Magnificat January 2023

22 Vol. LVIII, No. 1 Magnificat The great message of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus is that sanctity does not reside in ex‐ traordinary deeds, visions or miracles, but in the loving acceptance and accomplishment of the desires of God, in all the little things. The acceptance of this providential program is a perfectly sure way: to good‐heartedly take sor‐ rows as well as joys, take all things as coming from the hand of God. Therese said, “The hap‐ pier souls are to do the Will of God, the more perfect they are.” And again, “It is the hand of Jesus that conducts everything; we must see only Him in everything.” The way of childhood is the soul abandoning itself into the hands of God, letting itself be directed by Him. The advent of Saint Therese is a grace, an ex‐ traordinary light given to the Church; it is truly A GIFT FROM HEAVEN TO THE EARTH. She revolution‐ ized, so to speak, prevailing ideas of spirituality, mysticism and sanctity. God raised up Saint Therese of the Child Jesus to show the way to ordinary souls, to little souls. Deeply inspired by the meaning of the words of Jesus, Unless you become like little children, you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven,2 she applied her‐ self and brought other souls to practice the vir‐ tues of childhood: littleness, love, confidence, abandonment, selflessness. A spiritual teacher From the very beginning of the Community, Heaven itself designated Saint Therese of the Child Jesus as the Spiritual Mistress of the Order of the Mother of God. Here are the cir‐ cumstances, related by Father John Gregory of the Trinity. “I had asked God to enlighten me and indi‐ cate to me what the particular spirituality of our Order should be. In the spring of 1952, Our Lord manifested Himself, accompanied by Saint Therese, and He said: “She is the one who is to be your Spiritual Mistress. Follow her way; it is the infallible way, the way of My Gospel. Her doctrine is not a new religion as certain people claim: it is the unique and true way. It is I who raised up Therese to bring to light the accom‐ plishment of My Gospel in all simplicity.” 2. St. Matthew 18:3. Let us not think we can love without suffering, without suffering a great deal. Our poor nature is there, and it is not for nothing! It is our riches, our livelihood! It is so precious that Jesus came to the earth expressly to possess it. Let us suffer bitterly, that is, without courage! “Jesus suffered with sorrow; without sorrow, would the soul suffer?” (Fr. Pichon) And we would like to suffer generously, grandly... What an illusion!... We would like to never fall. What does it matter, my Jesus, if I fall every moment? Then, in this way, I see my weakness and it is a great gain for me. By this, You see what I can do, and now You will be more tempted to carry me in Your arms... If You do not do it, it is because it pleases You to see me on the ground... Therefore, I will not worry, but always stretch out my arms, supplicant and full of love, to You! I cannot believe that You would forsake me!...

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