Customer Reviews

The Love That Keeps Us Sane: Living the Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux (Illuminationbooks)

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I left this book lying on the coffee tableone day and was surprised when my normally skeptical 23 year old daughter quoted it back to me during a conversation! She, as I, was attracted to the book by its title. And the book delivers what it promises--a way to live with life's ordinary and extraordinary pains, and an introduction to the comfort and joy of a life connected to God even in its most seemingly insignificant moments. The key is St. Therese of Lisieux, and this is a good way to begin to know her.

This book was wonderful and is a wonderful guide for your interior spirituality. I recieved it 1 year ago and have read the book cover to cover about 5 times and have read different sections every one to two weeks. I carry it with me always. This is the guide to sainthood!!

I never understood Therese's Little Way until I was lucky to have come across this book at a parish bookstore.
A beautiful little book.

This is one of the best synopsis' of St. Therese's writing that I have seen and definitely the best application to modern life of any author I have read. If you care for some one, give them this book.

Wonderful little book that synthesizes St. Therese's philosophy and theology. I carry it with me and re-read little snippets over and over. If you underline every meaningful passage in this book, every sentence on every page will be underlined. It is well worth the short time you will spend reading it, and well worth the time you will spend re-reading it. I don't know how Father Foley was able to take so much information on Therese and make it so concise and so beautifully written. As a writer myself, I am understandably and undeniably envious, but sincerely grateful to Father Foley for his work.

How could a twenty-something, cloistered French nun speak to the concerns of a contemporary Christian? Fr. Marc Foley shows us how. Writing in lucid prose he reveals the practical wisdom of Therese, the most recently declared Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church in 1970. Almost instantly acclaimed and renowned for her holiness and intercessory power at the beginning of the 20th century, not long after her autobiography was released, a deeper appreciation of her wisdom has steadily increased in recent decades. Foley's short work serves to explain in part why, both for those already familiar with her and others who may be initiates.

For the defensive, uncertain, frazzled, irritated, criticized, worried, hurt, and otherwise vaguely or greatly dissatisfied person Foley describes the attitude and actions of Therese that did for her and can for us bring sanity or wholeness, a.k.a. holiness. He enlists the words of novelists, poets, psychologists, spiritual writers and other saints to reinforce, explain and put into modern context Therese's own words and actions. As Foley puts it, this cloistered nun's "sanity lay in her ability to be deeply involved in life without being absorbed by it." Some of her secrets included using secrets as instruments of discernment, real simplicity, silence but not reticence to speak up and speak out, attentiveness to the doing and not the outcome, focusing on the most real in people and things, and realizing the tremendous value of the commonplace. All of these secrets Foley describes with insight and clarity. A reader will benefit greatly by reflecting long on the lessons in this little book. Our men's faith sharing group was unanimous in appreciation throughout our recent reading and discussion of the book.

This book is a must in today's world. It is a way of life that helps you to live with less stress and develop you spirituality. It helps you live with people and deal with their quirks and even though you don't like what they do you can still maintain your sanity. I highly recommend it to all.

I have read tons of Christian books, many of which have been awesome and life changing, but this one was incredible for me. I have read a lot about Therese of Liseaux before but this little volume arranged her wisdom in such a way that it made me say, "AHA!" I finally got the how and why of the things Therese taught and how you can do this radical letting go and walk in the total freedom of submission to God's will. Very freeing. I would recommend it to everone! I wish I could have a little tape inside my head reading it out loud constantly.

Everyone needs sanity. Everyone needs help. Everyone can learn from the example of St. Therese. Few understand her spirituality. In all the books I have read, this one I have read, purchased and recommended over and over. It has helped me tremendously. Everyone can understand the content, and more importantly, everyone will benefit from the lessons that Fr. Foley shares. It is the BEST "self-help" book and it's under $10!

I bought this book for a group study, but found it to be a personal treasure. I have since bought it for gifts, because it is so simple and profound. It speaks to the inner qualities of the heart.