JMJT 1907
I am happy to write here before God, my memories about Sr Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face and to bear witness to the heroic virtues she practiced.
I had been a nun in the Carmel for several years when I saw this child of fifteen enter. From the beginning of her religious life, despite her young age, she showed herself to be a perfect nun, her bearing was serious, religious and nevertheless very kind. I can affirm that I never saw her commit the smallest fault, the least infidelity; his life has been and still is for me, a stimulus for my perfection.
What struck me the most in her life was her humility, she never gave her opinion, unless asked, never getting involved in conversations if she was not questioned, always stepping aside, making herself small with regard to her sisters, loving to be of service. But what characterized her more was her evenness of character, no matter when or by which sister she was disturbed, one was surprised to see that it was always with that pleasant smile which was usual for her, which made his company very pleasant. Also, when the days allowed to talk together arrived, it was up to whoever could have it to talk about God, about the things of heaven, because with this soul which reflected so much purity, we would not have dared to approach other subjects.
I cannot convey the perfume of edification that Sr Thérèse of the EJ left in my memories, it is not possible to realize her fidelity, unless you have witnessed it. In support of what I say, here are a few small traits which will show how she knew how to take advantage of the smallest opportunities to practice virtue. We had a crippled sister who, in addition to being unable to walk unassisted, had deformed hands. One day, this sister at recreation asked that we kindly give her a box of matches, immediately Sr Thérèse of the EJ gets up, and always with her graceful air, goes to the place where she knew how to find some. , take a box, try if it opens easily, because she said to our good sister, it must not be too difficult to open with your poor hands! "I witnessed this scene, our poor cripple could not silence his admiration and told me about it, it corresponded perfectly to my feelings, because I was moved by it myself.
Several times I witnessed that when Sister Thérèse of the EJ was on her way to our Reverend Mother Prioress, if a Sister entered and expressed the desire to talk to our Mother, immediately, without showing any annoyance or annoyance, with her pleasant smile, she said: "My Mother, if you allow me, I will come back another time" and receiving the maternal blessing she left without even finishing what she had started.
I have again noticed her punctuality, her obedience to the general observations made by our Reverend Mother, here is an example: one day when we had been very tired washing our cloisters, our Mother said in community "-See my dear daughters, what a fatigue to wash the cloisters, I ask that when you return from the garden, you leave your clogs or clogs before entering the cloisters. I don't know how our dear Sr Thérèse of the EJ did it, but several years later, when no one was thinking about this observation, I realized that our dear sister was still faithful to it. I admit that this discovery edified me so much that I never lost the memory of it.
I have seen in several circumstances, that he was made to leave his job without telling him the reason, or that he was humiliated, his serenity was never altered, and even in these circumstances, I do not never heard him apologize.
She never complained. One day, she was asked if the shoes she wore were not too short, she simply replied "I think so." Indeed, we noticed that they were for a very small foot, she must have suffered from it and yet she hadn't shown it.
His union with God was continuous. I remember that at the beginning of her illness, being a nurse, I gave her a remedy which required a little time and it was found during prayer, I pointed it out to her and asked her if that was all right. distract? "No, she said to me, I am going to pray, this remedy cannot prevent me." I understood how this soul completely given over to God knew how to use everything so as not to lose his presence.
His trust in God was limitless. In an interview I had with her on the dispositions of my soul, I was amazed that this sister, so young, knew so well how to show me the mercy of God, quoting me passages from the psalms as easily as she would have read them in a book, wanting to persuade me that I was wrong to be in fear, insisting on the mercy of God. I did not want to surrender, however this interview did me great good, and I cannot think of it without recognizing that his way was the best, and that his confidence could only win souls.
I noticed that when she was obliged to say a few words, she spoke softly, as our regulations require us to do so as not to disturb the silence of the monastery, and this remark I like to quote to our young sisters, their showing the fidelity of this dear sister in the smallest things.
Sr Thérèse of the EJ had three of her sisters in Carmel, she never had a preference for them, even in recreation, she did not seek their company, without however affecting to flee them, she went indiscriminately with any sister, very often in recreation, the sister with whom she conversed more willingly, was the one who was alone, neglected.
This is in all sincerity what I noticed of Sr Thérèse of the EJ May she soon be placed on the altars, so that her holy life, but at the same time so simple, may be a model for all the little souls of goodwill and abandonment, for she practiced this virtue of abandonment in the highest degree.
While waiting for that day which will bring so much glory to God and good to souls, that she obtain for me the same love with which she burned for God and that my life be similar to hers.
Sr Mary of Jesus thank you
I add to what I have written that some time before her death, Sr Thérèse of the EJ wanted her Office book, her Diurnal, to be given to me for reasons of exquisite charity towards me. . So I owned it for nearly two years; Quite often, when I used it, I smelled like a sweet perfume, rather of violets, and since I returned this book, I no longer experience this scent, which confirms me in the certainty of the supernatural fact.
The little way of trust and love of Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus attracted me, and wanting to walk in her footsteps, I made the act of offering that she composed herself to merciful Love.
