St. Thomas Aquinas once said: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” That is why it is so hard to argue about religion because of this reality.

In the Gospel people often ask for signs. After all the miracles, after all the healings and teachings with authority, why still ask for signs? Jesus knew that in the hearts of people, they had to have true faith in Him. 

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who was also known as the “Little Flower” and St. Therese of Lisieux. At the age of 14, she had a conversion that transformed her life. All her energy was turned towards love – “Doing the ordinary with extraordinary love.” At the age of 15, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux. She was not spared from the crosses of life and also had dark nights of doubt and fear. She died of tuberculosis at the young age of 24. Yet in all of this, she had strong faith as shown in these three quotations: 

1. “When one loves, one does not calculate.” We live in a world wherein we all calculate: I have done this for you, hence this is what is due to me.” However, when there is love in what we are doing, we do not calculate the many other things we do. Why? There is joy in what we are doing. This joy, money cannot buy.
   
2. “Remember that nothing is small in the eyes of God. Do all that you do with love.” The world applauds the huge, the extravagant, the marvelous, but in the eyes of God, it is about doing things with love. In fact, for us to celebrate the Mass every day is an accumulation of many acts of kindness and generosity which is not noticed by most, but by God alone.
   
3. “A soul in a state of grace has nothing to fear of demons who are cowards.” With everything that is happening in the world today, one should realize that the devil is working in overdrive. Yet, the challenge is to hold on to God, to prayer, to the Mass, to fasting, to doing good deeds. There is nothing to fear. 

As we celebrate St. Therese, may we realize that there are many things we can learn from Children:

• to express oneself fully
• to love unconditionally
• to forgive
• to always speak the truth
• to be fearless

Today, St. Therese of the Child Jesus reminds us to love. It does make a whole lot of difference in life.