Movie Review: Therese (2004)

           I have wanted to see this movie eversince I saw a preview of it on YouTube, more than a decade ago. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and of the Holy Face, also known as St. Therese of Lisieux, was very influential to me. When I first read her story, in a book (Lives of Saints) given to me by my late aunt, she made an impression on me. At a young age, she already knew her vocation, and that was to become a Carmelite, a religious cloistered nun. So, I too had a desire to be a nun someday. Yes, I tried contacting religious orders, and I became a Carmelite not a religious but a lay Carmelite. More than a decade ago I was a former aspirant, was able to profess promises (not vows) in a Carmelite convent within the city where I live. 

Why do people feel drawn, and many love St. Therese. There are no miraculous events that took place when she was still alive, yet many people pray to her and ask for her intercession. Why? Because of her simplicity, and humility. After her death, there were many numerous reports of miracles and healings, and up to now still many miracles are attributed to her. Like her promise, she said, "When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens,I will spend my heaven by doing good on earth."

Her autobiography is a classic, and still a bestseller. If you have not read her diary, entitled in English, "The Story of a Soul," you should!

I really love this movie. The film director Leonardo Defilippis has done a great job with this film. St. Luke productions, their company, continues to make good, relevant and inspiring movies of Saints. He starred in this movie along with his wife, as the parents of St. Therese. The music used in the movie was also good. I was able to watch the whole movie yesterday. I'm thankful to the one who uploaded it on Facebook. This is another addition to my favorite religious movies. Let us not forget to love, for God is love. Like what St. Therese said, her vocation is love. 

Story of A Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux

  St. Therese of Lisieux's (a French Saint) diary was the first ever autobiography of a saint that I have owned. When I first saw the book at Holy Redeemer Catholic church, I knew I got to have it. On the front cover is the real photo of St. Therese.

As I have said before. St. Therese of Lisieux, she's also known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus, was influential to me. Partly, the reason why I wanted to become a nun was due to her. I really admire her for her courageous heart, and great love for our Lord Jesus. She entered the Carmelite convent at such a young age. She was an exception. If you read her story, she was able to talk with the Holy Father then, and request for her admission in the convent. Speaking with the Holy Father is also forbidden, but she bravely did because of her strong will to enter the religious life. Later on she succeeded, she joined her sisters Pauline, and Celine who were also Carmelite Nuns. They were strictly cloistered, and live a contemplative life.

There were no extraordinary events, or heavenly visions that St. Therese encountered in her life. But what sets her differently is her great love for our Lord Jesus. I remember one particular event in her life, while walking with her father one night, when she looked up at the sky she saw the stars form the first letter of her name, and she exclaimed her name was written in heaven. There were no miracles when she was alive, but true to what she has said. She will do good in heaven. True enough, many religious vocations happened because they were inspired by her story. She died at such a young age, due to tuberculosis which at that time still has no cure. What lessons can we learn for St. Therese, do all things with love for our Lord.

The church grants indulgence just by reading her book, as told to me by our late parish priest in Manila, Msgr. Severino G. Casas, H.P.

May you be inspired and be blessed as you read her writing... And also may you find your true calling in life.