Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Loving Our Weakness


It is always easier to bring to mind our strengths, than our weaknesses. We can certainly live with our strengths, but as for our weakness, we have a tendency to brush them aside, although unconsciously.

What a sweet joy it is to think that God …. takes into account our weakness, that he is perfectly aware of our fragile nature. [Story of a Soul ; Chapter 8]



St Therese knows that God is aware of the frailty and weakness of the human condition, and inspires us to embrace and 'love our littleness'. So that we can embrace and love the littleness of our neighbours, eventually.

Ah! …. what pleases Him is that He sees me loving my littleness and …. the hope that I have in His mercy …….. That is my only treasure [Letters of St Therese, LT 197]

And at the same time, cultivate that child-like dependance on God, for every aspect of our daily needs.

I am no longer disturbed at being a little soul, on the contrary, I take delight in this ….. The remembrance of my faults humbles me, draws me never to depend on my own strength which is only weakness, but this remembrance speaks to me of mercy & love even more. When we cast our faults with entire filial confidence into the devouring fire of love, how would these not be consumed beyond return? [Letters of St Therese , LT 224, 247]

#contemplative #carmelite #spirituality #mercy #love #st therese #little flower #therese of lisieux #therese