Show Notes
Episode 48. Sanity & Sanctity with St. Thérèse: Book Study part 2
Episode 48. Sanity & Sanctity with St. Thérèse: Book Study part 2
“It is the love of God dwelling in our actions that makes us whole.
It is love that keeps us sane.”
~ Fr. Marc Foley
It's the grand finale of our book club! In Episode 48, Kenna, Pat, and Fr. Nathan LaLiberte wrap up their discussion on The Love That Keeps Us Sane by Fr. Marc Foley. Together, they reflect on moments of conviction, the essence of love as our primary vocation, and the interwoven nature of holiness and sanity in everyday life. From personal anecdotes to spiritual insights, the trio navigates the challenges of showing true charity, letting go of expectations, and embracing the beauty of ordinary moments.
It's appropriate that, in approaching a great saint who sought to do "small things with great love," we consider this small book with such great opportunities for transformation. Join the conclusion of this transformative journey as we all uncover the profound impact of living a life grounded in charity and authenticity. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us!
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 Part 1 of the book study,
check it out!
“What allowed Thérèse to live in a sane state of mind was not looking beyond her choices for a reward.” (p. 53)
“The effort and the goal were one and the same for Thérèse.” (p. 54)
“He says the right care is in our attentiveness in the doing. The wrong care is in our worry about the outcome.” (p. 55)
“Thérèse did feel the sting of ingratitude. However, she did not become trapped by her feelings because she didn't bring expectations to situations.” (p. 56)
“Love has the power to see into the life of things. Choosing to look beyond the irritating behavior of people in order to perceive the best in them is not some Pollyanna exercise. It is choosing to focus on that which is most real in them. …Charity grounds us in reality and thus helps to keep us sane.” (p. 62)
“When we are on the lookout for someone to make a mistake, we become blind. The scribes and Pharisees were blind to the beauty of a miracle taking place before their very eyes because all of their sight was lying and waiting for Jesus to make a mistake.” (p. 64)
“The warmth of charity softens our mental rigidity in which our vision has become frozen in judgmentalness and allows us to see the beauty that is before us.” (p. 71)
“Love is a step by step journey into the heartland of the ordinary, choice upon choice, choice within choice.” (p. 77)
“In the introduction to this book, I said that I would be not would not be writing about the spirituality of Saint Thérèse as a way to holiness but as a means to sanity. However, as I draw near to the conclusion of this book, I realized that I could not separate the two. Because to be deeply sane is to be deeply holy.” (p. 78)
“To love is a fearful thing because it threatens to change our lives, to rob us of what we cling to, time, energy, and the like. However, by not loving, we deprive ourselves of what we need, God's life.” (p. 78)
“Oh Jesus, my love, my vocation, at last I have found it, my vocation is love! …Thus I shall be everything, and thus my dream will be realized.” (St. Thérèse, p. 80)
“It is the love of God dwelling in our actions that makes us whole. It is love that keeps us sane.” (p. 82)
Check out Fr. Nathan’s
current favorite book
Challenge By Choice
What is a way that you can embrace this vocation of love?
What's a way that you can love freely?
What are ways that you can look at others through the perspective of love and to see the beauty in the midst of the complexity and the mess?
What are the ways that you can see your own beauty in the midst of the mess?
How can you live this authentic, holy life of love?
Reflection Questions
For personal reflection or group discussion
What is one specific thing that you're taking away from this book study?
How does the concept of being gentle with oneself and embracing “more littleness” resonate with your own experiences and reflections on life?
Do you see the concern with “becoming a saint” as a focus on my efforts rather than on God's grace & mercy? What do you see as the defining goal of your life?
How do you view love as your primary vocation in life, and how does that perspective influence your daily interactions and decisions?
When is it most difficult for you to see people and situations with God's perspective? How might you see with the eyes of God more consistently?
How might you apply the concept of right care (attentiveness in the doing) over wrong care (worry about the outcome) in your spirituality, relationships, and pursuits?