<html> <HEAD> <TITLE>Children and St. Th&eacute;r&egrave;se</TITLE> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <LINK REL=STYLESHEET TYPE="text/css" HREF="site.css" TITLE="Style"> <csscriptdict import> <script src="GeneratedItems/CSScriptLib.js"></script> </csscriptdict> <csimport user="../Test2.data/Components/footer.html" occur="82"></csimport> <style> <!-- li.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; margin-left:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-top:0cm} --> </style> </HEAD> <body bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div align="center" style="width: 928; height: 498"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="619"> <tr> <td><img src="images/portrait2.jpg" width="161" height="133" border="0" alt="Saint Th&eacute;r&egrave;se"><img border="0" src="images/Image1.jpg" width="431" height="136"></td> <td></td> <td> <div align="right"> &nbsp;</div> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#eeeeee" width="35" valign="top"><img src="images/side_rose.gif" width="35" height="200" border="0" alt="&quot;&quot;"></TD> <TD bgcolor="#eeeeee" valign="top" width="108"> <a href="Article%20Index.html"><b>Back</b></a><p>&nbsp;</TD> <td bgcolor="white" width="4">&nbsp;</TD> <TD valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffcc" width="415"> <div align="center"> <p class="MsoBodyText2"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; color: red; font-style: normal"> This website and article are sourced from the St. Thérèse National Office, Carmelite Community, Terenure College, Dublin 6W, Ireland.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; color: red; font-style: normal"> Director, Fr. J. Linus Ryan, O. Carm.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:normal">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"><span lang="EN-US">CHILDREN AND THÉRÈSE</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Boys as well as girls who come to Lisieux are fascinated by Thérèse. They are touched by the events of her life and challenged by her personal relationship with the Lord. Is sanctity of concern to children? Or do they have to wait to be adults to wish to become saints?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">They ask all kinds of questions about Thérèse s childhood. They want to know about her position in the family, the games she played, her discovery of nature, her love of flowers and animals and her holidays in the country or at the seaside. They want to hear about her fishing trips with her father in the Normandy countryside, her life at school, her relationship with those around her, family visits and so on. They love all the places where she lived, Semallé, Alencon and Les Buissonnets, and they say,  Thérèse, you lived like this. You were full of life, running about and playing; you loved flowers and you wanted to know about everything; and you were a saint. Why couldn t it be the same for me, today? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">There are also documents about Thérèse s childhood, which make up a lively and vivid story. First of all, there is Manuscript A of Thérèse s Autobiography in which she quotes several of her mother s letters about her early childhood. Then, between April 1877 and November 1886, there are twenty-one of Thérèse s own letters and forty-six about her. Lastly, there are the revealing photographs taken when she was three, eight, thirteen and fourteen.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Thérèse had an eventful childhood. As a tiny baby she was delicate and was entrusted to a wet-nurse. There were various incidents when her strength of character first showed itself. Her mother s illness and death were followed by the move to Lisieux. Then first, Thérèse s second  mother , Pauline left home, followed by her godmother, Marie. Thérèse, a sensitive, emotional little girl, then became ill. She had the same problems, doubts and sorrows as many other children. At school her relationship with her fellow pupils was not easy. No child is sheltered from the troubles of life and from times of suffering.  What Thérèse experienced enables me also to say what I am going through, because the story she tells gives me words to express what is happening to me. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Thérèse expresses in a remarkable way all the questions that children ask about God and Jesus, about suffering and evil, about Heaven, and so on. Thérèse is an excellent spokesperson for many boys and girls. She lets them pour out their inner burdens. Her  Whys? are those of every child. But they are not all fortunate enough, as she was, to have people whom they can ask.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Finally, Thérèse expresses very clearly her experience of the spiritual life. She talks about prayer, about her longing to receive Communion, her sister s First Communion and then her own. She describes her Confirmation, her First Confession and her retreat. She talks about the Mass and silent prayer. She reveals what many children experience or are seeking.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">With children, we must take the time to study Thérèse s childhood. The other stages of her life will follow in due course. Each stage in life is a step on the road to sanctity and bears within it the call of life, to love and to faith.