Tori of One Soul
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Write the Tori of Her Own Life
With Other Things Wey Saint Thérèse Write and Talk
The Tori of One Soul, wey Saint Thérèse of Lisieux write about her own life, na spiritual book wey people don value for long, and e dey among the most beautiful life stories wey people don ever write about themselves. Sister Thérèse write this tori of her life to obey Mother Agnes of Jesus (her superior for religious life, wey still be her sister, Pauline). The tori of her life show her deep love for God and draw the reader enter the beautiful way wey grace dey work inside her soul.
This free version of the Tori of One Soul dey for public domain, and anybody fit use am and copy am without restriction, thanks to the Gutenberg Project.
You fit also like to read Lessons from Saint Thérèse: The Wisdom of God’s Small Flower together with this wonderful spiritual book from Saint Thérèse.
WETIN DEY INSIDE
Preface wey H.E. Cardinal Bourne Write
Prologue: Her Parents and Her Birth
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Chapter I. The First Things Wey She Remember
Chapter II. One Catholic Family
Chapter III. Pauline Enter Carmel
Chapter IV. First Communion and Confirmation
Chapter V. The Calling of Thérèse
Chapter VI. Pilgrimage to Rome
Chapter VII. The Small Flower Enter Carmel
Chapter VIII. Sister Thérèse Take Her Religious Vows
Chapter IX. Night for the Soul
Chapter X. The New Commandment
Epilogue: Sacrifice to God’s Love
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ADVICE AND THINGS WEY SHE REMEMBER
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LETTERS WEY SISTER THÉRÈSE WRITE
To Céline
To Mother Agnes of Jesus
To Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart
To Sister Frances Teresa
To Marie Guérin
To Jeanne Guérin
To Missionaries
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PRAYERS OF SISTER THÉRÈSE
Her Prayer to Offer Herself
Morning Prayer
Prayer to Consecrate Herself to the Holy Face
Prayer to Honour the Holy Pikin
Prayer to the Holy Pikin
Prayer to the Holy Face
Prayer to Honour St. Joan of Arc
Prayer to Get Humility
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POEMS WEY DEM SELECT
My Song for Today
Things Wey I Remember
Thirst for Love Dey Catch Me
To Scatter Flowers
Why I Love You, Mary
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Version Wey You Fit Listen to Online
NOTE ABOUT THIS ELECTRONIC EDITION
This electronic edition of the tori wey St. Thérèse of Lisieux write about her own life (The Tori of One Soul) get plenty of the things wey dey inside Sister Thérèse of Lisieux (London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, 1912; 8th ed., 1922), wey Rev. T.N. Taylor edit, but no be everything dey inside. All the writings and sayings of St. Thérèse wey dem translate for that book dey inside this electronic edition, including the tori wey she write about her own life, plus “Advice and Things Wey She Remember,” letters, and poems wey dem select. The preface wey Cardinal Bourne write, the prologue wey tell about Thérèse’s parents and her birth, and the epilogue wey describe her last sickness, her death, and other things wey happen around that time, still dey inside. The pictures, the list of pictures, stories of favours wey people say dem receive through the intercession of St. Thérèse, documents about her beatification, and some other things wey no be she write no dey inside.
Dem don number di footnotes afresh, one after another, for each chapter. Dem dey for di end of each chapter, and dem don change some small so e go easy to refer to dem. Dem don change or remove some footnotes wey refer to page numbers for di original. For references to di Psalms, plenty of their numbers for Catholic Bibles for St. Thérèse time different from di ones wey people commonly dey use today. Dem put di “new” number inside brackets beside di “old” number from di original—for example, “Psalm 22[23]:1-4.” Footnote numbers dey inside brackets, for example, “[1].”
Di original headings for top of pages, page numbers, di statement say dem no intend to decide before di Church by calling St. Thérèse “saint” before her canonization, and other extra material no dey here. Dem consider these things suitable for printed book for 1922, but no be for e-book for 2005. Di French joined letters “oe,” for words like “soeur,” no dey for di standard ISO-8859-1 character set, so dem use di two separate letters “oe” here. Dem use underscores for beginning and end to show italics, like dis. Di first word for each chapter no dey in all capital letters as e be for di printed book. Dem don correct some clear typing errors, and dem put di changes inside brackets, for example, “[s]he” instead of “the” for Chapter IX. For every other thing, including capital letters, punctuation, grammar and British spelling, di aim na to follow wetin dey for di eighth edition of Soeur Thérèse of Lisieux. If e no follow am, na di fault of di person wey copy di text (me, David McClamrock).
