St. Therese books

[Epistemes]

I just finished “Story of a Soul” last night (had been needing to read the Epilogue for nearly 2 weeks!). I’m interested in reading more of her writings if anybody knows whether or not there are any. If there are any excellent ones *about *her, that’s fine too.

Thanks.

 

[DBT]

Two very good books “about” her are:

1. “With Empty Hands” - Fr. Conrad deMeester
2. "John and Therese - Flames of Love " Fr. Guy Gaucher (This one is particularly good if you’re interested in how she’s considered a disciple of St. John of the Cross)

Also, “Last Conversations” (compiled by those closest to St. Therese) fills in a lot of the blanks from “Story of a Soul” about her last days, illness, trial of faith etc. You get a real sense of her spirituality in action and what it must have been like to know and talk with her with this book since she is literally speaking. This is a very good companion piece to “Story of a Soul” for those who want to know more.

She also wrote a book of poetry and her letters are compiled in book form, but I’m not familiar with those. You can go here for more info:

www.icspublications.com

Dave

 

[JimR-OCDS]

In addition to what Dave has suggested, I also love reading about
Theresa’s parents, they were quite extrodinary and I thought they would’ve been the first married couple to be canonized, but such was not the case.

I really loved:

The Father of the Little Flower
Louis Martin (1823-1894)
By: Celine Martin (St. Therese’s Sister)

tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/668/

Jim

 

[Dawn]

I really enjoyed these books on Therese…

Spiritual Childhood by Vernon Johnson
I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean CJ d’Elbee

 

[kaj3]

I really enjoyed these books on Therese…

Spiritual Childhood by Vernon Johnson

I whole-heartedly second this recommendation! I think the author gets to the heart of her purity and simplicity. In fact, I need to re-read that book!

The author uses many quotes from Therese. Her humility is inspiring!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Being we’re on the subject, did any of you see the movie by
St. Luke productions, “Theresa?”

My wife and myself saw it and after waiting anxiously for it to come out, were highly disappointed in the production.

We saw Leonardo Defilippis plays on St. Theresa, St. Francis and St, Maximillian Kolbe, live, and they were excellent. So, we thought that the movie Leonardo and his wife produced on St. Theresa, would’ve been also great. However, such was not the case. The problem was, they had an adult actress who looked like she was well into her 20’s, play the part of Theresa from 14 years on. Essentially you watched an attractive adult woman, act like an emotionally immature child. We couldn’t understand why they didn’t just use the actress who played the part of Theresa in her early years, because this actress also look too old for the part. Any way, we were disappointed and the movie was flop economically. Its probably why the movie theaters refused to run it, even when people wrote in its support.

Jim

 

[DBT]

Being we’re on the subject, did any of you see the movie by
St. Luke productions, “Theresa?”

My wife and myself saw it and after waiting anxiously for it to come out, were highly disappointed in the production.

I had the same reaction. Sadly, the first thing my 4 kids said walking out of the theater was “so how come she’s a Saint?”

Just my opinion, but the movie didn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the depth of her spirituality. I wish they didn’t have Therese “talking” so much; rather, I would have shown her going about her business silently like she probably really did, while the character of Therese read key extracts from “Story of A Soul” to show what she was thinking and how she viewed her relationship with God at all the key moments of her life. It would have been a more “contemplative” film that way.

But then again, what do I know about film making?

Dave

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Dave,
like I said in my post, I saw the play, live in person, on
Theresa, by Leonardo Defilippis. It was excellent! The actress who played the part of Theresa, was able to pull off her early years and her later years, she had that sort of youthful innocence.

In fact, I bet Leonardo Defilippis wanted to use her, but she actually entered the Discalced Carmelite Order. The performance I saw was her last one.

Jim

 

[FCEGM]

Being we’re on the subject, did any of you see the movie by
St. Luke productions, “Theresa?”

My wife and myself saw it and after waiting anxiously for it to come out, were highly disappointed in the production.

We saw Leonardo Defilippis plays on St. Theresa, St. Francis and St, Maximillian Kolbe, live, and they were excellent. So, we thought that the movie Leonardo and his wife produced on St. Theresa, would’ve been also great. However, such was not the case. The problem was, they had an adult actress who looked like she was well into her 20’s, play the part of Theresa from 14 years on. Essentially you watched an attractive adult woman, act like an emotionally immature child. We couldn’t understand why they didn’t just use the actress who played the part of Theresa in her early years, because this actress also look too old for the part. Any way, we were disappointed and the movie was flop economically. Its probably why the movie theaters refused to run it, even when people wrote in its support.

Jim

I had the same reaction, Jim. The actress no personal charisma that could in any way approximate that of St. Therese.

 

[Marysann]

Ignatius Press has several good books about the life and spirituality of St. Therese. One that I really enjoyed was “Saint Therese of Lisieux, Her Family, Her God, Her Message” by Father Bernard Bro. This book really explains her “little way” in a manner which I could really understand. Another book “Therese and Lisieux” by Pierre Descouvemont and Helmuth Nils Loose is wonderful. It is a beautiful picture book with photographs of places and people important in the life of St. Therese. I think that it is available from the Leaflet Missal Company. It is absolutely gorgeous, and if you love St. Therese, you will want this book.

 

[Donna_Mc]

I anxiously awaited the Therese movie too. There was alot that
I liked about the movie but I also felt that the movie would leave
people unclear as to why she is a saint.

 

[Vittorio23]

I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean CJ d’Elbee is absolutely amazing and perhaps one of my favorite books. Definitely read it, it brings a new light to our beloved Little Flower.