Maurice and Therese The Story of a Love

by Ahern, Patrick

• ISBN13: 9780385497404
• ISBN10: 0385497407
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-02-20
• Publisher: Image

Summary

As Saint Therese lay dying in the Carmel of Lisieux, she overheard a conversation that amused her. Outside her window, two nuns were discussing what they could write in her obituary that could possibly be of any interest, since the twenty-four-year-old nun had never done anything worth noting. Therese was pleased, for she had always kept a low profile. With the posthumous publication of her spiritual autobiography in 1898, however, that low profile would vanish instantly. She became one of the most beloved saints of all time, and her influence will expand dramatically because of Pope John Paul II's declaration that she is a Doctor of the Church. Amid growing interest in her writings comes the collected correspondence between her and a humble young seminarian, Maurice Belliere. Though they never met in person, they exchanged twenty-one letters that opened a window on the heart of Saint Therese that would have remained forever closed had Maurice not written to the Mother Superior at the convent asking for a nun to pray for him. The Mother Superior chose Therese, and in these conversational letters the Little Flower reveals herself in a way that we would never have known from her autobiography. In his accompanying text, Bishop Patrick Ahern expertly leads the reader into the worlds of Maurice and Therese and reveals the full beauty of this saint's spirituality.

Author Biography

<b> </b>Patrick Ahern, an auxiliary bishop of New York, is widely regarded as one of the foremost experts on the spirituality of Saint Therese of Lisieux. He lives and works in Manhattan.

Table of Contents

Preface	1	(5)
Introduction	5	(10)
I. A Leap of Faith
The Correspondence of Maurice Belliere to Mother Prioress of Lisieux
October 15, 1895	15	(3)
Someone to Pray for Me	18	(5)
October 23, 1895	23	(4)
A Saint among Saints for a Sister	27	(4)
July 21, 1896	31	(2)
The Worst Blunder of All	33	(4)
October 14, 1896	37	(2)
Uncertain Future	39	(8)
II. Souls Made to Understand Each Other
The Correspondence between Maurice Belliere and therese of Lisieux
October 21, 1896	47	(2)
Night of Nothingness	49	(8)
November 28, 1896	57	(2)
A Saint I Am Not	59	(4)
December 26, 1896	63	(4)
The Christmas Miracle	67	(8)
January 31, 1897	75	(2)
``To Live by Love''	77	(5)
February 24, 1897	82	(4)
An Author, but Not by Choice	86	(6)
April 17, 1897	92	(5)
Leo Taxil	97	(6)
April 25, 1897	103	(5)
The Little Way	108	(8)
June 7, 1897	116	(6)
The Road Is Open--Go!	122	(7)
June 9, 1897	129	(2)
The Letter Never Sent	131	(2)
June 21, 1897	133	(4)
Merciful Love	137	(7)
July 15, 1897	144	(3)
Talk to Me of Good Things	147	(5)
July 13, 1897	152	(3)
A Dieu, but Not Farewell	155	(5)
July 17, 1897	160	(2)
A Lovely Home in Your Holy Friendship	162	(3)
July 18, 1897	165	(5)
The Parable	170	(6)
July 21, 1897	176	(5)
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words	181	(6)
July 26, 1897	187	(6)
The Humanity of Therese	193	(6)
August 5, 1897	199	(3)
I Found Jesus in You	202	(7)
August 10, 1897	209	(3)
A Promise Renewed	212	(6)
August 17, 1897	218	(3)
Letting Go	221	(3)
August 28, 1897	224	(3)
``Why I Love You, Mary''	227	(4)
October 2, 1897	231	(3)
Death of Therese	234	(7)
III. Africa
The Correspondence of Maurice Belliere to Mother Gonzague and Father Andre Adam
October 14, 1897	241	(3)
Missions to Fulfill	244	(15)
November 30, 1903	259	(4)
A Land of Few Enchantments	263	(6)
IV. The Passion and Death of Maurice Belliere
October 22, 1905-July 14, 1907	269	(6)
V. Epilogue	275	(8)
Recommended Reading on St. Therese	283