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A Professor of Theology at St Paul University, Ottawa, the French-Canadian author is also a devout disciple of Thérèse. Of the twenty-five books he has written, five are devoted to the saint. It was only after an interesting set of circumstances, starting with the visit of the relics of Thérèse to Canada, that he felt inspired to pen this work. His goal was to find the deepest bond between these two great spiritual figures. And that link soon became clear to him in the central theme of this book: the divine thirst for souls, as immortally expressed in the gospel words from the Cross -- "I thirst" (Jn 19:28).
The introduction explains the genesis of the work. The author first turned to Thérèse, with confidence, to seek confirmation for the theme of his project. He found it in a booklet with three hundred and sixty-five of her sayings which he had a habit of reading from each night before he went to bed. The quotation for the day could hardly have been more apposite. It was from Letter 196 to her sister Marie, and it concerns the thirst of Jesus. In his subsequent research he found further confirmation that the bond he had discovered between the two great spiritual figures was the correct one.
Other than the Introduction to the English Version and the Translator's Note, the book has an extended Introduction, five chapters and a Conclusion. There are also four appendices: Thérèse's Act of Oblation to Merciful Love; the Spiritual Testament of Mother Teresa; an interview with Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, MC, Postulator of the Cause for the Beatification of Mother Teresa; and Mother Teresa's prayer Lord, When I Am Hungry. The completed text has footnotes.
The author's search led him to what he considers the deepest bond uniting these two great figures: the thirst of Jesus for souls. Chapter 1 deals with Thérèse's own discovery of the thirst of Jesus, and with how it became the central theme in her 'Little Way' and culminated in her celebrated Act of Oblation to Merciful Love. This chapter is, in effect, as good an introduction to the spirituality and spiritual doctrine of St. Thérèse as one is likely to get. The second chapter deals with the centrality of the divine thirst for Mother Teresa. Moreover, it shows how that unifying connection between the two great spiritual figures is no mere coincidence. The spirituality of Mother Teresa is revealed to be not only deeply influenced by the spirituality of Thérèse, but her very vocation is shown to be actually modelled on Thérèse, her patron saint. It was only in 1996, a year before she died, that Mother Teresa revealed to a journalist just how close she felt to Thérèse. At the time of the saint's canonization in 1925, she experienced unprecedented happiness when she understood that the 'Little Flower' belonged forever in her life and would be an example for her. In terms that will be familiar to devotees of Thérèse she said: 'It seems to me that she has always been there, close to me, as if she were truly a part of my family!' (p. 18). Such was the closeness of Mother Teresa to Thérèse that in the houses of the Missionaries of Charity the motto of the cry of the Savior -- 'I thirst' -- is never far away from an image of the Carmelite saint.
In chapter 3, the central theme of the book is given further consideration in a biblical reflection on the meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman by the well at Sychar. The fourth chapter is a gently challenging consideration on the practicalities of consoling Jesus by quenching his love for souls through loving our neighbor. It includes some wise advice from Mother Teresa:
What we need is to love without exhausting ourselves. How does a lamp burn? By the consumption of steadily dripping drops of oil. What are the drops of oil in our own lamps? The little things in daily life: faithfulness, a friendly word, a kind thought for others, to remain silent instead of arguing or defending oneself, attentiveness to others, and honesty and strength to speak and act when necessary. Do not search for Jesus far from you. He is not somewhere else. He is in you. Keep your lamp burning and you will recognize Him (pp. 52-3).
Chapter 5 offers further scope for deep reflection. Its theme is the heart of Jesus broken by the ingratitude and indifference of souls. But happily, this hurt is consoled by the loving response of souls such as Thérèse and Mother Teresa and their followers. So often, this is done in the shadow of the dark night. The trial of faith, so well chronicled in the life of Thérèse, has its parallel in the dark night of Mother Teresa to a surprising degree. It lasted most of her life! In a remarkable confession, she revealed:
I smile all the time. The sisters and people think that my faith, my hope and my love are prodoundly fulfilling me, and that intimacy with God and union with His will, live in my heart. If they only knew... only blind faith moves me along, because the truth is that all is darkness for me (p.73).
