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Day 44 of 80

A Stratagem of Love

Counsels·Manuscript C·Mercy
Context
Thérèse's favourite saints were not the great heroes but the ones who 'stole' heaven — babies who never chose it, a thief who asked at the last moment. She wanted to sneak into heaven the same way: not by earning it, but by a stratagem of love.

My patrons and my special favourites in Heaven are those who, so to speak, stole it, such as the Holy Innocents and the Good Thief. The great Saints won it by their works; I wish to be like the thieves and to win it by stratagem--a stratagem of love which will open its gates both to me and to poor sinners. In the Book of Proverbs the Holy Ghost encourages me, for He says: "Come to me, little one, to learn subtlety!"

St. Thérèse of Lisieux — Story of a Soul, Counsels (Manuscript C). Taylor translation, 1912 (public domain).
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