Everything Is Grace: The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux

by Joseph F. Schmidt

Book Overview

Th?r?se of Lisieux has been called the greatest saint of modern times, but some view her spirituality as sentimental and syrupy. Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC, dispels that notion by contending that Th?r?se's "little way" is really the gospel message-a message that can best be understood in the context of her life. Schmidt does a masterful job of weaving together biographical details with Th?r?se's profound insights on God's love and mercy. This book...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593250959
• ISBN13: 9781593250959
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Word Among Us Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A profound teaching on love

Everything is Grace is a remarkable, yet readily accessible, book in which Brother Joseph Schmidt shares the fruit of his deep and intimate knowledge, of the life and person of St Thérèse of Lisieux. The author not only knows Thérèse, he understands and obviously loves her. However, he never lets his admiration for this young woman get in the way. His focus is clearly on this most recently created Doctor of the Church with her disarming honesty, courage and insight. Thérèse came to know God, not through the prevailing spirituality of late nineteenth century France, a spirituality imbued with a harsh, ultimately ego-centered Jansenism, perfectionism and Pelagianism. Her spirituality matured as she reflected on her everyday life experience - the mundane and the sublime, the brickbats and the bouquets - in the light of the Gospel. Like any life, Thérèse' life was unique. It could readily be stereotyped as narrow, sheltered, obscure and a-typical. Schmidt succeeds in presenting the profound wisdom of Thérèse' "Way", the fruit of her reflection on her life. This way is ultimately a way of understanding the gospel call of love. The Good News of this book is that this way is accessible to all. I value this book because of its profound teaching on love. Thérèse teaches that love is never, ever violent; love never accommodates others by compromising one's own integrity and inner freedom; love does not cultivate one's own preferences; love refuses to harbor self-centered thoughts and negative feelings; and love never calculates. Indeed, says Thérèse, arithmetic is the one science God doesn't know! The whole call of Christian love, she teaches, is that we love others in their weakness, we love ourselves in our inadequacy, all made possible through our willingness to receive God's love in us. Joseph Schmidt believes that Thérèse and her teaching are great gifts to the modern church and to modern people. Those reading this book will endorse his view.

Everything is Grace: The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux

Why read Everything Is Grace. The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux? Consider that at her death, which was attended by no more than 30 people, Therese was remembered as no one particularly special by several sisters from her convent nor did they ever think that she would ever become a saint. What was it about her life? What was contained in her poetry, letters and autobiography that would cause this humble woman, who died at the young age of 24, to be canonized by the church in 1925 and then, in 1997, proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II. These are the questions that Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC, invites us to explore in this wonderfully well written and easy to read book about St. Therese of Lisieux. Her insight for our time into the fundamental message of the Gospel is that there is no "violence" contained in the Gospel. Today, when we struggle with the presence of so much violence in the world, we should take to heart her life and words. This is especially true of the "violence" we often commit on ourselves. The gentle advice she gave to one of her sisters applies to you and me, "if you are willing to bear serenely the trial of being displeasing to yourself, then you will be for Jesus a pleasant place of shelter." Please read the book. You'll be glad that you did.

He understands a very unique young woman

Joseph Schmidt has written an accessible, insightful book about this popular saint from a wealth of knowledge he has about her. His personal affection and admiration for Therese never gets in the way of uncovering facts about Therese that help explain why she has charmed people as diverse as Jack Kerouac and Thomas Merton as well as many in the Muslim community. Therese died at 24 but her influence grows stronger with each year. After reading this book you will know why.

Everything Is Grace

I just ordered a dozen copies of this book as Christmas presents for friends! Let me share why with you review readers. I found myself not only reading, but also praying this book. It is a wonderful adventure in following the life and spiritual way of Therese of Lisieux. Even more than that, I found it engaging my heart and mind in a penetrating way--calling me to the possibility of holiness in the ordinary experiences of each day. Joseph Schmidt is a scholar of Therese and has made her so accessible to spiritual pilgrims of today. His beautiful book presents Therese's life and spirituality in a way that inspires and urges the reader to imitate her inner freedom and transformation. The 40 chapters of the book are each about 5-6 pages in length, and so well-written that I found myself treasuring each thought, under-lining and noting on each page ideas for further digesting. Therese's message is the fundamental gospel messaage of God's "stooping down" in merciful love and drawing us all--not just the good--into God's Love. Joseph Schmidt develops this contemporary message of the gospel way of holiness in a very fresh and compelling way, true to Therese herself. Therese's life unfolds before the reader in the ordinary experiences of her days, as she responds with generosity, confidence and love. I found myself inspired and wanting to imitate her. The truth of her and Schmidt's message--Everything is Grace--is a gift to today's readers. It is a path of inner freedom and transformation. Readers will experience a fresh view of Gospel spirituality and join the ranks of Therese's followers which include Thomas Merton, Mother Teresa, Edith Stein and Dorothy Day--a diverse group of 20th century saints who have championed Therese's non-violence and her spiritual way of accepting with willingness all of life's happenings as gifts of God's grace.

New Insights on Therese's Life for Our Day

This most interesting book tells of how Therese's spirituality is at the heart of our Christian beliefs in the present day. Brother Joseph Schmidt has also included many new facts and insights on Therese's life that I have not found in any other books on her, including information on her advocate in Rome, Brother Simeon. I found this book to be most enjoyable and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in contemporary spirituality.