SISTER THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX, DI SMALL FLOWER OF JESUS
NEW AND COMPLETE TRANSLATION OF L’HISTOIRE D’UNE ÂME, WITH ACCOUNT OF SOME FAVOURS WEY DEM ATTRIBUTE TO SISTER THÉRÈSE INTERCESSION
T. N. TAYLOR NA DI EDITOR: PRIEST FOR DI ARCHDIOCESE OF GLASGOW: WITNESS BEFORE DI TRIBUNAL FOR DI BEATIFICATION
BURNS, OATES & WASHBOURNE LD.
TWENTY-EIGHT ORCHARD STREET, LONDON, W., AND EIGHT TO TEN PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON, E.C.
NIHIL OBSTAT JOANNES N. STRASSMAIER, S.J. Di Appointed Censor
IMPRIMATUR EDMUNDUS Canon SURMONT Vicar General
WESTMONASTERII, die nonâ Decembris, 1912.
DEM DEDICATE DIS BOOK TO DI SERVANT OF GOD, SISTER THÉRÈSE, TO THANK GOD FOR GRACES WEY DEM DON RECEIVE, AND TO HER “SMALL MAMA,” MOTHER AGNES OF JESUS, WITH GRATITUDE AS DEM REMEMBER HER COUNTLESS ACTS OF KINDNESS OVER MANY YEARS
INTRODUCTION
As we dey learn di life stories of those wey God don choose, one after another over many years, to show as examples of holy life, e be like say every aspect of human life don receive consecration for di history of di Church as power to bring people nearer to their Maker. But no limit dey to di different kinds of holiness wey di Creator dey pleased to reveal before His creatures. For many people, when dem first read di story of Sister Teresa of di Child Jesus and of di Holy Face, e almost shock dem to see one very young member of a Religious Order wey get strict way of life, wey live completely apart from di world, dey pray in secret and practise mortification, come appear before us to reveal to di whole world di wonders of di very close friendship wey her Divine Spouse don choose to call her enter. Truly, di way wey dem lead Sister Thérèse no be di normal life of Carmel, and her way no be di way wey God dey call most Carmelites to carry out di wonderful apostolate of intercession wey dem dedicate their lives to. But e still sure say, for her own particular case, her work for God and her apostolate no go remain only inside di walls of her religious community house, or end with di few years wey she spend for earth.
First of all, we know say na through obedience dem take write down di record of how God deal with her soul. Again, di long account of graces wey people receive in such extraordinary abundance through her intercession na enough proof say no be without God permission and guidance di story of her special and unique vocation take become something wey all Catholics for every land fit share. Na God get di right to keep di secrets of His Love for people, and na Him get di right to make dem known. And for Sister Thérèse case, na His Will to reveal His secrets as He generously consider our needs.
Wetin be di hidden treasures wey Our Divine Master dey reveal to us like dis through His small servant wey He choose?
Na the old story of simple way to serve God, of how person dey carry out small duties wey dey repeat with full care, and of trust wey get firm confidence in the One wey make us, redeem us and make us holy. Humility, no dey push oneself forward, obedience, life wey no dey draw attention, and love of God and neighbour wey no dey shake, together with all the self-control and constant effort wey dem require, dey show for every page of the life story of this little Saint. And as we dey turn the pages, the lesson dey enter deep inside our souls: no way dey wey sure pass or safe pass to please Our Father wey dey Heaven than to always remain like small children for His eye. Without doubt, for many people wey dey seek her intercession and wey their hearts dey burn with devotion as dem read this book, Sista Thérèse go obtain wonderful gifts for the health of their souls and bodies, as she don do plenty times before. But make she obtain for all of us, without leaving anybody out, deep conviction wey go bear good fruit about this truth wey no dey change: unless we become like small children as we dey do the Will of our Heavenly Father, we no fit enter our Eternal Home.
