This window is centered on St.
Theresa of Lisieux. Her Little Way
[of love, which she taught in her book The Story of a Soul has helped millions
of people world wide grow in their spiritual life. Theresa of Lisieux was named a Doctor of the Church in 1997
by Pope John Paul ll. In the two thousand year history of the Church there have
been only 33 saints honored with the title Doctor of the Church. The title is given to those saints
whose life, teaching and writing have profoundly affected the life of the whole
Church.
The details in this window represent some
of the main aspects of her life and teaching. In her book Story of a Soul, written in obedience to her
superior and translated into over thirty languages, she writes with elegant
simplicity about her life.
The heart on fire with love below her
photograph represents the discovery of her primary vocation to be love in the
heart of the Church. The seven
flames surrounding her photograph represent that love of God and neighbor,
which still affect us today through her intercession and the witness of her
life. At her profession as a Carmelite she took the name of Theresa of the
Child Jesus. The picture of the
Child Jesus in the lower left of the window represents the simplicity and child
like trust in God that Theresa practiced to an eminent degree in imitation of
Jesus.
As Theresa matured in her spiritual life
she added the Holy Face to her professed name. Her contemplation of the passion of Jesus in the Holy Face
is depicted in her picture in the lower right of the window. St. Theresa is also known as the Little
Flower. Two lilies on either side
of the window represent this term. The lily represents her pure simplicity and
joy of being a little one in the care of her Lord and Savior.
After reading the works of the great
Carmelites John of the Cross and Theresa of Avila the only thing she read for
the rest of her life was sacred scripture, especially the Gospels. The two circles on either side of her
photograph represent the sacred scriptures. Each circle contains the five-pointed star of the old
covenant and the eight-pointed star of the new covenant. The twenty yellow beads, some of which
are in a flower like cluster of three, represent the twenty mysteries of the
rosary, which Theresa prayed everyday.
All of these details are on a royal blue background representing the
Blessed Virgin Mary, who mothered Theresa in her transformation into Jesus, her
beloved. The two crosses on each
side below her photograph represent the crosses of her two vocations, the
Carmelite life and her life as love in the heart of the Church. Both of these she lived to a heroic
degree.