The Whole World Will Love Me

The Life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face (1873-1897)

Dorothy Scallan

• Publisher: TAN Books
• Year: 2005
• eBook ISBN: 9781505106671
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

This wonderful book links all the elements of her life into one intimate, flowing and absolutely enthralling story - relating details of her beautiful, holy mother; her noble and pious father; her great and generous sisters, all of whom entered the convent; plus her own story - from her infancy to her early entrance into Carmel at 15, to her death at age 24. Toward the end of her life, St. Therese came to an understanding of her own spiritual advancement, for she made several predictions that all came true: That her Story of a Soul should be published as soon as possible, that she would let fall a shower of roses on the whole world when she died, that she would assist anyone who called upon her for aid, and finally, that the whole world will love her. And it does! The Little Flower is probably the best known and loved Saint of all time. Also explains St. Therese's devotion to the Holy Face - and shows how it made her a Saint. A great gift!

1

"THERE IS no need for me to inquire how things turned out for Zelie at the convent," said Captain Guerin as he entered his well-lighted house and closed the cold, wet outdoors behind him. "I can tell at a glance from the way you look that you've been disappointed."

"I could have told you even before we left this morning," answered his wife, "that the nuns wouldn't accept Zelie as a postulant. But, then, whenever I say anything, you tell me I am too pessimistic!"

The captain pretended not to hear her answer. Stroking Zelie's silken dark hair, which was neatly parted in the center and displayed a strikingly fair forehead to real advantage, he asked sympathetically, "Did they give you no hope at all, my child?"

"Sister Superior said I had no vocation," the daughter replied, valiantly holding back the tears in her large brown eyes.

"But I don't understand! You always had your heart very much set on entering a convent, and if I am any judge of my daughter, I would say that you would make a good nun. Tell me, what reason did the Sister Superior give for refusing you?" Although Captain Guerin had retired from his commission in the army many years before, he had never lost the characteristics of a military officer. In his opinion those in authority ought to be at all times ready to give reasons for their official acts. Now he wanted to know why his daughter, who had been so anxious to wear the veil since she was thirteen, was turned away from the religious life as unsuitable.

"Sister Superior did not give us any reason," interposed Madame Guerin. "She simply said that Zelie had no religious vocation — and there the matter ended."

"So!" The gray-haired captain looked affectionately at his daughter. Then he asked her pointedly, "What will you do now, Zelie?"

"I wasn't thinking of myself just now, Papa."

"No? And of whom are you now thinking?"

"Of Louise. My being turned down this afternoon may also hurt her chances of being accepted as a postulant. And you know how much she hoped to become a nun some day."

Just then Louise, the younger of the two Guerin daughters, red-eyed and dejected, entered the room without a word.

"You see what I mean, Papa. Louise now feels that all is lost for her as well . . .

"Nonsense," replied the captain. "Louise, as well as you, shall have your fair chances of selecting the kind of life to which you feel yourselves called. There are other cities in France besides Alençon. And there are numerous convents scattered over the country where perhaps you may be very welcome. Nothing has been lost!" Then, turning to his wife, he added, "Come, let us sit down to supper. We will have no more talk of barred convent doors and disappointed daughters."

The captain was a gentle father and a man of refined tastes, as his home and surroundings testified, but he could be very practical as well. Retiring from Napoleon's army, he had chosen to settle his family in Normandy, selecting the charming city of Alençon — whose very name was symbolic of the gossamer lace for which it had gained world renown. Here he purchased a two-story house situated directly across the street from an imposing seventeenth-century mansion which had once housed a duchess, and which was now occupied by the Prefecture of the city. True, the captain's dwelling had none of the dimensions of the grand mansion opposite, but it had a quiet dignity nonetheless, being strongly built of brick with wrought-iron trimming. The ground floor consisted of a living room, dining room, kitchen and a hall with a spiral staircase that led to a second floor which had three bedrooms. "A good house in a respectable neighborhood is a basic necessity to right Christian living," the captain had commented, on handing over the purchase price equivalent to a small fortune.

