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The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of the Little Flower (Tan Classics) Paperback – April 1, 2010
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About the Author
St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as "Therese of the Child Jesus" and "The Little Flower", was the last of nine children born to Louis and Zelie Martin, at France in 1873. She was often anxious and depressed in childhood, as she suffered the early death of her mother. After she converted interiorly and began to read Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ, she joined 2 of her sisters in a discalced Carmelite convent as a nun at just 15 years old. After her oldest sister was elected prioress, Therese became a permanent novice to allay suspicions that her family was dominating the small community. She lived humbly, concealing her intense prayer life and countless sacrifices
Therese is the author of her own popular autobiography entitled The Story of a Soul, which she began writing in 1895, and she instituted a simple path to holiness now widely known as the "Little Way". She died of tuberculosis on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24 and was canonized only 28 years later, in 1925, by Pope Pius XI. She was later installed as the thirty-third Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
Therese is the author of her own popular autobiography entitled The Story of a Soul, which she began writing in 1895, and she instituted a simple path to holiness now widely known as the "Little Way". She died of tuberculosis on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24 and was canonized only 28 years later, in 1925, by Pope Pius XI. She was later installed as the thirty-third Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
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83 of 91 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on July 23, 2002
Format: Paperback
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St. Therese of Lisieux's memoir, "Story of a Soul," has set the world on fire. For more than fifty years after Therese's death, the only edition available had been heavily edited by Therese's sister Pauline, Mother Agnes of Jesus, who made about five thousand changes in the manuscript. Michael Day's translation is made from this edited manuscript.
Happily, about 1956 the "Manuscrits authentiques," Therese's original manuscripts, were released to the world, and in 1976 Fr. John Clarke, O.C.D. translated them in the book "Story of a Soul: the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux," published by the Institute of Carmelite Studies. This is universally acknowledged as the only authentic and authoritative English translation. Mother Agnes's version remains of interest to scholars who wish to compare the two manuscripts, or to study the version which gave rise to the original cult of St. Therese.
Happily, about 1956 the "Manuscrits authentiques," Therese's original manuscripts, were released to the world, and in 1976 Fr. John Clarke, O.C.D. translated them in the book "Story of a Soul: the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux," published by the Institute of Carmelite Studies. This is universally acknowledged as the only authentic and authoritative English translation. Mother Agnes's version remains of interest to scholars who wish to compare the two manuscripts, or to study the version which gave rise to the original cult of St. Therese.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on December 29, 1999
Format: Paperback
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This is an excellent book! In telling her life story St. Therese of Lisieux reveals in the process a sure and simple (though not necessarily easy) method to achieve union with God's will and the serenity of the soul that accompanies this. The style, while distinctively late 19th century, adds rather than detracts from the charm this book. The Story of a Soul is just that. It relates one soul's mystical journey toward holiness and union with God. I highly recommend it.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By
Carrie
on November 6, 1999
Format: Paperback
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St. Therese shows deep spiritual wisdom and beauty. Her life is to be an example for all of us! What is written in this book has a combination of the strength of Augustine's CONFESSIONS and the humbleness of Teresa of Avila's biography. Together, that makes this a wonderful book for a person of any kind to look for counsel in Therese. A lovely book, I suggest it for everyon!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By
Nicola Mansfield
on August 1, 2011
Reason for Reading: Our church has been run by the Carmelites for over 100 years. Our priests are Carmelites and we have a statutory of St. Therese in the building. I was much intrigued about her "little way' and after watching the recent 2004 movie about her life was ready to read her autobiography.
In truth, the book is really not an autobiography but more of a snippet of memoirs. It is divided into three pieces, the first, being the longest, was commissioned by her Mother Superior who also happened to be her sister. This is where Therese tells of her childhood up until she is accepted into Carmel. Therese was a sheltered child, raised along with 4 other sisters who also became nuns and devout Catholic parents who kept them from the worldly ways of life but raised them within a deeply loving family atmosphere. Therese was very much childlike her entire life of 24 years, never having experienced any of life's degradations and was a complete innocent in so many matters. Yet her soul belonged to the Lord from a very early age (three) and she knew she wanted to be a saint. Even though her mother died while she was still young her childhood seems to have been happy enough, with Therese preparing herself for a Religious life and a holy, saintly, Heavenly eternal life which may have taken some of the childhood fun out of her but her soul was content with this and she yearned to suffer for Jesus while she was exiled here on earth.
The second piece is a much shorter memoir written for another Mother of the Abbey who had requested Therese write of life at Carmel. Here we see Therese grow-up though she will always retain her childlike innocence.Read more ›
In truth, the book is really not an autobiography but more of a snippet of memoirs. It is divided into three pieces, the first, being the longest, was commissioned by her Mother Superior who also happened to be her sister. This is where Therese tells of her childhood up until she is accepted into Carmel. Therese was a sheltered child, raised along with 4 other sisters who also became nuns and devout Catholic parents who kept them from the worldly ways of life but raised them within a deeply loving family atmosphere. Therese was very much childlike her entire life of 24 years, never having experienced any of life's degradations and was a complete innocent in so many matters. Yet her soul belonged to the Lord from a very early age (three) and she knew she wanted to be a saint. Even though her mother died while she was still young her childhood seems to have been happy enough, with Therese preparing herself for a Religious life and a holy, saintly, Heavenly eternal life which may have taken some of the childhood fun out of her but her soul was content with this and she yearned to suffer for Jesus while she was exiled here on earth.
The second piece is a much shorter memoir written for another Mother of the Abbey who had requested Therese write of life at Carmel. Here we see Therese grow-up though she will always retain her childlike innocence.Read more ›
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By
Gary W. Miller Jr.
on October 30, 2005
Format: Paperback
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While much has been made regarding the translation of this book, I cannot stress enough what a classic this book is. Certainly for all Catholics this book is a must have. However, the simple and practical wisdom of this book reaches well beyond Catholic walls. If you have a section in your collection of books where you keep classics that you always go back too, pick up this book and it will find its way there for sure.
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By
CJ
on December 24, 2001
Format: Paperback
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The autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux is a wonderful and inspiring story of a soul's journey in attaining sanctity. Filled with hope, love, and joy, the book describes her mystical journey toward holiness and union with God and can be more likened to a spiritual autobiography rather than one of purely historical dates and facts. In describing her faith journey, St. Thérèse writes in a simple yet poetically charming style. From the portrayal of her earliest childhood memories up until the time she entered the cloistered life at Carmel, St. Thérèse speaks from her heart. In conveying the events of her early years, she describes her early faith journey through relating stories of her struggles and growth, in learning about her Catholic faith, as well as progression in grace and virtue. It is through these stories that St. Thérèse imparts to the reader her character; a singleness of mind, heart, and soul toward devoting her life to following Jesus. The revelations and knowledge that her book imparts for souls journeying toward sanctity are immeasurable; from her "Little Way" of spiritual childhood to her unpretentious words for spiritual directors. It is clear that St. Thérèse had great aspirations; one in particular was that she spend her "heaven" doing good upon earth. Her autobiography and the "Little Way" of spiritual childhood is just one of the many bouquets of roses she is "showering" down from Heaven upon all.
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