St. Therese Prayer by Jane St. Clair

Christmas catalogs this year were selling the St. Therese Prayer wall hanging. It looked like something from an antique shop, a frame with a poem printed in an old font with big capital letters. The plaque could cost up to $400. 

But then, it’s a really lovely prayer.

But which St. Therese wrote it?

People are asking who wrote the St. Therese Prayer? St. Therese of Lisieux? Or St. Teresa of Avila? It doesn’t say.

St. Therese of Lisieux lived a quiet and ordinary life as a Carmelite, and then died a hard death at age 24. She wanted to be like Joan of Arc, but she never got to wear armor or go into battle. Instead, she became a saint by doing little everyday things in a saintly way, like putting up with a cranky old nun. She believed we’re meant to live the best life where we find ourselves, and we’re meant to do our best in every moment, even if we’re just doing little everyday things.

It’s something like mindfulness.

St. Therese of Lisieux didn’t think she was smart enough to understand the writings of St. Teresa of Avila. That saint’s great work, “The Interior Castle,” is hard to understand, but it helped St. Teresa of Avila become a Doctor of the Church and one of the most admired mystics of history.

So again, which saint wrote 2018’s Prayer of the Year?

The truth is neither one wrote it.  

British poet Minnie Louise Haskins wrote it. It’s published in her book of poems called “The Desert” from 1908.  

Since they were saints, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux would definitely not take credit for anything they did not write themselves. However, they would probably say that the St. Therese Prayer is such a lovely prayer that it doesn’t matter who wrote it.

‘Tis A Gift To Land Up Where You’re Meant to be

I really love the second line of the prayer–“May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.” It’s like the old Quaker hymn, “Tis a gift to be simple, ‘tis a gift to be free, ‘tis a gift to land up where you’re supposed to be.” St. Therese of Lisieux would believe that, but so would St. Teresa of Avila, who once wrote, “ “Prayer alone can do a lot of good for the people you pray for. Beyond that, it’s not necessary to try to help the whole world. Concentrate on your own circle of companions who need you. Then whatever you do will be of great benefit.”

That’s their real gift, isn’t it?

The St. Therese Prayer

May today there be peace within. 

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. 

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. 

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. 

Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. 

It is there for each and every one of us.”

Jane’s short story, “Secrets of Mama Kardashian,” is now available from Wising Up Press at their bookstore .

“Mute,” Jane’s short story about a hospice clown who gets confused after she witnesses a murder, is live online in the 97th issue of Image — see Mute by Jane St. Clair.