Call number
242.1 THE
Status
Available
Call number
Other editions
Pages
300
Description
Pope Benedict XVI Encourages Reading "Story of a Soul" The Story of a Soul conveys St Therese of Liseux's "Little Way" of spiritual childhood - her "elevator" to Heaven, as she called it. This method was approved by Pope Pius XI as a way for all to grow in holiness through unfailing confidence and childlike delight in God's merciful love. Again and again in this book, St. Therese shows us how her "Little Way" of love and trust comes straight from Sacred Scripture. This book belongs in every Catholic home, for Pope St Pius X stated St. Therese of Liseux the "greatest Saint of modern times". This is the original TAN edition now with updated typesetting, fresh new cover, new size and quality binding, and the same trusted content.
Publication
Paraclete Press (2006), Edition: Unabridged, 300 pages
Original publication date
1899 (French)
1951 (English)
ISBN
1557254877 / 9781557254870
Subjects
User reviews
LibraryThing member JDHomrighausen
Like many of the autobiographies of great Catholic saints, Therese never intended the short manuscripts she wrote for her sisters in Carmel to be collected and published. Consequently, she writes in an entirely unpolished style, with none of the artifice or poetry of her predecessor John of the
Therese's life story is short: she is born into a large, middle-class French family, her mom dies when she is a small girl, she and her remaining sisters (five girls total, no boys) move to the small country town of Lisieux. She was a shy girl who experienced bouts of loneliness and emotional turbulence as a result of the grief caused by her mom's death. She had few friends at school, and almost all of her socialization came from time spent with siblings. So we can imagine her sorrow when Marie and Pauline join the Carmelites, a cloistered order, effectively ending their ability to spend time together.
Therese, following a call she felt since two, attempted to join the convent at 14, and was told she was not old enough by the superior and the bishop. Even visiting the pope himself did not further her cause. Eventually the bishop gave in, and at 16 she became a nun. Eventually her younger sister would follow, and the fifth girl would also be a nun. (Her father's loneliness at losing both his wife and five daughters made him mentally ill and unable to take care of himself.) A very precocious girl, it seemed Therese did everything early, so sadly and fittingly she died at 25 after a painful bout with tuberculosis.
The main thing that struck me about Therese was the flowery emotionalism with which she described her relationship with God. At times this bordered on the sickeningly coy, while at other times it was refreshing to have a candid love and devotion to God. Therese grew up in the milieu of Jansenism, a form of piety popular in France that emphasized man's depravity and the need for rigorous penance. This doctrine was responsible for much of the turmoil of Therese's cloistered life. She became scrupulous, needing to confess everything and constantly focusing on her sins. Her emphasis on God's mercy and love is a credit to the openness she had to the true nature of God's grace. If it seems exaggerated that is only because of what it responds to.
Therese's "little way" has attracted millions. The "little way" is, in part, understanding as Therese did - "My vocation is LOVE" - that we need not be great apostles or missionaries or bishops to have a Godly vocation. While reflecting on scripture in the final years of her life, Therese felt despondent at not having a great calling to do any of these things. What could she, a meek little woman, cloistered in a convent, do for the glory of the Church? She came to realize that behind all these great do-ers is the vocation to love. Anyone can do this. And while Therese felt toward the end of her life that her true vocation would be through her posthumously published life story, she would smile at the irony of just how true that became.
Most of us are like Therese: little, living our Christian lives in small ways unnoticed by the world. In this way we imitate Jesus, who in his time was largely unnoticed (how many non-Christian historical sources from the first century mention Jesus?). A great book about a woman finding herself and her vocation in Christ, definitely worth reading for non-Catholics too.
