Day 66 of 80

Resigned to Live

Chapter XII·Manuscript C·Death & Heaven
Context
Asked if she feared death, Thérèse reversed the question: she needed to be resigned to living, not dying. Yet she did not rely on her feelings — she knew darkness might come at the end. Even Jesus died in agony. Trust is not about feeling brave.

Her little Mother said to her: "Some think that you are afraid of death." "That may easily come to pass," she answered; "I do not rely on my own feelings, for I know how frail I am. It will be time enough to bear that cross if it comes, meantime I wish to rejoice in my present happiness."

"When the Chaplain asked me if I was resigned to die, I answered: 'Father, I need rather to be resigned to live--I feel nothing but joy at the thought of death.' Do not be troubled, dear Mother, if I suffer much and show no sign of happiness at the end. Did not Our Lord Himself die 'a Victim of Love,' and see how great was His Agony!"

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