By: Erica Tran
Catholics around the world are likely familiar with St. Therese of Lisieux, whom Pope Pius X called “the greatest saint of modern times.” My own devotion to Therese began when I was just seven years old and saw her holy card for the first time. In the image, she was holding a bouquet of flowers, and that was really all it took to pique my childlike interest.
Indeed, “childlike” is a favorable word to describe Therese and her sainthood: despite being an old soul who often felt out of place in the world around her, she thought of herself as a child before God, fully reliant on him, desperate for his love and affection, and longing to be carried in his arms. Her path to sainthood, which she believed could be achieved by anyone and everyone, became known as the “little way.” Therese’s attempts to become closer to Christ never took the form of grand gestures or enormous sacrifices; rather, she took small steps and made whatever small sacrifices she was capable of performing, abandoning herself and relying on God.
The TEC Conference recognized the parallels between Therese’s life and what we hope to bring to the lives of youth and young adults experiencing TEC, adopting Therese as the patron saint of the TEC movement. These reasons are detailed on our website, and I invite you to read over them here and reflect on how we can continue to bring Therese’s mission to fruition in our own ministry:
ENCOUNTER
A central tenet of TEC is a personal encounter with Christ and authentic encounters with others. Therese’s mission was to enter into and bring others to the heart of Christ. Both TEC and Therese share the goal of bringing those on our path to God.
WHEAT
Like the grain of wheat that must die to produce fruit, we “die to self” on TEC and make sacrifices of wheat throughout the weekend and beyond. Therese’s “little way” explains that everything, even the smallest daily tasks, can be sacrifices when done with great love.
YOUTH
The young adults who experience TEC are around the same age as Therese was at the time of her major writings and death. Having joined God at the age of 24, Therese remains young despite the passing of time, acting as a relevant role model to all. Her words and example are a gift directly to her contemporaries.
GOING FORTH
After a TEC weekend, we are encouraged to go forth and share the encounter that we just experienced with those in our lives. Therese sought to share her own love of God with all and believed everyone could attain holiness and sainthood. She continues to share God’s love with her “shower of roses” from heaven.
Anyone can follow Therese’s little way and reach the heart of Christ—a goal that the TEC movement hopes to help all accomplish. As we celebrate her feast day this October 1, let us all strive to imitate her and move closer to our Lord.
The “little way” speaks to me on a deeply personal level: what can I, simple and small, do to choose Christ? What little things can I do to get closer to him? Therese had the heart of a servant, as do all who work TEC weekends to show others Christ, and we all know that sometimes the smallest moments can make the biggest differences. Through TEC, people commit to growing closer to Christ, and so we ask Therese to intercede for our movement and all who are touched by it.