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Cross. Instead, like her spiritual mother (and namesake) Teresa of Avila, she was an intelligent but less-educated woman whose personality shines through in her writing. I read this work - the work which made Therese into a saint and Doctor of the Church - in honor of her October 1 feat day.Therese's life story is short: she is born into a large, middle-class French family, her mom dies when she is a small girl, she and her remaining sisters (five girls total, no boys) move to the small country town of Lisieux. She was a shy girl who experienced bouts of loneliness and emotional turbulence as a result of the grief caused by her mom's death. She had few friends at school, and almost all of her socialization came from time spent with siblings. So we can imagine her sorrow when Marie and Pauline join the Carmelites, a cloistered order, effectively ending their ability to spend time together.
Therese, following a call she felt since two, attempted to join the convent at 14, and was told she was not old enough by the superior and the bishop. Even visiting the pope himself did not further her cause. Eventually the bishop gave in, and at 16 she became a nun. Eventually her younger sister would follow, and the fifth girl would also be a nun. (Her father's loneliness at losing both his wife and five daughters made him mentally ill and unable to take care of himself.) A very precocious girl, it seemed Therese did everything early, so sadly and fittingly she died at 25 after a painful bout with tuberculosis.
The main thing that struck me about Therese was the flowery emotionalism with which she described her relationship with God. At times this bordered on the sickeningly coy, while at other times it was refreshing to have a candid love and devotion to God. Therese grew up in the milieu of Jansenism, a form of piety popular in France that emphasized man's depravity and the need for rigorous penance. This doctrine was responsible for much of the turmoil of Therese's cloistered life. She became scrupulous, needing to confess everything and constantly focusing on her sins. Her emphasis on God's mercy and love is a credit to the openness she had to the true nature of God's grace. If it seems exaggerated that is only because of what it responds to.
Therese's "little way" has attracted millions. The "little way" is, in part, understanding as Therese did - "My vocation is LOVE" - that we need not be great apostles or missionaries or bishops to have a Godly vocation. While reflecting on scripture in the final years of her life, Therese felt despondent at not having a great calling to do any of these things. What could she, a meek little woman, cloistered in a convent, do for the glory of the Church? She came to realize that behind all these great do-ers is the vocation to love. Anyone can do this. And while Therese felt toward the end of her life that her true vocation would be through her posthumously published life story, she would smile at the irony of just how true that became.
Most of us are like Therese: little, living our Christian lives in small ways unnoticed by the world. In this way we imitate Jesus, who in his time was largely unnoticed (how many non-Christian historical sources from the first century mention Jesus?). A great book about a woman finding herself and her vocation in Christ, definitely worth reading for non-Catholics too.
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LibraryThing member sarah-e
"I sit, as it were, and cast my fishing line at random into the little stream flowing through my heart. Then I offer you my tiny fish just as they are caught."
Therese's entire story is as lovely as this little metaphor she offered to describe her writing style. While I am not Catholic or
Therese's entire story is as lovely as this little metaphor she offered to describe her writing style. While I am not Catholic or
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particularly religious, Therese still touched my heart in a profound way. Therese's faith is so inspiring, even amid times of spiritual dryness, that it is not at all surprising that she has become such an important figure. Therese's life could have been free of every trouble, had she not become a nun. As a Carmelite, she took suffering upon herself to show her devotion, and kept her motives secret to avoid pride. Her story has brought me to see judgment, suffering, and devotion in entirely new ways. I recommend this book to anyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member universehall
The introduction of my copy of this book states that the book is written in a very simplistic style with many grammatical errors.
In reading this book, I felt that was a very petty concern.
This is so much more than an autobiography. This is a story of heartache and sorrow and the greatest love that
Grammatical errors! I didn't see any grammatical errors. There may have been some, but the point is that I was reading I *wasn't looking at the grammar*. I was looking at the amazing story she told of her life, of her experiences, of her faith. On top of which, she weaved in amazing spiritual insights.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has a deeper desire to understand faith.
In reading this book, I felt that was a very petty concern.
This is so much more than an autobiography. This is a story of heartache and sorrow and the greatest love that
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a person can feel. A story of self-denial and faith.Grammatical errors! I didn't see any grammatical errors. There may have been some, but the point is that I was reading I *wasn't looking at the grammar*. I was looking at the amazing story she told of her life, of her experiences, of her faith. On top of which, she weaved in amazing spiritual insights.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has a deeper desire to understand faith.
