St. Thérèse of Lisieux was a remarkable saint. While she was confined to the walls of a cloister during her life, her writings made her an instant celebrity after her death, highlighting the depth and simplicity of her spirituality.
One of the key parts of her life was her simple devotion to Jesus and her intense love of him, even in the midst of suffering and desolation. She loved God with her whole heart and was willing to do anything for him.
Because of this intense love, St. John Paul II called her an "expert" in the "science of love" in his apostolic letter, Novo Millennio Ineunte.
Pope Benedict XVI picked up this same theme in a general audience he gave in 2011:
Pope Benedict continued in his reflection, pointing out the beauty of her expertise in love, "The Story of a Soul, in fact, is a marvelous story of Love, told with such authenticity, simplicity and freshness that the reader cannot but be fascinated by it! But what was this Love that filled Thérèse’s whole life, from childhood to death? Dear friends, this Love has a Face, it has a Name, it is Jesus! The saint speaks continuously of Jesus."
If we are to ever become an expert in love like St. Thérèse, we must look to Jesus, to his face, and love him with our whole heart, mind and soul. Only then can we truly love our neighbor, seeing in them the face of Christ.
