A Rose from St. Therese by CNML Board Member Andrea Nease


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I’ve been having many “God-incidences” lately that have brought me back to a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux, and her parents- St. Zelie and St. Louis. 


Several years ago I was struggling with one of my children. I happened to read that St. Therese was herself a difficult child. I asked for her intercession with my child. Soon after, I discovered a tablecloth that originally came from my husband’s grandmother. My guardian angel must have guided my hands because it was almost lost and had been hidden and forgotten from a move, and there was really no  logical reason I should have discovered it. After finding it, I learned about how St. Therese has been known to give roses as signs, and on top of it learned my husband’s grandmother was very devoted to St. Therese of Lisieux. 


This sparked a particular interest in this saint and her family for me. A few years ago I read the book “The Story of a Family” by Fr. Stephane-Joseph Piat. 


Here is a link to the book if you’d like to purchase it: The Story of a Family: The Home of St. Therese of Lisieux 

My intention for reading this book was to learn specifically how St. Zelie and St. Louis raised their children, at least one of which became a saint, so I could gather wisdom in rearing my own children. While I found what I was looking for, I also discovered so much more, including wonderfully insightful letters written by St. Zelie regarding nursing. 


I had not expected to find much on that subject since I was already aware she was unable to nurse some of her children after reading this blog below, but knew nothing beyond that. 


In honor of St. Therese’s Feast day this month, I wanted to share some quotes from Fr. Stephane-Joseph Piat’s book. 


On choosing a wet nurse: 

“When Marie-Helene arrived on October 13, 1864, her mother was no longer able to enjoy the pleasure- which she had so highly appreciated- of partly nursing her herself. Her health gave out at times, and the first symptoms of the malady that was to carry her to her grave were soon to show themselves. She had to put the child out to nurse- a cruelly perplexing problem! In this matter her husband was particularly exacting. In his opinion, when choosing nurses their moral character ought to be the subject of as strict enquirer as the condition of their physical health. Is not the soul of every infant like an extremely sensitive plate, which the first touches mark indelibly for life?” (1)

And another example:

“I am expecting my little angel every day, and I am very perplexed, for I have not yet found a nurse. I have seen several, but they are only very moderately suitable, and my husband could not make up his mind to take any of them. It is not a question of money, but because we are afraid of introducing unsatisfactory persons into our home...If God would grant me the favor of being able to nurse my child, it would be only a pleasure to rear her. For my part, I am madly fond of children. I was born to have them, but it will soon be time to finish with that. I shall be forty-one on the 23rd of this month; it is old enough to be a grandmother!” (2)

In a letter to her sister-in-law dated February 12, 1870, St. Zelie wrote this about using a wet nurse:

“I am rejoicing that next August we shall each have a little son; at least I hope so. But, girl or boy, we must accept gratefully what the good God gives us, for He knows better than we what is best for us. What troubles me is the thought of having once more to put the child out to nurse. It is so difficult to find good persons. I should also like to have the nurse here at home, but it is impossible. I have already enough in the house. After all, I think how God will help me. He well knows that it is not laziness that prevents me from nursing my children, for I am not afraid of trouble.” (3)

And a final example regarding St. Therese:

“But my baby has gone away. It is very sad to have brought up a child for two months and then be compelled to entrust her to the care of strangers. It consoles me to know God so wills it, since I have done my utmost to nurse her myself. So I have nothing with which to reproach myself on that score. I should have preferred to keep the nurse in the house, and so would my husband; he did not want the others, but he was very willing to accept this one, for he knows that she is an excellent woman. “ (4)

On the importance of the woman’s place in the home:

“On her part, Mme. Martin steadily carried on her lace-making business. In her case, as in that of her workers, who brought their “pieces” every Thursday, it was a domestic industry, perfectly compatible with family duties. Otherwise, she would not have undertaken it, for she held that a mother’s place is always in the home, and that, if the mother bird flies off, there is no longer either nest or nestlings.” (5)

On the power of prayer for our children:

“The symptoms of ill-health increased: continual palpitations, intestinal inflammation. Then came running eczema, which spread all over her body and reduced her to a pitiable condition. 
...

From Mans, help came in the shape of a novena to the seer of Paray-le-Monial, then recently beatified. And at the end of the nine days- thanks to the Blessed Margaret-Mary and Sister Marie Dosithee!- Leonie, who had hitherto been unable to stand on her feet, was ‘running about like a little rabbit’ and ‘incredibly agile.’ “ (6)

Like so many of us, she struggled with a bit of inner “Martha.”

I love this quote which was from a letter written to her brother dated February 14, 1868. Aren’t her worries so relatable as a mother? 
“When I set up my business in Point d’Alencon, I made myself ill over it; now I am much more sensible. I worry over it much less, and resign myself to all the tiresome things that happen or may happen. I tell myself that God allows it to work out this, and then think no more about it.” (7)

On the demands of motherhood, she wrote to her daughters Marie and Celine about Therese on June 25th, 1874: 

“The poor little mite will not leave me; she is continually at my side, and loves to follow me about, especially to the garden. When I am not there, she refuses to remain without me, and cries so that they are obliged to bring her to me. I am very glad she is so fond of me, but it is inconvenient sometimes.” (8)

On Zelie’s Sainthood:

Her former servant, Louise Marais, has this to say about St. Zelie’s holiness in a letter written to the Carmel of Lisieux in 1923:

“In my sharp sufferings, I invoke my little Therese and, at the same time, her good and holy mother; for if little Therese is a saint, in my opinion, her mother is one also, and a great one. She was solely tried during her life and she accepted all with resignation l. And then- how she could sacrifice herself! For herself anything was always good enough, but for others it was quite another matter...I would be too long if I told you of all her goodness and submission to the will of God.” (9)
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(1) Piat, Fr. Stephane-Joseph. The Story of A Family: The Home of St. Therese, The Little Flower, Translated by A Benedictine of Stanbrook Abbey, Manila, Sinag-Tala Publishers, Inc., 1994, “A Vocation To Homemaking.” Page 38. 

(2) IBID., “The Little Flower of the Family.”, 90-91.

(3) IBID., “The House Amid the Storm.”, 69.

(4) IBID., “The Little Flower of the Family.”, 95.

(5) IBID.,  “The Greatness of Family Life and its Service.”, 50. 

(6) IBID., 53. 

(7) IBID., “The House and its Storm.”, 85.

(8) IBID., “The Little Flower of the Family.”, 101. 

(9) IBID., “A Mother’s Calvary.”, 192. 

Written by Andrea Nease
CNML Board Member

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