FRANCIS CARDINAL BOURNE, Archbishop of Westminster.
Feast of the Presentation of Our Blessed Lady, 1912.
INTRODUCTION: THE PARENTS & BIRTH OF MARIE FRANÇOISE THÉRÈSE MARTIN
For the month of September, 1843, one young man wey dey twenty years climb the mountain of the Great St. Bernard. His eyes shine with holy zeal as the great beauty of the Alps touch am deep for heart. Before long, tears begin shine for his eyes, wey don dey used to seeing God’s beauty inside the beauty of the things wey He make. He stop for a short while, then continue his journey, and soon reach the famous monastery wey be like light for those high mountains, wey dey send the rays of faith and great love of God and neighbour far away.
The Prior, wey the sincere and open face of his visitor touch, welcome am with more warmth than usual. Louis Joseph Stanislaus Martin na the pilgrim name. Dem born am on August 22, 1823, for Bordeaux, when his papa, one brave soldier wey dey devoted to God, be captain for the soldiers wey dey stationed there. “God don choose this little one beforehand for Himself,” na wetin the holy Bishop of Bordeaux talk when dem baptise am, and the things wey later happen don show say his words na true. From this town, wey dey beside River Garonne, his parents move go Alençon for lower Normandy. For their new home, just as for their old one, Louis na their beloved Benjamin.
No be the beauty of the lakes, mountains and skies of Switzerland draw the traveller come from faraway Alençon. He come the monastery—and na mainly with leg he travel—to dedicate all his days to God. When the Prior hear wetin bring am, he ask am questions about how well he know Latin, only to find out say the young man wey wan join dem never finish his studies for that language. “My child, I truly sorry,” the venerable monk talk, “because this na condition wey must dey fulfilled, but make you no lose heart. Go back to your own country, face your studies with all seriousness, and when you don finish, we go welcome you with open arms.”
Louis feel disappointed. He begin his journey go home—though na exile he for call am—but before long, he see clearly say he go dedicate his life to God for another way wey go bear just as much fruit, and say the monastery for the Alps go remain only one sweet memory for am.
* * * * * *
Some years after Louis Martin search wey no succeed, something like that happen for Alençon itself. Zélie Guérin—one fine girl wey dey devoted to God—go with her mama to the Convent of the Sisters of Charity, with hope say dem go accept am. For years, she don desire to join the Sisters for their work, but e no go happen like that. For the interview wey follow, the Superioress—wey the Holy Spirit guide—decide without hesitation say Zélie no get vocation to religious life. God want make she live for the world, so she return to her parents, and to the company of her elder sister and younger brother. Shortly after, her beloved sister enter the Visitation Convent for Le Mans, and Zélie begin think about the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. “O my God”—na wetin she dey repeat always—“since I no worthy to be Your Spouse, like my dear sister, I go enter married life to fulfil Your Holy Will, and I beg You to make me mama of many children, and grant say all of dem go dey dedicated to You.”
God listen to her prayer, and dem fit see His Finger for the things wey happen wey lead am to become Louis Martin wife, on July 12, 1858, for the fine Church of Notre Dame for Alençon. Like Tobias wey keep himself chaste, dem join together for marriage—”only because of love for children, so that through them, dem go bless God Name for ever and ever.” Nine white flowers bloom for this holy garden. Out of the nine, dem transplant four go Paradise before their buds fully open, while dem gather five inside God gardens wey wall surround for this earth: one enter the Visitation Convent for Caen, and the others enter the Carmel of Lisieux.
From when dem still dey cradle, dem dedicate all of them to Mary Immaculate, and all of them
receive her name: Marie Louise, Marie Pauline, Marie Léonie,
Marie Hélène, wey die when she dey four and a half years old, Marie Joseph
Louis, Marie Joseph Jean Baptiste, Marie Céline, Marie Mélanie
Therèse, wey die when she dey three months old, and lastly, Marie
Françoise Thérèse.