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LibraryThing member readingaria
The most remarkable thing about this book is how in love St. Therese was with Christ. I picked this book up as a bit of spiritual reading in honor of Lent and meant to read for about 15 minutes a day but I often couldn't put it down!
The Story of a Soul is St. Therese of Lisiuex's autobiography. In
One of the best elements of the book is how she addresses the reader. Therese is not being a theologian who can't be understood - she addressed the book to her sister and it feels like a close friend is telling you about her childhood.
This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to grow closer to God.
The Story of a Soul is St. Therese of Lisiuex's autobiography. In
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it, she tells the story of her childhood in France before joining Carmel. This young woman was determined to enter the convent as a child and finally achieved her goal at 15. Her entire life was devoted to Jesus and trying to love Him and reading her words is an experience in itself.One of the best elements of the book is how she addresses the reader. Therese is not being a theologian who can't be understood - she addressed the book to her sister and it feels like a close friend is telling you about her childhood.
This is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to grow closer to God.
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LibraryThing member Ms.Claudia
This book is really spiritual. It covers the life of a woman who commits her life to the service of the Lord and aspires to do so at a very young age. I found it easy to read and very touching at times.
LibraryThing member SunitaDcunha
Speaks about her calling and the various strrugles she faces when answering it. Speaks about her sisters and her mum and dad who were very instrumental in bringing her close to Jesus
LibraryThing member ctpress
This autobiography by Saint Therese of Lisieux is worth reading if you want an honest insight to the life in a very strict monastery - this nun tells her story from the funny memories of childhood where her dream of becoming a nun is already formed - to her youth where she is so determined in her
On every page shines her deep devotion and piety - so focused on doing the will of God.
As a protestant I have problems with the hole idea of seclusion in a monastery - the giving up of things which in my view is only detrimental to ones spirituality. Silence, not being able to speak to eachother - and all the self-inflicting rules she tries to impose on herself. There's an unhealthy element to this calling that I just cannot understand.
But it is a strong and honest autobiography of a very determined little woman.
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pursuit of this call that nothing can stop her - not even the pope :) - well it is a hard life with many dissapointments where she is struggling all the time with her emotions and feelings of envy or lack of love for her fellow sisters - she is very hard on herself - too hard. On every page shines her deep devotion and piety - so focused on doing the will of God.
As a protestant I have problems with the hole idea of seclusion in a monastery - the giving up of things which in my view is only detrimental to ones spirituality. Silence, not being able to speak to eachother - and all the self-inflicting rules she tries to impose on herself. There's an unhealthy element to this calling that I just cannot understand.
But it is a strong and honest autobiography of a very determined little woman.
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LibraryThing member mary.kyart
If I were trapped on a deserted island, I would take this book, even if I had to choose only a few things.
LibraryThing member Mazidi
This spiritual memoir of a simple French Carmelite nun in the late 1800s is quite illuminating, even for a reader such as myself who is not Catholic. For a Catholic, I think it would be an inspiring example of ardent faith in the face of dark doubt, love and service showered on all around her,
I was raised in Texas in the early 60s, which was largely Protestant at the time. Now I have several Catholic friends, but I did not know any Catholics growing up. I remember a lot of prejudice, actually, against Catholics back then. I saw signs against Kennedy pasted on utility poles because he was Catholic and supposedly would have to take orders from the Pope. "Catholic" was something exotic, even foreign, to me just as "Muslim" may be to some people today, and I was wary of it. I grew up to marry a man from the Middle East (25 years and counting) so that remote and isolated xenophobia of my childhood is slowly disappearing from all but the smallest Texas towns. Although I have Catholic friends I honestly did not understand as much as I thought I did about Catholic belief and practice. This book was informative in that respect also. I have a fuller understanding of what communion means to a Catholic, for example, as well as the life of those in the monastery.