It was during the hours of adoration in chapel that both Thérèse and Mother Teresa wanted to console Jesus by redoubling their efforts in their own dark nights of spiritual struggle. Moreover, as the author Jacques Gauthier points out, it seems a challenge for us to understand that it is in those periods of spiritual darkness, with Jesus our prisoner within, that he communicates most profoundly his thirst for souls.
This delightful book is at once compellingly informative about the remarkable bond between these two great figures, and spiritually enriching as it profoundly explains the implications of their common desire to assuage the thirst of Jesus. It will surely be warmly welcomed by devotees of both Thérèse and Mother Teresa, and by anyone who would like to make their acquaintance. --Brian J. Nolan in Mount Carmel Magazine, June 2011.
Here is a beautiful book about two remarkable women--one from the end of the nineteenth century and one from the latter
part of the twentieth century--who outwardly appeared to be quite different in temperament and vocation yet held nearly
identical internal spiritualities. Initially the book introduces us to the spirituality of Saint Thérèse, a contemplative
nun who died at the age of twenty-four. It then gives us a glimpse of Mother Teresa's long life--a life spent living and
working among the poor in the streets of Calcutta and around the world. Ironically, their motivations came from the same
source: Christ's thirst for love and for souls. Almost everyone today admires Mother Teresa. While Thérèse of Lisieux is
currently very popular also, I must confess that I have never read much about her. She is a Doctor of the Church, yet her
spirituality was very simple. This book makes her "little way" very easy to comprehend. Translations of her letters into
modern-day English help contribute to her appeal. The remainder of the book takes us into the heart of each of these inspiring
women and the driving force behind their love for God and service to others. Both became hooked by Christ's plea from the
cross, "I thirst." Realizing that his thirst was for our love and for the love of all souls, the following chapters examine
how these humble nuns attempted to quench that thirst in the way each lived her life. When I first picked up this book, I
thought it might be a little boring, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book shows in a very intriguing way how these two
women sought to respond to their unique calling from God. The author uses several quotes and selections from their writings
throughout the text. The relationship with God shared by these famous nuns is very inspiring, and this book has had an
impact on my personal spirituality. It is a great book for all devotees of either Saint Thérèse or Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
Everyone walking any kind of spiritual path will also find it uplifting. --David Werthmann in
Liguorian, October 2005
I Thirst: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Mother Teresa of Calcutta by Jacques Gauthier, translated by
Alexandra Plettenberg-Serban, explores the commonalities in these holy women. Both believed they were called to relieve the
thirst of Jesus on the Cross. --St. Anthony Messenger, September 2005
The author is a widely known French-Canadian theologian who is an expert on St. Thérèse of Lisieux, having written several
books about her. This book is about what Gauthier sees as a striking commonality in the spirituality of these two blessed
women. The author shows how both Thérèse and Mother Teresa intuitively understood that the Lord's desire to be loved by His
people has its origin in the mystery of the thirst of Jesus. The metaphor or imagery of thirst appears to be the common
foundation for much of the spiritual writings of both. While Gauthier prepared in 2002 and 2003 for a series of conferences
on St. Thérèse, news circulated about the beatification of Mother Teresa. On that same day six years earlier, St. Thérèse
was proclaimed to be a Doctor of the Church -- a title reserved for only the most significant spiritual writers and theologians.
Gauthier felt inspired to write about the two women. In his reading and research he uncovered a common theme -- the thirst of
Jesus for our love. In his introduction Gauthier expands upon this theme by looking at its source in Scriptures. The main
text of Gauthier's book looks more closely at the writings of Thérèse and Teresa -- uncovering this theme over and over again.
The material he offers is a summary of their thought and writings viewed from the reference point of the "I Thirst" theme. The
several appendices give us complete reprints of some of the most popular and significant writings of St. Thérèse, "An act of
oblation to merciful love," and Mother Teresa's "Spiritual Testament" and the prayer, "Lord, when I am hungry." Both the
uninitiated and lovers of Teresian spirituality will find this little book of interest. --Arnold
Rzepecki in Catholic Library World, September 2005
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