Why Pope Pius X Called St. Thérèse the Greatest Saint? | Absolutely on Fire for the Love of God

About this sermon

Why did Pope St. Pius X call St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus “the greatest saint of modern times”? She never became a famous missionary. She never founded a great religious order. She entered the Carmelite cloister as a teenager and died from tuberculosis at only 24. Even many of the sisters who lived beside her expected that she would eventually be forgotten. So what made the Little Flower so great? This sermon explores the hidden strength behind St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her Little Way. Her greatness was not measured by spectacular accomplishments, but by her intense love of God, childlike simplicity, purity of intention, and willingness to perform even the smallest duties with a heart burning for Jesus. A great penance performed with pride can be worth less than patiently enduring a minor insult in union with Christ. An ordinary task—perhaps something as insignificant as picking up a pencil—can become precious when performed entirely for the love of God. We also hear of Thérèse's determination to enter Carmel at only fifteen, the hardships she experienced within the convent, and her extraordinary reaction when tuberculosis first revealed itself during Holy Week. Rather than despairing, she received the sign of approaching death with confidence in eternal life. Her message remains urgent: This life is too short for lukewarmness. Whatever God places before you—great or small—do it with love. May the fire of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that burned in the heart of St. Thérèse burn within us now and forever. 🌹 St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us! 00:00 Opening Prayer 00:32 St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus 00:39 “The Greatest Saint of Modern Times” — St. Pius X 00:48 But What Did St. Thérèse Actually Do? 01:09 Greatness Hidden in Littleness 01:17 Thérèse Compared With the Great Missionary Saints 01:35 Why Her Fellow Sisters Thought She'd Be Forgotten 02:05 The Secret of St. Thérèse's Greatness 02:11 Her Intense Love of God & Childlike Simplicity 02:34 Man Sees Appearances—God Sees the Heart 02:54 The Extraordinary Value of Little Things 03:02 Why Right Intention Matters 03:18 Great Penance vs. a Small Sacrifice Made With Love 03:27 Suffering Insults in Union With Christ 03:36 St. Thérèse's Catholic Family & Vocation 03:53 Seeking Carmel at Only 15 04:00 Her Journey to Rome 04:16 St. Thérèse Meets Pope Leo XIII 04:32 Entering Carmel at Lisieux 04:47 Was Thérèse Really a Delicate Little Flower? 05:01 Harsh Treatment & Suffering in Carmel 05:19 Her Life Was Not a Bed of Roses 05:27 Holy Week & the First Sign of Tuberculosis 05:51 “My Heart Nearly Broke With Joy” 06:08 Discovering the Blood-Stained Handkerchief 06:24 Christ's First Call Toward Eternal Life 06:37 Her Extraordinary Joy Amid Suffering 06:54 Continuing the Austerities of Carmel 07:12 The Hope of Heaven 07:19 A Second Sign of Approaching Death 07:34 Thérèse's Lively Faith in Eternal Life 08:00 Even Picking Up a Pencil Can Glorify God 08:09 Do Everything on Fire With the Love of God 08:16 Life Is Too Short for Lukewarmness 08:24 St. Paul: Every Man's Work Will Be Tried by Fire 09:03 The Fire of the Sacred Heart 09:11 Closing Prayer For more from this parish please visit https://institute-christ-king.org/oakland-sermons & please remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest #StTherese #StThereseOfLisieux #LittleFlower #LittleWay #CatholicSaints #Catholic #CatholicFaith #CatholicChurch #SaintOfTheDay #Carmelite #CarmeliteSpirituality #SacredHeart #LoveOfGod #Holiness #Sainthood #CatholicSpirituality #CatholicHomily #CatholicSermon #StPiusX #TraditionalCatholic #SensusFidelium 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Love & Compassion
• Purpose & Calling