← [[f2-c-07|The Trial of Faith — Her Dark Night of the Soul]] | [[formation-II-c-handbook-toc|Table of Contents]] | [[f2-c-09|Those Whom You Have Given Me — Final Hours (Part I)]] → # Charity — Manuscript C, Chapter X **Explanatory note:** Charity, which is the very life of God, came to perfection in Thérèse during her night of faith. Without the support of the living faith, Thérèse chose to love her sisters in the community with what she called “unfelt love,” which is love that arises from the will alone. It was during her last years of life, while her body was consumed by tuberculosis that she volunteered to work with Sr. Marie of St. Joseph in the linen room. At the lowest point in her life, Thérèse was given the strength to freely love the most difficult person in her community. “This year, dear Mother, God has given me the grace to understand what charity is; I understood it before…but in an imperfect way” (see The Context of Holiness, pg. 137). As it was with other manuscripts, Thérèse quoted a wide array of Bible verses to teach about charity. She paid particular attention to the New Testament, and the appropriate quotations simply flowed from her pen with amazing clarity. **Required Reading:** Story of a Soul, chapter X, pg. 342-354 Additional reading: commentary on pages 355-371; OCDS Constitutions, 24a-24e Fraternal Communion # Essential Points to Discuss • Thérèse was impressed by the new commandment of Jesus. “... ‘A new commandment I give that you love one another: THAT AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’” (pg. 343). • Thérèse knew that she was not capable of showing such an intensity of love. However, since her discovery of her “little way” she allowed Jesus to act in her. “Ah! Lord, I know you don’t command the impossible. You know better than I do my weakness and imperfection; You know very well that never would I be able to love my Sisters as You love them, unless You, O my Jesus, loved them in me… Yes, I feel it, when I am charitable, it is Jesus alone who is acting in me, and the more united I am to Him, the more also do I love my Sisters” (pg. 344). • “Dear Mother, when meditating upon these words of Jesus… I understand now that charity consists in bearing with the faults of others, in not being surprised at their weakness, in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue we see them practice. But I understood above all that charity must not remain hidden in the bottom of the heart. Jesus has said: ‘No one lights a lamp and puts it under the bushel basket, but upon the lampstand, so as to give light to ALL in the house. It seems to me that this lamp represents charity which must enlighten and rejoice not only those who are dearest to us but ‘ALL who are in the house’ without distinction” (pg. 343-344). “In this house…all must be friends, all must be loved, all must be held dear, all must be helped” (St. Teresa, The Way of Perfection, 4:7). 36 • Recalling an incident (bringing a Christmas tree through the convent gate), Thérèse deliberately took time to give another sister the opportunity to get up first and assist the other sister. However, the nun who asked for help noticed Thérèse and said, “‘Ah! I thought as such, that you were not going to gain this pearl for your crown, you were going too slowly. ’ Certainly, the whole community believed I had acted through selfishness... ” Thérèse wisely observes, “since one can take my little acts of virtue for imperfections, one can also be mistaken in taking for virtue what is nothing but imperfection. Then I say with St. Paul: ‘To me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by any human tribunal, but neither do I judge myself. He who judges me is THE LORD.’” (pg. 345). Side note: “This was a painful experience for Thérèse to bear, but it bore good fruit. It taught her how easy it is to misjudge the motives of others and to misconstrue even the best and purest motives of our neighbor” (pg. 365). • Thérèse took this lesson to heart: “In order that this judgment be favorable or rather that I be not judged at all, I want to be charitable in my thoughts toward others at all times, for Jesus said: ‘Judge not, and you shall not be judged’ (pg. 345). • Thérèse describes another incident where there was a Sister in her community who had the habit of displeasing her in everything. However, Thérèse reminded herself, “charity must not consist in feelings but in works” (pg. 346). She prayed for this Sister as she prayed for the people that she loved the most. Thérèse quickly realized that she wasn’t content simply praying for this Sister, but instead decided to render her all the services possible. “... when I was tempted to answer her back in a disagreeable manner, I was content with giving her my most friendly smile… for the Imitation [the Imitation of Christ III, 44:1] says: ‘It is better to leave each one in his own opinion than to enter into arguments’” (pg. 346). Thérèse continues: “Ah, what attracted me was Jesus hidden in the depths of her soul; Jesus who makes sweet what is most bitter” (pg. 347). • Another time Thérèse quickly realized (when describing the incident involving a key with another sister and waking up the Prioress from her sleep) that if she began to justify