For me, this book was first and foremost simply fascinating: To go back in time, to get inside the very soul of a woman who lived in another time and place. First, we see her sheltered upbringing in a financially comfortable but devout family. Both of her parents had wanted to live the monastic life when they were young but were denied. As was common in their time, many of their children did not survive, but the surviving ones all became Carmelite nuns. Teresa was raised to value the life of the spirit over material interests. She was sheltered from the world as perhaps might have been common for daughters in that era. Her father did not allow her to read the newspapers, for example. Her mother died when she was 4 and she was lovingly cared for by her father, her older sisters, and a close aunt and uncle.
At a young age she wished to become a nun but was rejected because she was too young. She appealed to the local bishop, who also rejected her wish and told her that his decision could only be overruled by the Pope himself. So off they go! She and her father and one of her sisters make a pilgrimage to Rome. On the way they do stay in the finest hotels, which hold no interest for Teresa. Her descriptions of the train rides through the Swiss Alps are charming. The passengers on the train are focused on each other's company with card games and other diversions. Her focus is on the majesty of the scenery she witnesses, which speaks to her of God's power and glory. In Rome of the late 1800s she sees the dilapidated Coliseum. For the safety of tourists, no access is allowed. She and her sister rush past the barricades to touch the very earth where Christians were martyred. She had a brief audience with the Pope, he granted her request, and she entered the monastery at age 15.
Teresa died an early death at age 24 from tuberculosis. We have access to her thoughts only because her mother superior ordered her to write them down. Teresa believed in being small: a little flower that humbly reflected God's love. She acted her belief by daily and countless acts of self sacrifice and devotion to those around her. She was also a strong believer that the power of her prayers could assist priests, missionaries and others carrying out the work of the church outside the monastery walls.
This book shows that having a clear vocation in life does not necessarily make your path any easier. And yet those of us in the modern age may be tempted to envy a simpler time when choices were more clear and truth more obvious. It is a temptation we should resist. It is the temptation of a young adult wishing to be a small child again in order to avoid adult responsibility. We are collectively in the young adulthood of modernity. We have put away the childish acceptance of authority, gone through the petulant adolescence of knee-jerk rejection of tradition, and now - perhaps? - we can retain what we deem to be good from our respective traditions as we bring them into the modern age.
What lessons can one learn from Teresa? Perseverance in hardship: her death was prolonged and painful. Her life story teaches what faith means: it's not all sunshine and lollipops. She had periods of deep doubt and pulled herself through simply by her love of God. Teresa became large by being small. She felt a vocation to love in small ways. She taught by example, illuminating those around her. More than likely, we would never had heard of Teresa if she had not been ordered to write her story. Her "small" ways had a large impact on those around her, even after her death, and continues today. There are societies and churches devoted to her around the world.
This book is worth reading, if for no other reasons than for the refreshing humility and sincerity in which she explains herself, as well as the clear-sighted wisdom in which she strove to live.
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regardless of merit or personal preferences. She was declared a Saint, and later a Doctor of the Church. This "little Teresa" is not to be confused with Teresa of Avila (16th Century). I was raised in Texas in the early 60s, which was largely Protestant at the time. Now I have several Catholic friends, but I did not know any Catholics growing up. I remember a lot of prejudice, actually, against Catholics back then. I saw signs against Kennedy pasted on utility poles because he was Catholic and supposedly would have to take orders from the Pope. "Catholic" was something exotic, even foreign, to me just as "Muslim" may be to some people today, and I was wary of it. I grew up to marry a man from the Middle East (25 years and counting) so that remote and isolated xenophobia of my childhood is slowly disappearing from all but the smallest Texas towns. Although I have Catholic friends I honestly did not understand as much as I thought I did about Catholic belief and practice. This book was informative in that respect also. I have a fuller understanding of what communion means to a Catholic, for example, as well as the life of those in the monastery.