Born in a moderately well-to-do family, which knew how to guard its fortune, and even add to it by saving part of its earnings during every year, Captain Guerin came into a modest inheritance from his parents. Even after paying for the new house, therefore, he still retained enough to set aside in the family vault for dowries for his three children when they came of age and were ready to start a life of their own. However, after the family was settled and had become familiar with their new surroundings at Alençon, Captain Guerin became somewhat concerned at the small pension he received from the government as a retired army officer. Clearly, it was altogether insufficient to meet the current living expenses of the family. Determined not to draw from the bank any of the money reserved for his children's future, he began earnestly to look for some remunerative work. But this was not easy to find. Educated for the military, he found no opening where he could exercise his specialized army training in quiet and peaceful Alençon.

After repeated efforts proved fruitless, he purchased equipment and opened a small café, leaving his wife to manage the business, hoping in this way to help defray some of the household expenses. But Madame Guerin soon showed signs that she obviously had none of the genial manners nor the competence necessary for even a small business. The venture failed completely and the family's investment was a total loss.

What was the captain to do now? He knew he had to make a decision — one, as it were, on the battlefield of life, and this must be done swiftly. A position had to be defended, and it was not a strategic hill, nor an attack on an enemy supply base. It was his home and his family.

"Perhaps it was unwise to buy such an expensive house . . . . ventured Madame Guerin. "If you had bought a cheaper one, we would have more now to live on until you could find a suitable position . . . ."

"If you had only helped out a little more energetically with the restaurant, as other women do to help their husbands during a crisis, all would have turned out well," replied the captain in his usual quiet, even voice.

"Will you go on blaming me for failing with the business as long as we live?"

"No, I shall be careful never to mention it again. It's no use crying over spilt milk."

For a time things ran smoothly and the two were silent. But soon their financial condition was in such straits that both knew a drastic step had to be taken.

"What will you do now?" the wife pressed her husband. Even during this trial he seemed as much a captain of his own soul, as he had once been a captain of the army. "Will you draw from the dowries reserved for the children?"

"Surely you are not serious?"

"Well, what else is there to do?"

Captain Guerin was accustomed to his wife's helplessness whenever a problem arose and would have preferred to remain silent, but he felt he had to make himself clear on this issue, which was to him most vital.

"Whatever we do, we shall certainly not use the children's dowries. Like all God-fearing parents, I believe we owe our children a decent start in life and I intend to exert myself to the limit to achieve this end or stand accused of failing in my duties as the father of a family. The children's dowries will remain untouched, and that is final!"

"But we need money for living expenses. Will you sell the house, then?"

"Sell the house? Sell the roof over our heads? That would make us truly homeless paupers!"

"Very well, tell me, then, just what do you intend to do?"

"I am going to work!"

"But you have already tried everywhere for a suitable position and you didn't succeed."

"I am no longer waiting for a position. As of today I will get a job! I'll become a carpenter . . . ."

"But you can't mean that!" It was her turn to be amazed. Could her accomplished husband forget his high rank in the military? Could he forget his insignia and stoop to work at the ordinary job of a mere carpenter?

The captain did not tarry for further explanations. Donning work clothes and taking hold of a saw and a hammer he began from that day onward to work at one carpenter job after another. People soon found that the skill of his hands well matched his cultural accomplishments. His services became much in demand. He was never to be without work. Moreover, everyone still continued to call him Captain Guerin, despite the fact that he exchanged his brass-trimmed officer's uniform for a suit of work clothes.

But, most important, the Captain himself knew he had won: not only a battle, but a war — a war against false human standards — when he had willingly set himself to a life of manual labor rather than jeopardize his family's welfare. It paid off remarkably well, too. He still lived in the good, two-story red brick house opposite the imposing Prefecture. He sent his children to good schools. But, above all, he had gained the inner satisfaction that he not only managed to keep his children's dowries untouched, but had even added to them substantially from his steady earnings as a carpenter.

