Day 77 of 80

The Death of Love

Epilogue·Manuscript C·Love
Context
Thérèse did not want a peaceful, painless death — she wanted to die like Jesus, in darkness and anguish, consumed by Love. Her death was exactly what she asked for: the swan's song, growing sweeter even as the darkness pressed in.

A few days before her death, this little Saint had said: "The death of Love which I so much desire is that of Jesus upon the Cross." Her prayer was fully granted. Darkness enveloped her, and her soul was steeped in anguish.

And yet, may we not apply to her also that sublime prophecy of St. John of the Cross, referring to souls consumed by the fire of Divine Love: "They die Victims of the onslaughts of Love, in raptured ecstasies--like the swan, whose song grows sweeter as death draws nigh."

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