For me, this book was first and foremost simply fascinating: To go back in time, to get inside the very soul of a woman who lived in another time and place. First, we see her sheltered upbringing in a financially comfortable but devout family. Both of her parents had wanted to live the monastic life when they were young but were denied. As was common in their time, many of their children did not survive, but the surviving ones all became Carmelite nuns. Teresa was raised to value the life of the spirit over material interests. She was sheltered from the world as perhaps might have been common for daughters in that era. Her father did not allow her to read the newspapers, for example. Her mother died when she was 4 and she was lovingly cared for by her father, her older sisters, and a close aunt and uncle.
At a young age she wished to become a nun but was rejected because she was too young. She appealed to the local bishop, who also rejected her wish and told her that his decision could only be overruled by the Pope himself. So off they go! She and her father and one of her sisters make a pilgrimage to Rome. On the way they do stay in the finest hotels, which hold no interest for Teresa. Her descriptions of the train rides through the Swiss Alps are charming. The passengers on the train are focused on each other's company with card games and other diversions. Her focus is on the majesty of the scenery she witnesses, which speaks to her of God's power and glory. In Rome of the late 1800s she sees the dilapidated Coliseum. For the safety of tourists, no access is allowed. She and her sister rush past the barricades to touch the very earth where Christians were martyred. She had a brief audience with the Pope, he granted her request, and she entered the monastery at age 15.
Teresa died an early death at age 24 from tuberculosis. We have access to her thoughts only because her mother superior ordered her to write them down. Teresa believed in being small: a little flower that humbly reflected God's love. She acted her belief by daily and countless acts of self sacrifice and devotion to those around her. She was also a strong believer that the power of her prayers could assist priests, missionaries and others carrying out the work of the church outside the monastery walls.
This book shows that having a clear vocation in life does not necessarily make your path any easier. And yet those of us in the modern age may be tempted to envy a simpler time when choices were more clear and truth more obvious. It is a temptation we should resist. It is the temptation of a young adult wishing to be a small child again in order to avoid adult responsibility. We are collectively in the young adulthood of modernity. We have put away the childish acceptance of authority, gone through the petulant adolescence of knee-jerk rejection of tradition, and now - perhaps? - we can retain what we deem to be good from our respective traditions as we bring them into the modern age.
What lessons can one learn from Teresa? Perseverance in hardship: her death was prolonged and painful. Her life story teaches what faith means: it's not all sunshine and lollipops. She had periods of deep doubt and pulled herself through simply by her love of God. Teresa became large by being small. She felt a vocation to love in small ways. She taught by example, illuminating those around her. More than likely, we would never had heard of Teresa if she had not been ordered to write her story. Her "small" ways had a large impact on those around her, even after her death, and continues today. There are societies and churches devoted to her around the world.
This book is worth reading, if for no other reasons than for the refreshing humility and sincerity in which she explains herself, as well as the clear-sighted wisdom in which she strove to live.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rmagahiz
I read this book for Lent. She truly was a woman devoted on matters not of this Earth who was determined to make others understand what it was like to live your life with this radical focus on God as understood as the source of all love. For me this comes across most clearly not so much in the
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autobiographical portion but in the descriptions by those who knew her which follow: the epilogue describing her final months, anecdotes describing her sayings, also in her letters and other collected writings. It all has the sense of something coming from an era almost unimaginably far away from our time, and yet I feel the kernel of her message and the charisma she displayed by embodying it are things that can still find resonance in a receptive heart. Show Less
LibraryThing member b22johansen
I was really excited to read this book, but my expectations were not met. It tells the wonderful story of St. Thérèse, but at points it really drags on. Her writing style is simple, and really shows her humility and love for God. I would definitely recommend the book, I just don't think it was my
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style. Show Less
LibraryThing member erwinkennythomas
St. Thérèse of Lisieux in her autobiography Story of a Soul taught believers “the little way” of trust and absolute surrender to God. The first 15 years St. Thérèse was spent as a devout Catholic, and for nine years she lived a cloistered life as a Carmelite nun. She wrote the story of her
The facsimile edition of her manuscript was difficult to read because of capitalizations, underlined words, size, position of slant letters, with occasional corrections. Students of hers were still able to read texts in the original manuscript. The translated version however offered clear themes of love, abandonment to God’s mercy, and mission in the church. St. Thérèse saw the way of spiritual childhood as the path which led to eternal life.
