I desire to humble myself in all sincerity, and to submit my will to that of my Sisters, without ever contradicting them, and without questioning whether they have the right to command.  No one, O my Beloved! had that right over Thee, and yet Thou didst obey not only the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, but even Thy executioners.  And now, in the Holy Eucharist, I see Thee complete Thy self-abasement.  O Divine King of Glory, with wondrous humility, Thou dost submit Thyself to all Thy Priests, without any distinction between those who love Thee and those who, alas! are lukewarm or cold in Thy service.  They may advance or delay the hour of the Holy Sacrifice:  Thou art always ready to come down from Heaven at their call.

O my Beloved, under the white Eucharistic Veil Thou dost indeed appear to me Meek and Humble of Heart!  To teach me humility, Thou canst not further abase Thyself, and so I wish to respond to Thy Love, by putting myself in the lowest place, by sharing Thy humiliations, so that I may “have part with Thee"[14] in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I implore Thee, dear Jesus, to send me a humiliation whensoever I try to set myself above others.

And yet, dear Lord, Thou knowest my weakness.  Each morning I resolve to be humble, and in the evening I recognise that I have often been guilty of pride.  The sight of these faults tempts me to discouragement; yet I know that discouragement is itself but a form of pride.  I wish, therefore, O my God, to build all my trust upon Thee.  As Thou canst do all things, deign to implant in my soul this virtue which I desire, and to obtain it from Thy Infinite Mercy, I will often say to Thee:  “Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.” _____________________________

[1] John 16:23.

[2] Ps. 39[40]:4.

[3] Cant. 4:6.

[4] Cf.  Cant. 5:2.

[5] Cf.  Isa. 53:3.

[6] Cf.  Ps. 136[137]:4.

[7] Sister Mary of St. Peter entered the Carmel of Tours in 1840.  Three years later she had the first of a series of revelations concerning devotion to the Holy Face as a means of reparation for blasphemy.  See Life of Leon Papin-Dupont, known as “The Holy Man of Tours.”

[8] Matt. 10:34.

[9] Cf.  Ps. 143[144]:1, 2.

[10] John 12:26.

[11] Matt. 11:29.

[12] Phil. 2:7.

[13] John 13:15-17.

[14] Cf.  John 13:8.

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MOTTO OF THE LITTLE FLOWER

From St. John of the Cross

“LOVE IS REPAID BY LOVE ALONE”

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“MY DAYS OF GRACE”

Birthday . . . .  January 2, 1873
Baptism . . . .  January 4, 1873
The Smile of Our Lady .  May 10, 1883
First Communion . .  May 8, 1884
Confirmation . . .  June 14, 1884
Conversion. . . .  December 25, 1886
Audience with Leo XIII.  November 20, 1887
Entry into the Carmel .  April 9, 1888
Clothing . . . .  January 10, 1889
Profession. . . .  September 8, 1890
Taking of the Veil. .  September 24, 1890
Act of Oblation . .  June 9, 1895