Episode 9 – The Passion of Saint Thérèse – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

<figure id="attachment_24881" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-24881" style="width: 185px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-24881" class="wp-caption-text">St. Thérèse of Lisieux</figcaption></figure>

**The last 30 minutes of this episode contains graphic descriptions that some might find disturbing.

Listener discretion is advised.**

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor examine the profound and often overlooked suffering of St. Thérèse of Lisieux during the final months of her life in 1897. The narrative begins with the context of her perpetual profession as a Carmelite and the subsequent public ceremony where she received the black veil, marking her definitive commitment.

He goes into Thérèse’s deteriorating health, marked by severe tuberculosis, which inflicted immense physical and spiritual pain. Despite the excruciating treatments and the lack of adequate pain relief, Thérèse maintained a remarkable composure, often displaying humor and unwavering faith. Her spiritual struggle, characterized by a profound darkness of faith, is juxtaposed with her outward calm and readiness to embrace suffering and unite it with Christ.

These struggles also took a significant emotional toll on her family and the Carmelite community, reinforcing the deep love and admiration they held for her. These accounts shed light on the lesser-known aspects of Thérèse’s final journey, revealing the depth of her suffering and the strength of her faith.

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Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. Self-Denial and Saving Souls: How can we practically apply Thérèse’s teaching on self-forgetfulness and saving souls to our lives, balancing self-care and self-sacrifice within Catholic self-denial?


2. The Hidden Suffering of a Saint: How does the delayed revelation of Thérèse’s suffering deepen or challenge our understanding of her “Little Way” and redemptive suffering?


3. The Body as Temple: Medical Details and Overall Understanding: How do Marie’s medical details about Thérèse contribute to an overall understanding of her, connecting to the Catholic view of the body as a temple?


4. Discerning Encouragement and Prioritizing Well-being: How do we discern between encouraging perseverance through suffering and prioritizing well-being, especially when caring for others?


5. The Spirituality of the Holy Face and Finding God in Suffering: How does meditating on Christ’s suffering (the “Holy Face”) inform our understanding of suffering and our relationship with God in difficult times?

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About this Series

Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality were deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.

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Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.  Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life:  The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio, which are available for purchase, please visit  his  website:   frtimothygallagher.org

Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 14 different podcast series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts?

Visit here to discover more!

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