Saints of the Little Way

St (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta and St Therese of Lisieux – what on earth could they have had in common?  The saint of Calcutta, having chosen the name of the saint of Lisieux in religion, proceeded to live a life totally different from hers. Days and weeks and years full of active care for the poorest of the poor in the streets of Calcutta; and later, when her Missionaries of Charity spread throughout the world, a global traveller having meetings with persons of leadership all over and even addressing the UN.  What could connect her with Therese, living out her days in complete withdrawal from the world behind the walls of Enclosure?  Actually Teresa of Calcutta believed in prayer as the foundation for everything she did, and she found great inspiration in the passionate love of Jesus that motivated Therese.  Moreover, towards the end of her days Teresa was asked about her relationship with the saint of Lisieux and she spoke about doing ‘little things’, saying that this was the aim of herself and her Sisters.  Was not Therese of Lisieux the saint of the Little Way?  Mother Teresa did not try to change the world, she aimed to bring solace and healing to individual sufferers, one by one, as Therese in her monastery tried to live a life of love minute by minute, day by day in her encounters with the other members of the Community.  These wonderful women, so different in their individual vocations, gave us the same magnificent example of how to live.  

Intercessions:

Louise Aldred OCDS RIP – a long-time member of the Nottingham Secular community

Brian Davis – cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him) - cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Rebekah – in hospital