CXX  To CELINE. To tell her of Jesus designs for her soul: written for her birthday, now very near

St.Therese of Lisieux: Little Drops of Dew

J.M.J.T.

Jesus +

Carmel, 25 April 1893

My dearest Celine,

I am going to tell you a thought that occurred to me this morning, or rather I am going to tell you of Jesus’ designs for your soul. . . .

When, in the presence of the one Friend of our souls, I think of you, what always strikes me as the distinctive quality of your heart is simplicity . . . Celine . . . simple little Celine-flower, do not envy the flowers that grow in gardens.

Jesus did not say to us: “I am the flower of the gardens, the garden rose, but “I am the flower of the fields, the lily of the valleys.”8 So – it occurred to me this morning, before the tabernacle, that my Celine, Jesus’ little flower, must be and must always remain a drop of dew hidden in the divine cup of the lovely Lily of the valleys.

What is simpler and purer than a dewdrop? It is not formed by the clouds, because dew falls on the flowers when the vault of heaven is filled with stars. Rain is not to be compared with it, for it surpasses the rain in freshness and beauty. Dew exists only by night; the sun, darting its warm rays upon it, distils the lovely pearls sparkling on the tip of the blades of grass in the meadow, and the dew changes into a light vapour. Celine is a drop of dew, not formed by the clouds but come down from the loveliness of heaven, its Homeland. During the night of this life, it is its mission to be hid in the heart of the Flower of the fields, no human eye can find it, only the cup that holds the tiny dew drop can know its freshness.

Fortunate little dewdrop, known only to Jesus, do not stay to consider the course of the mighty rivers that creatures admire so, do not envy even the clear brook winding through the meadow. Truly its murmur is very sweet, but creatures can hear it: nor can the chalice of the Flower of the fields contain it. It cannot be for Jesus alone. To be His, one must be small, small as a drop of dew! Oh! how few souls there are that aspire to stay so small. “But,” say they “the river and the brook are surely more useful than the dewdrop? What does it do? It is good for nothing, save to give a few moments’ refreshment to a flower of the fields which is today and tomorrow is no more”. 9

They are right, of course: the dewdrop is good for no more than that: but they do not know the wild Flower which has chosen to dwell in our land of exile and remain here during the short night of this life. If they knew, they would understand the rebuke Jesus gave Martha 10 long ago. Our Beloved has no need of our fine thoughts – has He not His angels, His legions of heavenly spirits whose knowledge infinitely surpasses that of the greatest geniuses of our sad earth?

So it is not intellect or talents that Jesus has come upon earth to seek. He became the Flower of the fields solely to show us how He loves simplicity. The Lily in the valley does not aspire to more than a drop of dew. . . . That is why He created one, called Celine! . . . During the night of this life, she is to remain hid from every human eye, but when the shadows “begin to retire”, 11 when the Flower of the fields has become the Sun of justice, 12 when He is come to run His course like a giant, 13 will He forget His tiny drop of dew? . . . Oh, no! the moment He appears in His glory, the companion of His exile will appear with Him. The divine sun will rest one of His rays of love upon her, and then, to the dazzled gaze of the angels and the saints, the poor little dewdrop will be show forth, sparkling like a precious diamond which, reflecting the Sun of justice, has grown like to It. But that is not all. The divine Luminary, looking upon His dewdrop, will draw it upward to Him, and it will ascend like a light vapour and go where it may abide for eternity in the bosom of the glowing furnace of uncreated Love and forever be united with Him. Just as, upon earth, it was the faithful companion of His exile and despised as He was, so in Heaven it will reign eternally.

Into what astonishment will those then be plunged, who is this world had regarded the tiny dewdrop as useless. They will have an excuse, of course, the gift of God had not been revealed to them they had not brought their heart close to the Flower of the fields, had not heard of the enchanting words, “Give me to drink” 14 Jesus does not call all souls to be drops of dew, He wills that there should be precious draughts appreciated by men and solacing them in their needs; but for Himself He reserves a drop of dew, that is the whole of His ambition.

What a privilege to be called to so high a mission! . . .but to respond to it how simple one must remain. . . . Jesus knows that upon earth it is difficult to keep pure, so He wants His dewdrops not even to be aware of themselves; He delights to contemplate them, but only He regards them, and they, not realising their value, think themselves below other creatures . . . and that is what the Lily of the valleys desires. One tiny drop of dew, called Celine, has understood. . . . That is the end for which Jesus created her, but she must not forget her poor little sister, she must win for her the grace to put into action what Jesus has given her to realise, in order that one day the same ray of love may distil both and that they may go together, being but one upon earth, to be united for eternity in the heart of the Divine Sun.

Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face

8 Cant. of Cant. ii. 1.

9 Reminiscence of Matt. vi. 39.

10 Cf. Luke x. 42,

11 Cant of Cant. iv. 6.

12 Mal. iii 20.

13 Ps. xviii 6.

14. John iv. 7.

Saint Gregory of Nazianzen: God Accepts Our Desires!

God accepts our desires as though they were of great value. He longs ardently for us to desire and love him. He accepts our petitions for benefits as though we were doing him a favor. His joy in giving is greater than ours in receiving. So let us not be apathetic in our asking, nor set too narrow bounds to our requests; nor ask for frivolous things unworthy of God’s greatness.

- Saint Gregory of Nazianzen (330-390), Doctor of the Church, Feast Day January 2

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton:
Doing God's Will

The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.

-Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), Feast Day January 4

Pope John Paul II: Why?

Human suffering is a continent that none of us have reached the borders of: yet, traversing the pavilions of this "Little House," we have covered enough territory to get an idea of its impressive proportions. And the question again rises in our hearts: why?

In this unique environment, let's listen again to the response given by faith: the life of historical man, polluted by sin, unfolds under the sign of Christ's Cross. In the Cross, God turned the meaning of suffering upside down: suffering which was the result and evidence of sin, has now become a sharing in the redemptive expiation brought about by Christ. As such, it carries in itself, even now, the anticipation of the ultimate victory over sin and its consequences, through sharing in the glorious resurrection of the Savior.

A few days ago, with the Liturgy leading us by the hand, we relived the dramatic moments of the Passion and death of the Lord, and we listened again to the triumphal Alleluia of the Resurrection. You see, the paschal mystery contains the ultimate word on human suffering. Jesus assumes the pain of each of us in the mystery of his Passion and transforms it into a regenerative force for those who suffer and for all mankind, with the prospect of the ultimate triumph of the resurrection, when "even so, through Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."

- Blessed Pope John Paul II the Great

TURIN, COTTLENGO
APRIL 13, 1980

St. Athanasius: Let's Seek Virtue Strenuously!

Let's continue to be strenuous in pursuing virtue. Let's not grow tired of seeking it, for our Lord has become a guide for us and for every person who has a desire for the virtues. And so that it might not be tedious for us, St. Paul became our example when he said, "I die daily" (see 1 Cor 15:31). Now, if we were to think each day that we had to die that day, we would never sin at all. This is the explanation of Paul's saying. If in the morning we imagined that we would never last until evening, and if at evening we thought that we would never see morning, we would never sin.

If we were to keep the imminence of our death in mind, we would never be overcome by sin: lust which is fleeting would not reign over us; we would never harbor anger against another human being; we would not love the possessions which pass away; and we would forgive every person who offended us. Therefore, beloved, let's be zealous in carrying out the work we have committed ourselves to, and let's travel to the end of the road on which we have begun our journey.

- St. Athanasius

More Blessed John Paul II On Suffering

The Gospel often shows Jesus in the act of bending over sick people, to comfort them and also, not infrequently, to cure them.

The Redeemer himself did not escape suffering, and he taught that pain has a value in the work of salvation, yet "he went about doing good and healing all." A double lesson can be seen in this behavior: that human pain has a precise role to play in God's plan, and that, nevertheless, it moves the heart of Jesus to compassion, for he knows well how profoundly suffering can upset frail humanity and how severely it can test it. Thus he never withholds his understanding and comfort from the sick person who turns trustingly to him.

It is very important, in fact crucial, to accept suffering with Jesus, like Jesus, and for his love, because this conforms in a special way with him and his mission. In this regard St. Maximus the Confessor teaches that God, in his inscrutable plan of love, allows suffering to strike mankind not only as a punishment but as a medicine.

The plea to be cured is still legitimate, because health, too, is a great gift of God, thanks to which we may render invaluable services to our neighbor. No divine gift, in fact, is ever bestowed for our exclusive personal advantage but "so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

- Blessed Pope John Paul II

FIDENZA,
JUNE 4, 1988

Blessed Pope John Paul II: The First and Greatest Charity

Pray, then, also for the many needs, both spiritual and temporal, of your families, of your communities, of the whole Church and of all mankind: in fact, prayer is the first and greatest charity that we must perform for our brothers. Especially today, on the eve of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, I urge you to pray fervently for the supreme ideals of Truth and salvation and for peace in the world.

I urge you to pray to Most Holy Mary with filial devotion: holding the crown of the Rosary in your hands, call on Mary, always, and especially in the most painful moments of illness and sorrow.

- Blessed Pope John Paul II the Great

PERUGIA
October 16, 1986.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina Wisdom

Rest assured that the more a soul is pleasing to God, the more it must be tried. Therefore, courage, and go forward always. (Letters III, p.401)

- St. Pio of Pietrelcina