Na prayers and tears bring the two boys. After dem born the first four girls, their papa and mama beg St. Joseph make e obtain for them the favour of one son wey go become priest and missionary. Before long, dem receive Marie Joseph, and the sweet things wey e dey do touch everybody heart. But only five months pass before Heaven ask for wetin e lend them. After that, dem pray more novenas with even greater urgency.
These Christian parents understand the greatness of the Priesthood well—e glorious for earth, and for eternity, mouth no fit describe am. Na why their hearts desire am so deeply. No matter wetin e go cost, the family must get one Priest of the Lord, somebody wey go be apostle, and maybe even martyr. But, “the thoughts of the Lord no be our thoughts, His ways no be our ways.” Dem born another little Joseph, and with am, their hope become strong again. Ah! Nine months never even fully pass when e too leave this world go join im angel brother.
Dem no ask again. Still, if dem been fit lift the veil wey cover the future, their heavy hearts for surely receive comfort. God go give them one child wey go announce Divine love, no be only to China, but to every end of the earth.
Even more, dem themselves dey destined to shine as apostles, and for one of the first pages of the Portuguese edition of the Autobiography, we read these important words from one highly respected Jesuit:
“To the Sacred Memory of Louis Joseph Stanislaus Martin and
Zélie Guérin, the blessed parents of Sister Teresa of the Child
Jesus, as example for all Christian parents.”
Dem hardly imagine this apostolic work wey dey wait for them, but still, day by day, dem prepare their souls to be God own instruments when God good time reach. With plenty love, dem accept God will as dem welcome the many crosses wey the Lord lay on them—the Lord wey His tender name, Father, show how true e be pass for the dark hour of trial.
Every morning, dem dey Mass; together, dem kneel for the Holy Table. Dem strictly keep the fasts and abstinences of the Church, keep Sunday as day to rest completely from work even though their friends protest, and find their greatest enjoyment for holy reading. Dem pray together—following the touching example of Captain Martin, wey the devoted way e dey repeat the Our Father dey bring tears come everybody eye. Na so the great Christian virtues grow well for their home. Their wealth no lead them to live in luxury, and dem always hold firmly to simple living.
“How most people dey make serious mistake!” Madame Martin dey often talk. “If dem rich, dem go immediately desire honours; and if dem get these honours, dem still no happy; because any heart wey dey seek anything apart from God no fit ever get satisfaction.”
Everything wey she desire as mama point towards Heaven. “Four of my children don already settle well for life,” she write one time; “and the others go likewise go that Heavenly Kingdom—with greater merit, because their battle go don last longer.”
Love, for all the different ways wey e dey show itself, na wetin naturally flow from the devotion of these simple hearts. Every year, husband and wife set aside one large part of their earnings for the Propagation of the Faith; dem help poor people wey dey distress, and use their own hands care for them. One time, people see Monsieur Martin, like the good Samaritan, lift one man wey drunk from ground for one busy road, carry im bag of tools, support am with im arm, and lead am go house. Another time, when e see one poor man wey get epilepsy for railway station, wey hunger dey worry and wey no get money to return to im faraway home, pity touch am so much that e remove im hat, put one gift of money inside, and begin beg the passengers on behalf of the man wey dey suffer. Money pour in, and with heart wey full of gratitude, the sick man bless the person wey help am.
E no ever allow di low fear of wetin people go think make am bring down im dignity as Christian. No matter who dey with am, e dey always salute di Blessed Sacrament anytime e dey pass any church; and e no ever meet priest without showing am respect. Just one word from im mouth dey enough to silence anybody wey dare talk blasphemy for im presence.
As reward for im virtues, God pour even blessings of this world on His faithful servant. For 1871, e fit leave im business as jeweller, come retire go live for one house for Rue St. Blaise. But di work of making point-lace wey Madame Martin start still continue.
Na for that house di “Small Flower of Jesus” first see sunlight. Again and again, for di pages of di story of her life wey she write by herself, she dey call herself this humble name of di Small Flower, wey stand for her humility, her purity, her simplicity, and, we fit add, di poetry wey dey her soul. For di Epilogue, di person wey dey read go learn how one of her favourite martyr-saints—Théophane Vénard, wey now be Blessed—use di name too. For di manuscript of di story of her life, she put di title: “Di Story of di Springtime of one small white Flower,” and na so e truly be, because long before di harsh winter of life reach, di Flower don dey bloom for Paradise.
