On the first of October, we celebrate the feast of St. Therese, teacher of the Church. If someone claimed that they devoured the first part of her autobiographical writings "Story of a Soul," describing the saint's childhood, in just a few hours, I would hardly be able to shake the suspicion of insincerity. My own reading attention was ripe for the last anointing after just a few pages under the onslaught of tropes and figures. However, unexpectedly, it was revitalized by the words addressed to Therese's older sister Marie-Paule – Mother Agnes of Jesus: "My beloved mother, it is you whom Jesus has chosen to betroth me." This little excursion into my reading diary is not just casual. I was indeed looking for a bridge to move from the reminder that October has arrived to St. Therese and her understanding of gratitude for the people the Lord has sent into her life.
The saint's approach to gratitude was one of the key aspects of her spirituality. She believed that everything we receive is a gift from God, and thus we owe Him gratitude for everything; not only for pleasant things, for vibrant, warm relationships pulsing with mutual affection, but also for all the difficulties, feelings of loneliness, and for those people who find a place in our hearts with more difficulty. In her view, every person, even if unsympathetic, was an instrument of God's grace. An instrument through which the Lord led her to spiritual growth. To strengthen her faith and love. And what is most important; Therese looked at everyone with the eyes of a person who loves in Christ, and did not hesitate to daily translate love, which she writes does not depend on feelings, into actions. Every time she came into contact with a sister in the community, of whom she literally wrote: "has a talent for not pleasing me in anything," she prayed for her to God and offered Him all her virtues. If she was tempted to be unkind to her, she behaved all the more kindly. The sister thus gained the conviction that her sister felt a special sympathy towards her.
The foundation of St. Therese's everyday brotherly love was the full and humble acceptance of extraordinary graces – a deep understanding of God's love and her own nothingness. However, we too can (with God's help) better prepare our hearts to be more open to others, and that requires courage. The courage to love. The courage to give ourselves. After all, the most common call in Scripture is: "Do not be afraid."
Finally, I would like to paraphrase one pastoral cliché: although the new school and academic year has already begun, the good news is that we are all called to (Therese's) school of love – as members of one Body – regardless of age or the lowest level of education achieved.
Sabina Dočekalová
