and I learned that, though their dignity raises them above the angels, they are 22 nevertheless weak and fragile men… [and] in extreme need of prayers!” (pg. 190). “How beautiful is the vocation, O Mother… the sole purpose of our prayers and sacrifices is to be the apostle of the apostles” (pg. 191). • Thérèse’s main purpose for going to Rome was to obtain permission from Pope Leo XIII to enter Carmel at the age of fifteen. But much to her disappointment, all she received from him was the encouragement to practice obedience and faith: “Well, my child…do what the Superiors tell you!...” Thérèse made one more attempt and the Holy Father responded by saying: “Go…go…You will enter if God wills it” (pg. 205). Bitterness filled her soul, but Thérèse was also at peace with herself because she knew that she had done everything God had asked her to do. • In pondering the incident later, Thérèse realized that the Holy Father spoke in a prophetic way. God’s will cannot be stopped by anyone; not even those who have much authority. A letter from the prioress of Carmel informed Thérèse that the Bishop had approved her entrance into Carmel. Thérèse was delighted to hear the good news: “But after the trial, what a reward! The water was changed into wine…Lazarus was raised from the dead! Thus Jesus acted toward His little Thérèse: after having tried her for a long time, He granted all the desires of her heart” (pg. 214). • Thérèse was disappointed when her entrance to Carmel was delayed until the end of Lent. However, she did not waste her time lamenting over her misfortune. True to her character, Thérèse embraced these interruptions as opportunities to grow in virtue: “…soon I understood the value of the time I was offered. I made a resolution to give myself up more than ever to a serious and mortified life. When I say mortified, this is not to give the impression that I performed acts of penance. Alas, I never made any. Far from resembling beautiful souls who practiced every kind of mortification from their childhood, I had no attraction for this… My mortifications consisted in breaking my will, always so ready to impose itself on others, in holding back a reply, in rendering little services without any recognition, in not leaning my back against a support when seated, etc., etc. It was through the practice of these nothings that I prepared myself to become a fiancée of Jesus” (pg. 215-216). • Early in her life, Thérèse was graced with the cardinal virtue of prudence to direct her life in accordance with God’s will. “A Virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions. The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God” (CCC. 1803). “Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; ‘the prudent man looks where he is going’ (Prov 14:15) ‘Keep sane and sober for your prayers’ (1 Pt 4:7). Prudence is 23 ‘right reason in action.’ (Aquinas)... It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience” (CCC. 1806). **private reflection**: During the various times when Thérèse’s plans were frustrated, she did not put her life on hold, but rather embraced these interruptions as opportunities to grow in virtue. In your life, where are you faced with similar opportunities? (pg. 256). --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation II Year C: Story of a Soul (The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux)* (US National Formation Program, 2024).