Show Notes
Episode 47. Sanity & Sanctity with St. Thérèse: Book Study part 1
Episode 47. Sanity & Sanctity with St. Thérèse: Book Study part 1
“Her ‘little way’ was her means of holiness,
and it was also what kept her sane.”
~ Fr. Marc Foley
It's book study time! At long last, Kenna and Pat are joined by Fr. Nathan LaLiberte to delve into the thought-provoking spiritual gem, The Love That Keeps Us Sane: Living the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux by Fr. Marc Foley, OCD. Drawing from the psychological and spiritual genius of St. Thérèse, they discuss the interplay between sanity and sanctity as a fruit of humility, the value of silence, and the complexities of human relationships. The conversation covers the perils of external validation, the significance of personal agency, and discerning what to share with others.
As the trio reflects on the opportunities and struggles of seeking sanity and sanctity in a broken world, the conversation offers illuminating insights that touch on the intersection of faith, mental well-being, and everyday life. Join them in the pursuit of authenticity in spiritual practices.
Show Notes
Join the club!
The two May 2024 episodes of
This Whole Life will be a book study of
The Love That Keeps Us Sane
by Fr. Marc Foley.
Join us to learn, pray, and grow!
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If you missed Kenna’s interview with author Fr. Marc Foley, OCD, check it out
“Therese's sanity lay in her ability to be deeply involved in life without becoming absorbed by it…she had the genius of knowing how to love others without becoming entangled or enmeshed in their problems.” (pg. 5)
“There are certain things that lose their perfume as soon as they are exposed to the air.” (pg. 15)
“At all costs, she [Thérèse] did not want to be interesting. Not mysterious, noteworthy, enigmatic, stimulating. She did not want to attract the curious glances of the others to seem admirable or heroic. The veil of ordinariness, averageness, commonplaceness was the guardian of all secrets between God and the soul.” (pg. 21)
At that time, Berodach-baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah when he heard that he had been ill.
Hezekiah listened to the envoys and then showed off his whole treasury: his silver, gold, spices and perfumed oil, his armory, and everything in his storerooms; there was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him: “What did these men say to you? Where did they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came from a distant land, from Babylon.”
He asked, “What did they see in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They saw everything in my house. There is nothing in my storerooms that I did not show them.”
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah: “Hear the word of the Lord:
The time is coming when all that is in your house, everything that your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried off to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the Lord.
2 Kings 20:12-17
“There is so much self love mingled with spiritual conversations.” ~ St. Thérèse
“Not only does pride damage our souls, it is also a main source of insanity because it feeds our fear of what other people think of us. Pride gradually transforms forms us into actors upon a stage who become more and more dependent upon the applause of an audience.” (pg. 25)
“In the minds of many, Thérèse was a mediocre nun.” (pg. 26)
“Thérèse took sole responsibility for her choice. She did not bind Sister Martha to secrecy, which could have put Sister Martha in an awkward position. She was willing to bear the consequences of her action.” (pg. 36)
Thérèse’s motto on her coat of arms was “The loser always wins.” (pg. 40)
“Sometimes the devil gives us great desires so that we will avoid setting ourselves to the task at hand, serving our Lord in possible things, and instead be content with having desired the impossible.” ~ St. Teresa of Avila (pg. 48)
And only partly do I remember the unbearable beauty of her face.
"Is it? ... is it?" I whispered to my guide.
"Not at all," said he. "It's someone ye'll never have heard of. Her name on earth was Sarah Smith and she lived at Golders Green."
"She seems to be ... well, a person of particular importance?"
"Aye. She is one of the great ones. Ye have heard that fame in this country and fame on Earth are two quite different things."
C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, chapter 12
Pat & Kenna’s favorite Dean Lewis song 🎶🤙
Challenge By Choice
Read the second half of The Love That Keeps Us Sane!
And for a bonus challenge, find one way this week to serve someone out of love without anyone else ever finding out what you did to serve them
Reflection Questions
For personal reflection or group discussion
What are your previous experiences and impressions of St. Thérèse of Lisieux? Is this book showing you a new side of her?
Fr. Foley says that Thérèse "had the genius of knowing how to love others without becoming entangled or enmeshed in their problems." When are you able to love like this? When you do you struggle to love without becoming enmeshed?
How would you distinguish between bad secrets that lead to shame and the "secrets of the King"? How do you decide whether to give someone access to your interior life?
Thérèse lived in complete commitment to humility, even anonymity. How are you motivated by fame & being validated by others? What would greater humility look like for you?
What do you think of Thérèse's personal motto, "the loser always wins"? How can such a counter cultural motto lead to greater sanity & sanctity for you?
How do you decide whether to speak your mind or to remain silent? What motivations, values, and consequences do you consider when making that decision?