Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face

“A Kiss of Love”

Thérése received her First Holy Communion at age 11. In preparation for receiving the Sacrament, she was taught to be very careful, that the recipient should not even bite the sacred Host. The priest who prepared her for her First Holy Communion warned against sacrilegious reception of the Sacrament. Fr. Donald told us to remember that God makes up for our frailty and inadequacy. He also counseled us that when you have an intimate encounter with Jesus, it might be an experience meant to remain between you and Jesus alone. You should not always share deep graces that the Lord gives you. These graces are intended to strengthen you, encourage you, heal you. If you try to share them, they may mean nothing to the another person and you may find that Jesus withdraws from you.

At her First Holy Communion, Thérèse experienced “a Kiss of Love.” She wept at the sweetness of it.

When we receive Holy Communion, heaven is in our heart. All the angels and saints are there with Jesus in our heart.

After receiving, be still...be one with the Lord. There is no need for words. Simply enjoy the moment and experience the unity you have with Jesus.

In Thérèse’s day, daily reception of Holy Communion was rare. In fact, you were not allowed to receive Holy Communion unless you had just been to confession. Thérèse longed for the Eucharist as a child. And after receiving her First Holy Communion, she wrote down every time she received.

Today, it is easy to take the availability of Holy Communion for granted. We may feel that Jesus is distant. But it is we who have left Him. In every Holy Communion, He comes to us full of His divine love...with His whole body, blood, soul, and divinity. This is truth, regardless of whether we feel it or not.

Carmelites are called to a higher level of living out our relationship with the Lord. We are called to pray and sacrifice for our world.