How do the chapters of our souls read?

June 23, 2002, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. How does your autobiography read? 2. How do you deal with sin and death, terror and fear? 3. What hymns and songs capture your felt faith?

The Story of A Soul, the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux, is one of the classics in Christian spirituality. In this work we hear about how God worked deeply in the heart and soul of a young French girl. With candor and deep emotion, we read about someone who knew herself loved by God, and yet struggled with sufferings and separations.

St. Therese, also known as the "Little Flower," knew the scriptures. Often she read about Jesus' instruction: "Fear no one." She believed in God's providence, the divine care, that went so far as to count the hairs on our head. Therese experienced the person of Jesus who came among us to save us from sin and ultimate death. Therese lived Jeremiah's statement: "But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion." Here was a woman of faith who died not having lived a full 24 years.

So what is the story of our souls? How do the chapters read? Again, we can turn to God's word to assess how we are doing as disciples of Jesus.

Do we have a chapter on "trust?" Four times in the Gospel, reference is made to fear and not being afraid. Jesus understood profoundly our human conditions. We are surrounded by terrors: 9/11; misuse of human sexuality; wars and famines; nuclear threats. How can we not be afraid in such a precarious world? And yet, God is with us as a mighty, loving champion. On the surface we may tremble but deep within our faith tells us that ultimately all will be well. God is in charge and, no matter how badly we err or how violent our world becomes, redemption is available.

Do we have in our autobiography a chapter on "sin and death?" Surely these two realities have touched us all without exception. We have all sinned by breaking relationships or through neglect of our duties. That is why throwing stones is so dangerous. These stones turn into boomerangs and return to inflict wounds on the thrower. And death? All of us have lost loved ones and know from inside the agony of such separation. Life is never the same after a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a mom or dad is taken from us.

But this cannot be the end of the story. Jesus has come to conquer death and sin. He is our Redeemer and our Redeemer liveth. Jesus is the Mercy of God, the Compassion of the Father, the Love given to us through the Holy Spirit. In the mystery of the resurrection we gain a new freedom from fear in all its forms.

Do we have a chapter that deals with songs and praise? Jeremiah, reflecting upon how God rescued him from his enemies and set him free from fear, breaks out with this admonition: "Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked." One of the highest forms of prayer is adoration and one of the best means of expressing our praise is through song.

We sing of the mystery of creation, the gift of life; we sing of our salvation, the mystery of the cross; we sing of the gift of the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of our God. Any story that does not include these great mysteries is incomplete.

St. Therese of Lisieux was named a doctor of the Church in 1997, 100 years after her death. She has been a doctor/teacher to so many of us. The story of her soul continues to inspire thousands upon thousands of people. This incisive quote captures how she dealt with fear and terror, sin and death: "My way is all confidence and love."

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay.)