You're viewing the archived Hearts Center Forum.

Saint Therese of Lisieux lived as a Carmelite nun in the 1800s. She made many conscious choices in her life to practice the qualities of the first ray. She made determined efforts to control her speech, to show goodwill to others and to strive for perfection in all that she did. She was obedient to the voice of her Christ Self and her deeds showed tremendous faith in God's will. THE ASCENDED MASTERS HAVE TOLD US THAT SHE MADE HER ASCENSION AFTER THAT LIFE.

The following story from her autobiography gives some insight into her attitudes and practices. Saint Therese wrote: "There is in the Community a Sister who has the faculty of displeasing me in everything, in her ways, her words, her character, everything seems VERY DISAGREEABLE to me. And still, she is a holy religious who must be very pleasing to God. Not wishing to give in to the natural antipathy I was experiencing, I TOLD MYSELF THAT CHARITY MUST NOT CONSIST IN FEELINGS BUT IN WORKS; THEN I SET MYSELF TO DOING FOR THIS SISTER WHAT I WOULD DO FOR THE PERSON I LOVED THE MOST. EACH TIME I MET HER I PRAYED TO GOD FOR HER, OFFERING HIM ALL HER VIRTUES AND MERITS."

Therese went on to say that she not only prayed for the sister who caused her so many struggles, but also made special effort to do kind things for her. When she was tempted to answer back in a disagreeable way, she would smile at her instead and change the subject. She would even "run away like a deserter" if she thought she was about to do or say something wrong. Her fellow religious was totally unaware of Therese's feelings and motives, and even asked Therese why she was so attracted to her and always smiling at her. Therese commented to her Mother Superior that she was attracted to "Jesus hidden in the depths of [the other's] soul." She continued, "I answered that I was smiling because I was happy to see her (it is understood that I did not add that this was from a spiritual standpoint."

This story portrays normal human reactions and at the same time contains a sweet element of humor. It shows that Therese recognized and related to the other sister's Christ Self instead of to her human personality. IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES HOW SHE SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HER OWN SOUL'S GROWTH IN ENCOUNTERS WITH ONE WHOM SHE FOUND QUITE DISAGREEABLE. We can use her outstanding example to remind ourselves of each person's innate divinity and to approach every interaction as an opportunity to gain self-mastery on the first ray. The above text was taken from the book; Meeting the Masters-Teaching of the Ascended Masters-Mark L. Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet by Saff of Summit University page 39,40 ISBN0922729-85-9.