The Little Way
Article written by Roberta (Robbie) Alicea, OCDS
“I accept everything out of love for God.” (St. Thérèse, Last Conversations, Yellow Notebook, June 4, #3)
I fell in love with St. Thérèse after reading her Story of a Soul. She refers to herself as a “little” child;” but, her story is filled with great depth and insight about loving God as entirely and as perfectly as she was able. It demonstrates the strength of her character and her determination to forsake everything for the love of God.
At first, I thought how impossible it would be for a wife and mother to give up everything. As I read through Thérèse’s story, I realized, as she did, that great and heroic actions or great and heroic sacrifices for the love of God weren’t something I was capable of. Very few souls can accomplish great and heroic things for God. Thérèse instead lovingly offered to God little sacrifices throughout her day. Sacrifices like gratefully eating whatever was provided at mealtime regardless of how distasteful it was. Sacrifices like remaining silent when being falsely accused, as our Lord did. St. Thérèse found countless little ways of consoling the heart of Jesus and demonstrating the totality of her love for Him. Ways that seemed insignificant but in reality were jewels of great price to Our Lord.
Such small sacrifices were something I felt that I could do each busy and chaotic day. I could offer them to Jesus to console Him and make reparation for the countless times He is offended each day. I very quickly learned that it isn’t as easy as it seems. One needs to be persistent in walking this Little Way with St. Thérèse. It did become a little easier as I realized that her Little Way is not supposed to be an easy path. I found that practicing this Little Way is like gathering up little imperfect pearls of love scattered throughout each day until I give them to my Lord, who perfects them with His all-encompassing and purifying love.
It was difficult, at first, to think about what little sacrifices I could offer. I thought what sacrifice could possibly be a worthy offering to my Lord? I thought about chores I found distasteful, such as scrubbing floors. Then one day as I moaned about having to negotiate a complex contract with a very unreasonable individual, it dawned on me: a sacrifice of love is accepting each opportunity with humility and gratitude that He provides to detach myself from my ego.
This realization enabled me to surrender those little pearls to Him with love. When I began to think of self-sacrifice in those terms, many more opportunities arose to gather up those imperfect pearls throughout each day. Every ache, every patiently accepted insult, every distasteful task became an opportunity to sacrifice another piece of my pride and to grow in humility. As I continue in formation as a Secular Carmelite, I find it is becoming much easier to accept those opportunities and offer those little sacrifices to Him who sacrificed His everything for me.
I look to St. Thérèse’s writings to inspire, educate, uplift, chastise, and guide me along the path of her Little Way. I pray that you, too, will seek to follow her path. Silently reflect on her works and listen to what she whispers in your heart. Call to mind the words she spoke to Mother Agnes in her Last Conversations:
“Yes! What a grace it is to have faith!”
For me, this is the call for deepening my faith in His love for me and for surrendering with complete trust to His will. St. Thérèse tells us that by following her Little Way, it is possible to forsake ourselves and grow into humble, loving souls happily seeking and gathering up little pearls of self-sacrifice each day for our Lord. This path of selflessness was her strength and consolation, which she desires to share with each of us.
“In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is stained in your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in your own Justice and to receive from your Love the eternal possession of Yourself. I want no other Throne, no other Crown but You, my Beloved!” (Story of a Soul, “Act of Oblation to Merciful Love”)
Article first published in the Apostolate of the Little Flower Vol. 86, No. 3
Roberta (Robbie) Alicea is a parishioner of St. Anthony Mary Claret Catholic Church in San Antonio and is a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. Mrs. Alicea was employed as a Procurement Analyst for the federal government until her retirement in 2013. She enjoys singing with the Little Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower and performing with the senior ladies of the Pua Mana (Flower Power) Hula Dancers.
