The Last Years of Saint Thérèse: Doubt and Darkness, 1895-1897

by Thomas R. Nevin

Overview

For over a century, the Carmelite Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (1873-1897) has been revered as Catholicism's foremost folk saint of modern times. Universally known as "the Little Flower," she has been a source of consolation and uplift, an example of everyday sainthood by "the Little Way." This book puts aside that piety and addresses the torment of doubt within the life and writing of a saint best known for the strength of her conviction. Nevin examines the dynamics of Christian doubt, and argues that it is integral to the journey toward selfless love which Thérèse was compelled to take. What, Nevin asks, did doubt mean to her? What was its source and nature? What was its object? He gives close attention to her reading and interpretations of the Old and New Testaments as pathways through her inner wilderness. Her Carmel of spiritual sisters becomes a vivid setting for this drama, with other women challenging Thérèse by their own trials of faith. One of Thérèse's indispensable lessons, Nevin concludes, is the acceptance of one's helplessness in the midst of spiritual darkness. Bringing a new direction to the study of Thérèse, and of the challenges of sainthood itself, this book reveals how Thérèse's response to divine abandonment is a unique and painfully won imitation of Christ.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199987689
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/14/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Thomas R. Nevin is Professor of Classical Studies at John Carroll University. He is the author of Thérèse of Lisieux: God's Gentle Warrior, among other books. He is currently working on a study of German Protestant thinkers, from Luther to Nietzsche.

Table of Contents

Preface: Dwelling Upon Darkness Introduction Abbreviations I. Her Spanish Masters: Darkness within the Carmel II. Seeking Light from the Bible III. Bearing the Cross of Community IV. Her Spiritual Brothers Guide Her Down V. Final Charity: The Last Autobiography Conclusion: Out of the Darkness Appendix 1: The Text of Her Darkness Appendix 2: The Darkness of Teresa de Jesús Notes Selected Annotated Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book is a very fine historical study reflecting both a sophisticated close reading of texts and a mastery of the sources. The two volumes Nevin has given us are indispensable for anyone who wishes to engage the life and thought of this young woman who has been honored by the Catholic Church as a "Doctor of the Church."—Church History

"This author does not merely pass on datathat he has unearthed from a wide array of sources; rather he expresses forcefully his interpretations of the data. These interpretations are often daring and new, leaving room for opposing views, but these interpretations deserve careful scrutiny. This is a book that makes the reader think." —Catholic Books Review

"A fascinating look at the spiritual life of a well-known saint. Summing Up: Recommended." —CHOICE

"In this companion volume to his acclaimed Thérèse of Lisieux: God's Gentle Warrior, Thomas R. Nevin has produced yet another magisterial volume. Among the many studies of this Doctor of the Church, precious few penetrate beyond the saccharine French that characterizes the spiritual prose of her time to reveal a towering figure of the late nineteenth century, whose depth and power reduce to a mere mannequin another porta voce of this epoch, Friedrich Nietzsche." —Martin Laird, O.S.A, author of Into the Silent Land and A Sunlit Absence: Silence Awareness and Contemplation

"Never do I read a book a second time. Life is so short, books are so many. Thomas R. Nevin's earlier study Thérèse of Lisieux God's Gentle Warrior has stayed as close as my night table or my desk. Retired parish priest that I am, I purchased additional copies to circulate among friends-an extension of my many years in pastoral ministry. My response to the The Last Years of Saint Thérèse: Doubt and Darkness 1895-1897 is even greater: more armfuls for more friends. Everyone should know the last years of Thérèse as Dr. Nevin has so remarkably researched and so reverently recorded them. It is a wonderful achievement. Turning the pages one gets the impression that the author himself was being deeply affected by his labors, as you will be by your reading. Words borrowed from W.B. Yeats come to mind: 'He, too, has been changed in his turn, transformed utterly: a terrible beauty is born.'" —John P. McNamee, author of Diary of a City Priest

"[An] authoritative work..." —Catholic Historical Review

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