Filipino Bishops: St. Thérèse’s “Little Way” still inspires holiness today

Two Filipino bishops reminded the faithful that the life of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus continues to inspire countless people to live with simplicity, love, and deep trust in God.

In his homily at the Carmelite Monastery in Gilmore, Quezon City, Philippines, Bishop Elias Ayuban, Jr., DD, of the Diocese of Cubao emphasized that holiness is a universal calling accessible to everyone.

“Holiness is not complicated. It is a call for all of us. No one is excluded from the vocation to live a holy life. It does not require extraordinary deeds, but extraordinary trust and love,” he said.

Bishop Ayuban reflected on what he called the “holiness of ordinary life,” where sanctity is discovered in simple, daily acts of faith and love. “It is found in the simple, ordinary things we do every day. Things that are so simple get close to the heart of God, the heart of love,” he explained.

He also pointed to St. Thérèse’s enduring promise: “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.” Despite her hidden and quiet life, the saint’s “Little Way” continues to inspire believers around the world. “I am overwhelmed by the number of people who are inspired by her simplicity and the greatness of her love,” the Cubao prelate added.

Meanwhile, in his own reflection, Bishop Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong highlighted three virtues from St. Thérèse’s life: prayer, sacrifice, and compassion. He warned that being “on the right road” as Catholics is not enough if one is not moving in the right direction. “We are a Catholic nation, but unfortunately, we are on the wrong direction because of the plundering that is happening in our country,” he noted.

The bishop described sacrifice as offering everything to God in love, just as St. Thérèse did in her “ordinary yet extraordinary” way of living. “She did not write books or speeches. She was a simple human being like us, but because she was so in love with God, she did ordinary things in an extraordinary manner,” he said.

This life of prayer and sacrifice, he continued, naturally leads to compassion. “We feel the pains of others. We feel their struggles. But we are called to do something for others, to lift them up, to build with them,” Bishop Mangalinao stressed. He urged Catholics not to keep God’s blessings to themselves but to share them with others: “It is not enough for us to raise our hands to God and receive His gifts, and then keep them only for ourselves and our families. That is not a life of compassion. That is selfishness.”

Both bishops encouraged the faithful to imitate the “Little Flower” by cultivating trust in God, living with love, and embodying compassion in daily life.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, declared a Doctor of the Church, is widely loved for her “Little Way” of spiritual childhood, a path of simplicity, humility, and confidence in God’s mercy.

(Leahna Villajos, currently serving as the Social Media Officer at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao, Philippines, is also a freelancer who contributes regularly to RVA and other Catholic platforms.)