TM6 - Holiness Through Sacrifice - St. Therese and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

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Episode 6 – Holiness Through Sacrifice – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor discuss St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s spiritual guidance and her role in her cousin Marie’s journey to Carmel. Marie’s long-awaited entrance into religious life in 1895 was marked by emotional struggles and familial sacrifices, but Thérèse’s compassionate yet firm support helped her embrace detachment and trust in God.

Through moments like humorously diffusing a tense exchange with Marie or encouraging her to surrender attachments, Thérèse exemplified her deep understanding of human nature and her ability to lead others closer to Christ. On Marie’s entrance day, Thérèse wrote her a heartfelt poem, Canticle of a Soul Having Found the Place of Its Rest, capturing Marie’s spiritual “homecoming” and longing for heaven, and adorned Marie’s room with flowers and a copy of her poem Living on Love to provide comfort and inspiration.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Understanding Detachment Through Love
How can you cultivate a spirit of detachment while deepening your love and service for others?
Sacrifice as a Path to Holiness
What areas of your life might God be inviting you to surrender for the sake of spiritual growth and the good of others?
The Role of Spiritual Companionship
How can you support others in their spiritual journey while remaining attentive to your own need for grace and balance?
Longing for Heaven in Daily Life
How does reflecting on heaven influence your choices and attitudes in your daily responsibilities and relationships?
Balancing Emotion and Trust in God
In what ways can you entrust your emotional struggles and attachments to God, as Thérèse encouraged Marie to do?
The Power of Small Gestures in Holiness
How can small, intentional acts of love bring comfort and reflect Christ to those around you?

About this Series

Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality, deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola”. For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org