But na for middle of winter, January 2, 1873, dem born this ninth pikin of Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin. Marie and Pauline don come home from di Visitation Convent for Le Mans for Christmas holidays. True true, small disappointment dey because dem still no get di boy wey dem hope say go become priest, but di disappointment pass quick, and dem see di small pikin as special gift from Heaven. Later, her beloved Papa dey enjoy to call her im “Small Queen,” and sometimes e dey add di grand titles—”Of France and Navarre.”
Dem really welcome di Small Queen well that winter morning. As di day dey go, one poor pikin wey no get who dey care for am ring di bell for di door of di happy home with fear, come give dem one paper wey carry this simple verse:
“Smile and grow quick; Everything dey call you to joy, Sweet love, and di most tender care. Smile with gladness as day dey break, Flower bud wey just one hour old!—because you Go become rose wey stand with grace.”
Na lovely prophecy e be, because di flower bud open im petals come become rose—rose of love—but no be for long, “just for di short time of one morning!”
* * * * * *
For January 4, dem carry her go di Church of Notre Dame to receive di Sacrament of Baptism; her eldest sister, Marie, na her godmother, and dem give her di name Marie Françoise Thérèse.[1]
At first, na joy everywhere, but before long di tender flower bud begin bend down for im delicate stem: hope wey remain small well well—e go wither and die. “You must pray to St. Francis de Sales,” na wetin her aunt write from di convent for Le Mans, “and you must promise say, if di pikin recover, you go dey call her by her second name, Frances.” This one be like sword wey pierce di Mama heart. As she bend over di cradle of her Thérèse, she wait for di end to come, dey talk say: “Na only when di last hope don finish I go promise to dey call her Frances.”
Di gentle St. Francis leave im claim for di great Reformer of di Carmelite Order: di pikin recover, and so she keep her sweet name of Thérèse. But sorrow mix with di Mama joy when e become necessary to send di baby go stay with another woman wey go care for her for countryside. For there, di “small rose-bud” grow for beauty, and after some months she don get enough strength for dem to bring her back to Alençon. Di way she remember this short but happy time wey she spend with her holy Mama for Rue St. Blaise clear well well. Today, one plaque for di balcony of No. 42 dey tell people wey dey pass say na here dem born one Carmelite wey im name na Sister Teresa of di Child Jesus and di Holy Face. Fifteen years don pass since Madame Martin and her Carmelite pikin meet for Heaven. And even if di number of pilgrims wey dey go where di Small Flower first see daylight no reach di number wey dey go di grave where her remains dey wait for their glorious resurrection, dem still fit count dem for thousands. And pilgrim wey dey speak English get extra joy because di man wey she bring to di faith wey people know pass—di first minister of di United Free Church of Scotland wey enter di true Church—dey welcome visitors with courtesy, together with im wife wey convert too.
* * * * * *
E no go bad if we talk small here about Madame Martin brother and sister. Her sister—wey her name for religious life na Sister Marie Dosithea—live such holy life for Le Mans that Dom Guéranger, wey fit be the most outstanding Benedictine of the nineteenth century, point to her as example of nun wey reach perfection. As she herself talk, from her earliest childhood, she never deliberately commit even the smallest fault. She die on February 24, 1877. Na for the convent wey this kind holiness fill with sweet fragrance her niece Pauline Martin receive her education. Pauline na Thérèse elder sister and her “small mama,” and for five years she be Thérèse Prioress for Carmel. And if the Little Flower fit don absorb the spirit of the liturgy from her teachers, the daughters of St. Benedict for Lisieux, so that before she die she fit talk: “I no think say anybody fit don desire pass me to take part well for choir and to recite the Divine Office perfectly”—e no fit be say na the influence from Le Mans bring some of that spirit of St. Francis de Sales wey sweet like honey and wey fill the pages of this Autobiography?