And now that both his daughters were grown young ladies soon to settle into a life of their own, he was happy that they would not leave their parental home penniless. Thus, with security and honor, they could start out on a life of their own. And Captain Guerin, as head of his house, having prudently attended to all the needs of his family, felt his soul at peace, as only the souls of the just know peace in this life of turmoil and strife.

---

2

THERE WERE new and happy interests clamoring for attention in the Guerin household. Five years had elapsed since the day the captain had assured his daughters they could dry their tears, that there were numerous convents in the country where they would be welcome. And now Louise, the younger Guerin girl, had been accepted; not at local St. Vincent's, but at the Visitation Convent at Le Mans.

"Papa, the nuns have given me this requisition list, even, telling exactly what I will need to bring to the convent when I enter next year," beamed Louise, clutching it like a priceless treasure. By the end of the year her trunks were packed, containing only the necessary linens, clothing, sewing materials, and the required devotional books and breviaries. Twenty-two-year-old Isidore, the son, returned to Alençon to spend a few days with his parents and sisters, and especially to see Louise off for Le Mans. Only Zelie seemed more pensive than usual.

"What will you do, Zelie, after Louise goes to Le Mans?" her brother asked affectionately.

"I don't know," was the disconsolate answer.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Papa says you have nothing to worry about since he's going to leave you this house. And what's more, since you have made such a grand success of lacemaking in these past five years, there is no fear for your future. It seems assured."

In their upstairs room the night before her departure, Louise offered Zelie her version of parting advice: "After I am settled at Le Mans, and when you come to visit me, who knows but what the Sisters, seeing how devoted and good you are, will themselves invite you to join us!'

"That will never be!" answered Zelie.

"But why?"

"Because, for years, I have watched everybody trying to plan some sort of future for me — each according to his various notions — but nothing turns out according to any of our human speculations. To begin with, Papa assures me about the house some day being mine; Isidore consoles me about the prospects of my successful lacemaking business, and now you come along planning to ingratiate me into the ranks of the Visitation nuns!"

"Is that wrong?"

"No, it is not wrong, Louise. Nor for that matter, was my own original plan of some six years ago wrong, when I applied at St. Vincent's and was refused. You see, Louise, you must realize that there are other people, and other wills, who counter our plans, and, therefore, we cannot ever hope positively to achieve here on earth all we plan, be it ever so good and holy. I feel, however, that when we are impeded in achieving something good — such as being prevented by others from following our vocation, like entering a convent — God can and does make it up to us a hundredfold in some other manner which we for the time being, perhaps, cannot foresee."

"Is that how you feel?" Louise was visibly impressed.

"Yes, that is what I really believe. That is why I am not planning anything for myself any more. Nor do I place any hope in any mere man-made plans for my future, be they ever so well intended, whether yours, Papa's, Isidore's, or even my own!"

Three days after Louise's departure the house on the street called St. Blaise seemed deserted. Isidore had returned to his pursuits. Captain Guerin was gone early in the morning to begin work on a new contract, and Zelie, after spending the morning in her room, decided late that afternoon to go out for a long walk.

"It will do you good to go out, Zelie. It's a fine spring day," encouraged her mother.

It was not until she returned, just before supper, and at last saw the familiar face of her father across the supper table, and her mother dishing some green peas out on each plate that Zelie Guerin was able to brin...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Copyright Page
• CONTENTS
• Publisher's Preface
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Chapter 17
• Chapter 18
• Chapter 19
• Chapter 20
• Chapter 21
• Chapter 22
• Chapter 23
• Chapter 24
• Chapter 25
• Chapter 26
• Chapter 27
• Chapter 28
• Chapter 29
• Chapter 30
• Chapter 31
• Chapter 32
• Chapter 33
• Chapter 34
• Chapter 35
• Chapter 36
• Chapter 37
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• About the Author