Although devotion to the Carmelite Saint of Lisieux, Therese of the Child Jesus, is widespread, few recognize and admire in her a virtue that is much forgotten in our day: rectitude!
Among the various supernatural qualities that adorned her soul, it can be said that rectitude served as a foundation in her spiritual life, so that her exclusive concern consisted in being as God wanted her to be, and not in living up to human expectations of her…
It is customary in convents for religious to have a period of leisure, in which they chat or indulge in various activities. In December 1896, St. Therese was participating in this time of recreation when the bell was heard, indicating the arrival of a visitor.
It was the delivery of the tree branches that would be used in the decoration of that year’s Nativity Scene. Mother Agnes of Jesus, who on that occasion was the so-called “procurator”, i.e. the sister responsible for the Carmelite economy, was absent. The gatekeeper sister then went in search of a nun who could accompany her to receive the material, in accordance with the rule. Seeing Sister Therese and several others around her, she asked: “Who will go with me as third party?”
St. Therese was enthusiastic about the idea and, as she tells it, felt inclined to offer herself, and she immediately began to remove her apron. However, when she realized that Sister Marie of St. Joseph was also eager for the role, she decided to take off her apron slowly, to give the other nun the opportunity to offer herself first, which she did.
Without suspecting what was going on inside the saint, the doorkeeper sister looked at her and, in a tone of mockery, said to her: “Very well, that means it is our Sister Marie of St. Joseph who is going to win this pearl for her crown, because you were too slow, showing yourself to be sluggish.”1 The Carmelite Saint just smiled and then thought to herself: “My God, how different Your judgements are from ours! This is how we often deceive ourselves on this earth, considering as imperfection in our sisters what is merit before You.”2
What a lesson this teaches us! And what about us? How many times do we care about other people’s opinions and, as a result, change the way we act or think… Or worse, how many times do we judge others only by appearances, which do not always match what is inside!
In such circumstances, let us remember the example given to us by the admirable Saint of Lisieux and, imploring her help, let us pray that she will obtain for us the grace to be simple before God, free from any trace of pharisaism; in other words, to be entirely upright and pure souls. ◊
Notes
1 Cf. ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX. Não morro… entro na vida. 2.ed. São Paulo: Paulus, 2021, p.33.
2 Idem, ibidem.
