resent edition, unless where it was advisable to set down her
name in full--Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy
Face. The name of the "Little Flower," borrowed by her from the
Blessed Theophane Venard, and used so extensively in the pages of
her manuscript, is the one by which she is best known in
English-speaking lands. [Ed.]

[9] Cf. Prov. 19:11.

[10] Matt. 25:49.

[11] Wisdom 6:7.

[12] Cf. Ps. 75[76]:10.

[13] Cf. Ps. 17[18]:5.

[14] Cf. Ps. 22[23]:4.

[15] From the last poem written by Soeur Therese.

[16] Ps. 115[116]:15.

[17] John 12:24, 25.

_____________________________

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES OF SOEUR THERESE,
THE LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS

_____________________________

Most of what follows has been gathered from the conversations of
Soeur Therese with her novices. Her advice cannot but prove
helpful to souls within the cloister, and likewise to many in the
world who may be attracted by her simple and easy _little way_ to
God.

* * * * * *

One of the novices, greatly discouraged at the thought of her
imperfections, tells us that her mistress spoke to her as follows:

"You make me think of a little child that is learning to stand but
does not yet know how to walk. In his desire to reach the top of
the stairs to find his mother, he lifts his little foot to climb
the first step. It is all in vain, and at each renewed effort he
falls. Well, be like that little child. Always keep lifting your
foot to climb the ladder of holiness, and do not imagine that you
can mount even the first step. All God asks of you is good will.
From the top of the ladder He looks lovingly upon you, and soon,
touched by your fruitless efforts, He will Himself come down, and,
taking you in His Arms, will carry you to His Kingdom never again
to leave Him. But should you cease to raise your foot, you will be
left for long on the earth."

* * * * * *

"The only way to advance rapidly in the path of love is to remain
always very little. That is what I did, and now I can sing with
our holy Father, St. John of the Cross:

'Then I abased myself so low, so very low, That I ascended to such
heights, such heights indeed, That I did overtake the prey I
chased!'"

* * * * * *

Under a temptation which seemed to me irresistible, I said to her:
"This time, I cannot surmount it." She replied: "Why seek to
surmount it? Rather pass beneath. It is all well for great souls
to