St. Thérèse and St. Teresa

    Your articles on St. Thérèse in the September/October issue were terrific.

    I have a suggestion: Do you think that a short article regarding the different Theresas or Teresas would be appropriate. I get them mixed up. For example, how do you pronounce Lisieux? Why is she called “of the Child Jesus” and “Little Flower”? How did she get these nicknames? How do you pronounce Theresa with different line over the e’s? How do you pronounce Teresa? In a nutshell (short, condensed, easy to understand and remember) what were the significant contributions of each of these Saints? Aren’t there other Saint Teresas as well? or just these two? What is a Carmelite Nun and what is a Discalced Carmelite Nun? Who was which? Why is Theresa called the Patroness of the missions and Teresa actually created many mission houses—or do I have that mixed up too?

    I believe that a very devout Catholic told me she went to Avila to see the Little Flower and now I am thoroughly confused. I am not worthy to bring up my question to this person. (I have a short coming for arguing and I suppressed it!)

    I can’t be the only Catholic that gets these mixed up. Help us all.

    Thanks for considering this idea.

Colin E. Bayliss
Dover, Ohio

The Editor responds:

    Thank you for your kind words about the issue dedicated to St. Thérèse. Please God, in the future we will have articles on St. Teresa of Avila. We will briefly answer some of questions. The Discalced (unshod) Carmelite nuns are cloistered Contemplatives. St. Teresa of Avila was a 16th-century nun who led the reform of the Carmelite women religious and opened many new Carmelite convents in Spain. St. John of the Cross, also in 16th century Spain, instituted the reform of the Carmelite priests and brothers. Teresa’s name in religion was Teresa of Jesus.

    Thérèse Martin was a 19th-century French Carmelite nun. She spent her entire religious life in the Lisieux Carmel. However, her fervent prayers and sacrifices offered to God for Catholic missionaries earned her the title of Patroness of the Missions. Her name in religion was Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Both of these great women Carmelites are doctors of the Church. And yes there are other St. Theresas (with more to follow I am sure).

Balancing Things

    Thank you very much for the latest issue of The Catholic Faith magazine (Nov/Dec 1997). Your magazine is a real Godsend. I especially liked the article in the last issue by Mr. Sean Innerst, “Catechetical Experience and the Experience of Catechesis.” Would that this article could be placed into the hands of every catechist, DRE and religion teacher in the country! There has been an overemphasis in the catechesis of recent years on personal, subjective experience at the expense of the definitive, objective revelation given in Christ. Thanks to Mr. Innerest for balancing things out.

David R. Hans
Fairfield, California

A Subscribing Family

    We are delighted to receive your publication, The Catholic Faith. We pray that God will continue to bless your fine work on behalf of the Catholic Church. Please accept our subscription renewal. You are in our prayers.

The Eichelberger Family
Hazelwood, Missouri

The Catholic Faith - January/February '98 - Table of Contents