The person wey dey read go come know Zélie Guérin brother for Thérèse story. Na pharmacist him be for Lisieux, and na there him daughter Jeanne Guérin marry Dr. La Néele, and him younger pikin Marie enter Carmel. Our missionaries wey dey serve for foreign lands get true friend for Thérèse uncle—because of him works of charity, dem make am godfather to one African King; and he always devote himself well-well to the Catholic Press—that missionary wey dey work for home. Na him start the Night Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for Lisieux, and he be zealous member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. God call am go receive him abundant reward on September 28, 1909. Truly, the lamp of faith never quench for the land of the Norman people.
After Thérèse papa wife die, he too come make him home for that lovely town wey dey among the beautiful apple gardens for the valley of the Touques. Lisieux get plenty things wey make am interesting: the fine old churches of St. Jacques and St. Pierre, and the wonderful old-style houses, some of which don dey since the twelfth century. For matters of faith, the town no too get zeal, but e no dey oppose faith either. And for 1877, the people wey dey live there hardly imagine say, through their new resident, Marie Françoise Thérèse Martin, their town go get name wey no go ever die.
* * * * * *
“The small room for Lisieux remind us of Blessed Gabriel small room for Isola. The same steady way of life dey there, the same wonderful faithfulness for small things, the same flames of divine love wey dey burn but remain hidden. Nazareth, with the simplicity of its Child, and the calm love of Mary and Joseph wey deep pass wetin person fit measure—Nazareth, wey deserve loving admiration but wey person still fit imitate, give us the key to understand her spirit, and her Autobiography only dey repeat the lessons of those thirty hidden years.”[2]
And e dey repeat them with beauty wey nothing fit match. One person wey write the life story[3] of St. Ignatius Loyola write say: “This master for the practice of self-denial love garden and love flowers. He go sit for the balcony of him study room dey look the stars: na then Lainez hear am talk: ‘Oh, how this earth dey lose value for my eye when I look Heaven!’ . . . This same kind imagination, wey people for this our small-minded age dey look down on, dey inside all the great souls of that time. Even the Saints of our own day dey speak with language wey no shine reach their own: and holiness dey appear as if ‘dem don cut off its rays’ through the black fog of the belief wey dey everywhere say na practical usefulness alone matter—the attachment to material things wey people don breathe enter the very lungs of their souls.”
This one no true of the holy woman wey write the chapters wey follow—even though dem be “less radiant” as dem pass through translation. For her own pages wey nobody fit imitate, just as for those of Campion or Ignatius, Teresa of Avila or John of the Cross—the Spirit of Poetry na maidservant to Holiness. This new lover of flowers and student of the stars, this “person wey dey scatter roses,” don lift one million hearts from the “earth wey lose value” and the “black fog” reach the very throne of God, and her mission only just dey begin.
Now na Sister Thérèse herself go use her pen continue the story. She go use words wey no just dey talk about love, but wey dey set heart on fire. At the same time, the words go show clearly how God dey work inside one soul wey “since the age of three never refuse the Good God anything.” To write this Autobiography na act of obedience, and the Prioress wey give her the work simply want make e help her own spiritual growth. But the fragrance of its pages sweet so much that people advise her to publish them for the whole world. She do so for 1899 under the title L’Histoire d’une Âme. One English translation by M. H. Dziewicki come out for 1901.
Dis new translation tell di tori of Soeur Thérèse more fully—from when she be small pikin, through when she be young girl, to di short time we she spend for convent. E tell about her “Rose Flowers,” and e present again, for our language we people dey speak for di whole world, di message we she carry to di whole world—di message of God’s Merciful Love we don dey since olden days, and di way to reach Him we dey new every time: “to trust Him and surrender yourself completely to Him.”
Di Editor. ______________________________
[1] Dem dey show visitors di baptism record, we get plenty signatures, and one plaque for di baptistry of di fine Gothic church dey tell pilgrims say na here di “Small Queen” become God’s pikin. [Ed.]
[2] “Like Small Pikin Dem”: di short version of Soeur Thérèse life tori. Dem publish am for Orphans’ Press, Rochdale.
[3] Francis Thompson.
List of Wetin Dey Inside Tori of One Soul
List of Wetin Dey Inside Wetin Saint Thérèse Teach: Di Wisdom of God’s Small Flower