By Susan Ciancio
Discouragement comes in all forms, and it can be crushing. Maybe you have felt it because of poor physical or mental health, because a child has left the faith, because of a job situation or the economy, because of politics, or because of some other reason.
Discouragement has a way of eating at us and stealing our joy. And the truth is, that’s exactly what the devil wants. In fact, it makes him downright gleeful.
God, of course, never rejoices in our despair. He walks with us and comforts us. Sometimes, when things get really difficult, He carries us. Yet He also sends the saints to walk with us, to teach us, and to give us hope.
One such saint—a woman who is now a Doctor of the Church—is St. Thérèse of Lisieux. And starting on October 1, her feast day, listeners to Ascension’s Catholic Classics podcast can hear about her “little way” through her book Story of a Soul.
The podcast will be hosted by Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk, OP, and Fr. Michael-Joseph Paris, OCD. One episode will drop each day from October 1 through the 28 (with a few bonus episodes as well). In each episode, a female French narrator will read from Story of a Soul; the priests will then discuss her words and help listeners apply them to real life.
Learning about St. Thérèse’s little way is exactly the antidote to the discouragement many feel today. St. Thérèse, who entered the Carmel convent at age 15, was no stranger to hardship and heartbreak. She lost family members, was sickly, and after much suffering, died of tuberculosis at just 24. Yet her faith never wavered, and her love of God only grew.
St. Thérèse, once said, “I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short and totally new.”
After her death, as increasing numbers of people began reading Story of a Soul, they realized the impact of her words and of her little way. Her wisdom and her understanding far surpassed her young age, and more and more people began applying her teachings to their own lives.
Heaven is our goal, and as parents, it is our responsibility to help our children get there. When we start by teaching them how to apply Thérèse’s little way from the time they are small, they realize the impact they can have on the people around them. They come to understand that not everyone needs a global platform to make a difference.
Fr. Michael-Joseph explained that the podcast will be a valuable resource for families, including teens. So, as we prepare to enter Respect Life Month and the month in which we celebrate the Feast of St. Thérèse, I challenge you to listen to the podcast; get to know Thérèse, introduce her to your family, and decide how you can apply her little way to building a culture of life in your homes and communities.
Thérèse’s example and her intercession are immense blessings to us today, especially as parents. Secular society is strengthening its hold on our children, and culture-of-death politics and laws seem to grow stronger and more accepted every day. Not only is it easy for us to become discouraged when fighting this constant battle for our children’s souls, but it’s easy for kids to feel discouraged as they believe they are too insignificant to make a difference in their world. Thérèse’s life shows us that no one is insignificant and that even actions such as befriending the new kid at school, donating toys or clothes, serving others joyfully, and praying will help create a culture that values and respects all human beings.
When we teach our kids to do these things as they grow, we build a solid foundation that allows them to eventually do these things on their own and serve as examples for others. They will one day find that their own little way has created something monumental.