Sisters of the Little Flower

I have been enjoying reading The Intimate Life of Saint Therese Portrayed by Those Who Knew Her by Fr. Albert Dolan, O. Carm. Fr. Dolan had a chance in 1926 to interview the four then living sisters of St. Therese, all of whom were nuns, Pauline, Celine, and Marie at the Carmelite convent in Lisieux and Leonie at a Visitation convent three hours away. Fr Dolan asked the sisters to say something to the members of the Little Flower Society and to all lovers of the Little Flower in America.

Mother Agnes (Pauline) told Fr. Dolan, “Tell the ladies of the Little Flower Society of America that if they would please the Little Flower and win her favor, they must not follow the fashion when the fashion demands immodest or indecent dress.” “Tell the men of the Society of the Little Flower that if they would please St. Therese and win her favor, they must hold themselves aloof from all that is low and base and ignoble and go to Holy Communion frequently.”

Celine, “Tell the members of the Little Flower Society in America that they should not only admire but also imitate the Little Flower.”

Marie, “Tell the members of the Little Flower Society in America, Father, that they never need fear losing their souls if they imitate Saint Therese in her love of our Blessed Mother.”

Leonie, “Give them this message, Father: tell them that if we would please the Little Flower we must be humble as she was, and we will be humble if we will repeat frequently every day the ejaculation, ‘Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.’”