Saint Therese of Lisieux - "Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway" Blog

For the first time, the English translation of The Prayers of Saint Therese of Lisieux published by ICS Publications is available online at the English Web site of the Archives of the Lisieux Carmel. We thank the Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars for their generosity in collaborating with the Lisieux Carmel to make these historic texts available online: one of many gifts from the Carmelite Order to the lovers of Saint Thérèse.

This little gem, translated by Aletheia Kane, O.C.D. and edited by Steven Payne, O.CD., appeared in 1997 to celebrate the centenary of the death of St. Therese. It is a translation of Prières: l’offrande à l’Amour Misericordeux (Paris: Editions du Cerf/Desclee de Brouwer, 1988), an edition which was prepared by Sister Cécile of the Carmel of Lisieux and Mgr. Guy Gaucher, O.C.D., auxiliary bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux, with the assistance of Pere Bernard Bro, O.C.D. and Jeanne and Jacques Lonchampt.It contains twenty-one independent prayers written by St. Therese for various occasions. Steven Payne, from his preface:

Here we find prayers to the Infant Jesus and the Holy Face, prayers to Mary and the saints, prayers composed in joy and sorrow, prayers written for her novices and missionary brothers. Though few in number, they contain the full message of Thérèse in miniature, and include some of the most important texts she ever composed, such as her “Profession Note,” the “Consecration to the Holy Face,’ and the “Oblation to Merciful Love.”

In contrast to previous volumes of the Saint’s writings from ICS Publications, we have kept more of the critical apparatus from the French edition. This means that the brief text of each prayer is followed by detailed information on the autographs and circumstances of composition as well as a line-by-line commentary on Thérèse’s sources, parallel passages, and the meaning of her words. Here readers will find, for example, the first critical edition of the famed “Oblation to Merciful Love,” with an analysis of the different drafts of this precious text. . . Our hope is that readers may use it not only to study Thérèse’s prayers, but to pray with Thérèse herself.

Indeed, it is easy to use this book as a simple prayer book, and you have the joy of knowing that you are praying with Thérèse’s text.

The print copy of this book, one of the most accessible collections of St. Therese's writings, includes a general introduction by Guy Gaucher, O.C.D. and the detailed notes Fr. Steven describes. These notes are full of information about St. Therese and about the Lisieux Carmel which does not appear elsewhere in English. On the fifteenth annniversary of its publication, this book has lost none of its appeal. The brief texts of Therese's prayers are now online, but the supplementary information appears only in the print copy. I recommend reading it. To order it, please click here or on the image above.