the Carmel
Therese's correspondence LT 143 – To Celine – July 18, 1893

DE  
MARTIN Thérèse, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus
À 
MARTIN Céline, Sister Geneviève of the Holy Face

18/07/1893

JMJT

Jesus

In Carmel on July 18, 1893

                My dear Celine,

                I did not intend to reply to your letter this time, but Our Mother wants me to add a note to hers. How many things I would have to tell you! But since I only have a few moments I must first assure the little dewdrop that her Therese understands her... After reading your letter I went to prayer, taking the Gospel I asked It's up to Jesus to find a passage for you and here is what I drew: "Consider the fig tree and the other trees, when they begin to have tender leaves you judge that summer is near, likewise when you see the arrival of these things, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.” I closed the book, I had read enough of it, indeed "these things" which happen in the soul of my Céline prove that the kingdom of Jesus is established in her soul... Now I want to tell you what what is happening in my own soul, no doubt it is the same thing as in yours. You are telling the truth, Céline, the cool mornings are over for us, there are no more flowers left to pick, Jesus took them for Himself; Maybe one day new ones will hatch, but in the meantime, what should we do? Céline, the good Lord no longer asks me for anything... in the beginning he asked me an infinity of things. I thought for some time that now, since Jesus was not asking anything, I had to go slowly in peace and love, doing only what He asked of me... But I had a light. St Thérèse says that love must be nurtured. The wood is not within our reach when we are in darkness, in droughts, but at least we are not obliged to throw small straws into it? Jesus is powerful enough to maintain the fire alone, however he is happy to see us put a little food in it, it is a delicacy that pleases him and so he throws a lot of wood into the fire, we do not see it not but we feel the strength of the warmth of love. I have experienced it when I feel nothing, that I am unable to pray, to practice virtue, then it is time to look for small opportunities, nothings that give pleasure, more pleasure to Jesus than the empire of the world or even that the martyrdom suffered generously, for example a smile, a kind word, when I would like to say nothing or to look bored, etc., etc.
                My darling Celine, do you understand? It's not to make my crown, to gain merits, it's to please Jesus... When I don't have opportunities I want at least to tell him often that I love him, is not difficult and it keeps the fire going, even if it seems to me that it is extinguished, this fire of love, I would like to throw something into it and Jesus would know how to rekindle it. Celine, I'm afraid I didn't say the right thing, maybe you'll think I always do what I say, oh no! I am not always faithful, but I never get discouraged, I abandon myself in the arms of Jesus. The little dewdrop sinks further into the chalice of the Flower of the Fields and there it finds everything it lost and more.

Your little Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face rel.carm.ind.

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