The Littlest Flower of the Immaculata

PATRONESS OF ALL THE MISSIONS: for such the title the Church gave to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. In fact, it is not just a title. Journeying from Japan to India and in return, one has the occasion to be convinced as an eyewitness that there is not a place where she is not particularly honored; there is not a church where you might not find her, or have her come immediately before your eyes as you enter.

WHENCE, THEN, HER "COMPETENCE" IN MATTERS AFFECTING THE MISSION? Did she do missionary work in many pagan lands in the course of her life? Did she out pour her blood as a martyr? Not at all. None of these things. She never even crossed the threshold of her Carmel in Lisieux. Nor in her lifetime did she work any miracles, but in ordinary, everyday, grim life, she sanctified herself. Hence, it is not a matter of what we do, but how we do it, with what sort of an intention and love.

AND WHAT WAS HER INTENTION? To bring pleasure to the Lord Jesus, the Infant Jesus. Everyday crosses she carried with love; she worked, lived and acted in this love, so as to be a little child who with little acts of love wins the hearts of its father and mother. This is the kind of missionary everyone can become.

BUT HOW TO ACHIEVE IT? St. Thérèse called herself the "LITTLE FLOWER OF THE IMMACULATA" and said that the Immaculate Virgin brought her up. Let us be submissive to the Immaculata and she will teach us the limitless confidence in the love of the merciful God, of which she (Mary Immaculate) is the personification (of God's mercy).

+St. Maximilian M. Kolbe | Will To Love | Marytown Press