Carmelite QuotesQuote of the day, 31 August: St. Thérèse
One Sunday, looking at a picture of Our Lord on the Cross, I was struck by the blood flowing from one of the divine hands…. The cry of Jesus on the Cross sounded continually in my heart: “I thirst!” [Jn 19:28]. These words ignited within me an unknown and very living fire. I wanted to give my Beloved to drink and I felt myself consumed with a thirst for souls.
To awaken my zeal, God showed me my desires were pleasing to Him. I heard talk of a great criminal just condemned to death for some horrible crimes; everything pointed to the fact that he would die impenitent. I wanted at all costs to prevent him from falling into hell, and to attain my purpose, I employed every means imaginable.
Feeling that of myself I could do nothing, I offered to God all the infinite merits of Our Lord, the treasures of the Church, and finally I begged Céline to have a Mass offered for my intentions.
I told God I was sure He would pardon the poor, unfortunate Pranzini; that I’d believe this even if he went to his death without any signs of repentance or without having gone to confession. I was absolutely confident in the mercy of Jesus. But I was begging Him for a “sign” of repentance only for my own simple consolation.
My prayer was answered to the letter! In spite of Papa’s prohibition that we read no papers, I didn’t think I was disobeying when reading the passages pertaining to Pranzini. The day after his execution, I found the newspaper “La Croix.” I opened it quickly, and what did I see? Ah! my tears betrayed my emotion, and I was obliged to hide.
Pranzini had not gone to confession. He had mounted the scaffold and was preparing to place his head in the formidable opening when suddenly, seized by an inspiration, he turned, took hold of the crucifix the priest was holding out to him, and kissed the sacred wounds three times!
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Story of A Soul, Ms A, 45v–46r
Note: Henri Pranzini was executed on this date, 31 August 1887, in Paris.
Thérèse of Lisieux, St. 1996, Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, 3rd edn, Clarke, J (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington, DC.
Featured image: Police mugshot of Henri Pranzini taken 28 March 1887, five months before his execution for triple murder. Image credit: © Préfecture de Police, Paris (Public domain via Wikimedia Commons).
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Alive in Christ
Lisa J. Warner / Lisa Luv
