Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux (1873-1897)

La « Nouvelle Édition du centenaire » en huit volumes (Éd. du Cerf, 1992) a livré une masse de documents qui ont permis un affinement de la connaissance de la vie quotidienne de sainte Thérèse de Lisieux. Près de vingt ans après, on pouvait tenter d'écrire une biographie de la carmélite pour un vaste public, en cernant au plus près son contexte familial, carmélitain et ecclésial qui permet de mieux comprendre les textes de la plus jeune docteur de l'Église. Au terme de sa « course de géant » [Ms A, 44 v°], on peut constater que la sainteté de Thérèse a ignoré les illusions d'une spiritualité désincarnée mais s'est enracinée dans « le vrai de la vie » [Ms A, 31 v°]. -- In 1992, the ‘New Centenary Edition’ in eight volumes (Éd. du Cerf) provided a wealth of documents that offered a more precise knowledge of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux’s daily life. To make Thérèse of Lisieux’s everyday life known to a wide public; to help them discover her spirituality: this is and always has been one of Edition du Cerf’s dearest ambitions. That is why, in addition to Totum and the N.E.C. (New Centenary Edition), we published: “Thérèse et Lisieux”; “Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux. La vie en images” by Pierre Descouvemont ; “Les Mots de Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus et de la Sainte Face” concordance established by Sister Geneviève, Sister Cécile and Jacques Longchampt; and “Les cahiers d'école 1887-1888” with an introduction and annotations from Monseigneur Guy Gaucher in collaboration with the Carmel de Lisieux. It was all of twenty years later that the next biography of the Carmelite appeared, focusing on her monastic, ecclesial and family environment and casting new light on the texts written by the youngest Doctor of the Church. After ‘running like a giant’ [Ms A, 44 v°], we observe that Thérèse’s piety was indifferent to illusions of disembodied spirituality, preferring to take root in ‘the truth of life’ [Ms A, 31 v°]. The latest biography of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is even more complete. Monseigneur Guy Gaucher takes us to the very heart of the saint’s life, bringing greater understanding of the enigmatic and seemingly inexhaustible writings of this young Doctor of the Church. However, this biography is also highly informative; it includes a genealogical chart, a useful timeline showing Thérèse’s life in relation to what was going on in the world, a posthumous chronology and a map of the Carmel in Thérèse’s time; all assembled for the first time in one generous volume.