Manuscript & Readers
In fits and starts during her spare time St. Thérèse wrote while she was ill. The manuscript in a highly edited form was first published in 1898 and praised by readers. It became a spiritual classic, read by millions, and was translated from French into other languages. For over 20 years, St. Thérèse’s book was a best seller. This story was originally the collection of three separate manuscripts addressed to different persons in 1895, 1896, and 1897.
St. Thérèse’s legacy to the world was her personal message about being like “little ones.” Her teachings came out of human experiences. To accomplish these tasks she ascended to the summit of heroic virtue that she described as “my vocation is love.” She believed we must be like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and viewed God as the keeper of “little ones.”
Beatification & Canonization
During the process of beatification and canonization Pope Benedict XV, and Pius Xâ… endorsed her beliefs. They hoped her teachings would be brought to the attention of the world. St. ThĂ©rèse, who was considered the greatest saint of modern times frequently meditated on the Gospels and the Old Testament. Her work has remained a source of deep religious inspiration, and believers think it came about through Divine Providence. The centennial celebration of her death was in 1996 - 1997. Story of a Soul’s translator John Clarke was a devotee to this “little flower.”
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brief life in ink with no thought that it would ever be published. On Good Friday, April 13, 1896 she suffered her first hemoptysis (coughing up blood due to a lung hemorrhage).The facsimile edition of her manuscript was difficult to read because of capitalizations, underlined words, size, position of slant letters, with occasional corrections. Students of hers were still able to read texts in the original manuscript. The translated version however offered clear themes of love, abandonment to God’s mercy, and mission in the church. St. Thérèse saw the way of spiritual childhood as the path which led to eternal life.
Manuscript & Readers
In fits and starts during her spare time St. Thérèse wrote while she was ill. The manuscript in a highly edited form was first published in 1898 and praised by readers. It became a spiritual classic, read by millions, and was translated from French into other languages. For over 20 years, St. Thérèse’s book was a best seller. This story was originally the collection of three separate manuscripts addressed to different persons in 1895, 1896, and 1897.
St. Thérèse’s legacy to the world was her personal message about being like “little ones.” Her teachings came out of human experiences. To accomplish these tasks she ascended to the summit of heroic virtue that she described as “my vocation is love.” She believed we must be like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and viewed God as the keeper of “little ones.”
Beatification & Canonization
During the process of beatification and canonization Pope Benedict XV, and Pius Xâ… endorsed her beliefs. They hoped her teachings would be brought to the attention of the world. St. ThĂ©rèse, who was considered the greatest saint of modern times frequently meditated on the Gospels and the Old Testament. Her work has remained a source of deep religious inspiration, and believers think it came about through Divine Providence. The centennial celebration of her death was in 1996 - 1997. Story of a Soul’s translator John Clarke was a devotee to this “little flower.”
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LibraryThing member ConorTK
I didn't like the original version but this is more true to what St. Therese wrote. Excellent.
LibraryThing member DominiqueMarie
MMD Reading Challenge 2017- For Fun
Category: Book You've Already Read Before
Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017
Category: Classic by a Woman Author
This book is one of my favorites. I have read it 5 or 6 times already, and I always get something new out of it. Her spirituality is accessible
Category: Book You've Already Read Before
Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017
Category: Classic by a Woman Author
This book is one of my favorites. I have read it 5 or 6 times already, and I always get something new out of it. Her spirituality is accessible
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to everyone, and that is what I love about it. This is by far the best translation in my opinion. The language, while still flowery, is not saccharine sweet, which I have found to be the case in some other translations. Also, the earlier translations, were heavily edited by her sisters. Don't hesitate to read this book because it was written by a young nun during the 1800s. There is really something for everyone contained in her writings, and it's definitely worth re-reading. Show Less