herself, she would not be able to retain the peace of her soul. “There was no bravery there, Mother, however, I believe it was much better for me not to expose myself to combat when there was certain defeat facing me” (pg. 348). Instead of defending herself, she left the place “without fuss. ” Thus, Thérèse regained her peace of mind that Jesus described: “The peace that the world cannot give” (Jn. 14:27). These are occasions to open one to deeper selfknowledge, self-surrender and transformation. Transformation does not occur just in the chapel, but always in the midst of one’s daily life. Side note: “For most people, daily life in the secular world is the place transformation in Christ is worked out. Like the Pharisee, one can be in religious life and not be transformed. So, what is it that makes the difference between the daily transformed life and the religious untransformed 37 life? It is the hidden action of the Kingdom of God that works not so much through external circumstances as through a radical change in our attitudes. This is what transformation is. It is not going on pilgrimage or entering a special state of life. It is how we live where we are and what we do with them...What Thérèse called the ‘Little Way’ is quite simply the circumstances of everyday life and what to do with them” (St. Thérèse of Lisieux: A transformation in Christ, pg. 11-12. Rev. Thomas Keating). • Self-knowledge, as taught by Teresa and John, is an important practice for one’s spiritual growth. Thérèse was able to observe in herself the progression of her spiritual outlook and thank God for guiding her soul to its maturity: “Alas! when I think of the time of my novitiate, I see how imperfect I was, I made so much fuss over such little things that it makes me laugh now. Ah! How good the Lord is in having matured my soul, and in having given it wings. … Later on, no doubt, the time in which I am now will appear filled with imperfections, but now I am astonished at nothing. I am not disturbed at seeing myself [as] weakness itself. On the contrary, it is in my weakness that I glory, and I expect each day to discover new imperfections in myself. Remembering that ‘charity covers a multitude of sins,’ (Lk. 6:32) I draw from this rich mine that Jesus has opened up before me” (pg. 348). Note: The “Little Way” of Thérèse is that holiness is not a state of perfection but a faithful striving each day with trust in God’s mercy. This is the heart of the Promise made by Secular Carmelites — “to strive.” • Thérèse, continues to discover life-changing teachings in the Gospel. “He says in St. Matthew: ‘You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ’ ‘But I say to you, love your enemies…pray for those who persecute you. ’ No doubt, we don’t have any enemies in Carmel, but there are feelings. One feels attracted to this Sister, whereas with regard to another, one would make a long detour in order to avoid meeting her. And so, without even knowing it, she becomes the subject of persecution. Well, Jesus is telling me that it is this Sister who must be loved, she must be prayed for even though her conduct would lead me to believe that she doesn’t love me: ‘If you love those who love you, what reward will you have? For even sinners love those who love them. ’ St. Luke, VI” (pg. 349). • “And it isn’t enough to love, we must prove it. We are naturally happy to offer a gift to a friend; we love especially, to give surprises; however, this is not charity, for sinners do this too. Here is what Jesus teaches me also: Give to EVERYONE who asks of you, and from HIM WHO TAKES AWAY your goods, ask no return” (pg. 349). • Thérèse further observes that charity enlarges the heart and makes one’s task easier. “Although it is difficult to give to one who asks, it is even more so to allow one to take what belongs to you, without asking it back. O Mother, I say it is difficult; I should have said that this seems difficult, for the yoke of the Lord is sweet and light. [However], when one accepts it, one feels its sweetness 38 immediately, and cries out with the Psalmist: ‘I have run the way of your commandments when you enlarged my heart’ [Ps. 118:32]. It is only charity that can expand my heart. ” (pg. 350). • “Ah! What peace floods the soul when she rises above natural feelings. No, there is no joy comparable to that which the truly poor in spirit experience. If such a one asks for something with detachment, and if this thing is not only refused but one tries to take away what one already has, the poor in spirit follow Jesus’ counsel: ‘If anyone take away your coat, let go your cloak also. ’ To give up one’s cloak is, it seems to me, renouncing one’s ultimate rights…When one has left his cloak, it is much easier to walk, to run and Jesus adds: ‘And whoever forces you to go one mile, go two more with him... ’ Dear Mother, I am very far from practicing what I understand, and still the desire alone I have of doing it gives me peace” (pg. 351). Point for reflection: “Ah! How contrary are the teachings of Jesus to the feelings of nature! Without the help of His grace, it would be impossible not only to put them into practice but to even understand them” (pg. 354). 39 --- **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).