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:216.0pt;text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Bernard Lagoutte</span></p> <h1 style="margin-left:216.0pt"><span lang="EN-US"> Rector of the Shrine at Lisieux</span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt">(From <i>Thérèse de Lisieux</i>, April 2003)</span><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></b></h2> <h2 align="center" style="text-align:center"><b> <span lang="EN-US">THE LITTLE FRIENDS OF SAINT THÉRÈSE</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></h2> <h1 align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span lang="EN-US"> <a name="Petits amis de Sainte Thérèse">Petits amis de Sainte Thérèse&nbsp;</a></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">The Association the <i> Petits amis de Sainte Thérèse </i> was founded by Monsignor Suhard who was Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux from 1928 to 1931. The Association is a sign of the place of children in the spiritual family of Saint Thérèse.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Children are placed under the special protection of Saint Thérèse. On the first Sunday of each month, the pilgrims Mass at Lisieux is celebrated for them.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">The Association gives spiritual support to parents and their families. Inspired by the example of Louis and Zélie Martin, parents are encouraged to strive to awaken their children s spiritual awareness and to give them a Christian upbringing. For this reason, it is important that children should be enrolled in the Association by a close family member, or by a godparent who will be able to play a part in this wonderful task of training hearts.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Dear Saint Thérèse,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US"> We are writing to ask you to place Anne Rose under your protection. All the children in our family are enrolled as your Little Protégé s. We trust in you and we know that you will protect and guide her all her life. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Madame</span> <span lang="EN-US"> A. (Vosges)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">Dear Saint Thérèse,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US"> I am godmother to little Julie who was born in Brittany. We know that you will watch over her and protect her throughout her life. We hope that she will be filled with Faith all her life long and that she will be able to pass it on to those around her. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"> <span lang="EN-US">J. and D.F. (Vosges)&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 18.0pt; font-family: Symbol"> »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 align="center" style="text-align:center"> <a name="TO ENROL A CHILD"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt">TO ENROL A CHILD</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 8.0pt">&nbsp;</span></a></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"> <i><span lang="EN-US">(under 12 years of age)</span></i><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Write indicating clearly:&nbsp;</span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"> <p align="left"><span lang="EN-US">The child s Christian name and surname</span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"> <p align="left"><span lang="EN-US">The child s date and place of birth</span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"> <p align="left"><span lang="EN-US">The child s relationship to yourself</span></li> </ul> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0cm" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"> <p align="left"><span lang="EN-US">Your own name and address</span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"> <p align="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> <span lang="EN-US">The name and address of the child, to whom we will send</span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="left"> a<span lang="EN-US"> souvenir of their enrolment.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Write to:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  Petits amis de Sainte Thérèse </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; BP 62095</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 14102 Lisieux Cedex</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; France</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="mailto:info@therese-de-lisieux.com" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single"> info@therese-de-lisieux.com</a>&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">There is no charge for the enrolment; those who so wish may make a donation.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt">(From <i>Thérèse de Lisieux</i>, April 2003)</span><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; color: red; font-style: normal"> This website and article are sourced from the St. Thérèse National Office, Carmelite Community, Terenure College, Dublin 6W, Ireland.</span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2"> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; color: red; font-style: normal"> Director, Fr. J. Linus Ryan, O. Carm.</span><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p> &nbsp;</div> <div align="center"> <center> <p>&nbsp;</p> </center></div> </TD> </TR> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="&quot;&quot;" hspace="74"></td> <td width="4"></td> <td width="415"><img src="images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="&quot;&quot;" hspace="205"></td> </tr> </table> <hr noshade width="620"> <csobj w="650" h="25" t="Component" csref="../Test2.data/Components/footer.html" occur="82"> <div align="center"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="620"> <tr> <td> &nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> </div> </csobj><br> <p></p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </body> </html>