Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

“It's not death that will come in search of me, it's God. Death isn't some phantom, some horrible specter, as it is represented in pictures. It is said in the Catechism that ‘death is the separation of the soul from the body’ and that is all it is.” Saint Therese of Lisieux spoke these words on May 1, 1897, a few months before she died of tuberculosis at age twenty-four. She de-dramatized death. Her feast on October 1st anticipates All Saints Day. Therese is heaven's Ambassador and Forerunner, like John the Baptist was for Christ. In a way, she represents All Saints. She is the great Doctor of love.

On the following May 15, Therese said, “I am very happy to go to heaven very soon. But when I think of these words of God, ‘My reward is with me, to render to each one according to his works’ (Revelation 22:12), I tell myself that He will be very much embarrassed in my case. I haven't any works! He will not be able to reward me ‘according to my works.’ Well, then. He will reward me ‘according to His own works.’” Shortly afterwards, Therese made a seemingly random remark that revealed her holiness: “I would really love to go to Hanoi, to suffer very much for God.” She was referring to a Carmel founded in Saigon in 1895. “I'd like to go there,” she said, “to be all alone, having no earthly consolations. As for the thought of making myself useful there, it doesn't even enter my mind; I know very well I would do nothing at all.”

Pauline, her older sister, was also a nun at the Lisieux Carmel known as Sister Agnes of Jesus. She confided in Therese that she felt “no support here on earth.” Therese replied, “But you do; you have a support, me!” Therese reveals Heaven’s closeness and intimacy with us on earth. In her autobiography, “Story of a Soul”, Therese said she wanted to spend her “heaven” doing good on “earth.” Therese said, “God wills that the Saints communicate grace…through prayer with great love, with a love much greater than that of a family, and even the most perfect family on earth.” Baptism’s innocence – with faith, hope, and love – make us members of this greatest family of love: the Saints!