Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

October 1, 2026

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Today’s readings perfectly complement the life and teachings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whom we remember today. The full religious name that St. Thérèse chose when she entered the Carmelite convent at age fifteen was “Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.” Devotion to the childhood of Jesus highlighted God’s humility and radical vulnerability in becoming a helpless child. Thérèse believed in approaching God with the complete trust, simplicity, and reliance of a little child toward a loving father. She taught and followed the “Little Way,” noting that people do not need grand, heroic deeds to be holy, but can reach heaven through simple, everyday acts done with great love. “To pick up a pin for love can convert a soul.”

This theme of childlike faith is reflected in Job’s words, “I know that my Vindicator lives.” The word “vindicator” in Hebrew is go’el, namely, a family member with the obligation to restore an indentured servant relative to their righteous place within the family. Job trusts God completely to do this for him, as a child trusts a parent, even after having been reduced to dust.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out the seventy-two without any extra burdensome possessions. Therefore, like little children, they are utterly dependent upon God and others for their sustenance and basic needs. They are to greet others with the Jewish greeting of Shalom. The deeper meaning is a reunited reality, as family members are reunited after distance or disagreement, creating a community in which the kingdom of God can be lived and proclaimed.

Empowered by the Eucharist, with the faith and trust of a little child, what “pin” can I pick up today for the love of Jesus in my community?

Let Us Pray:

O my God, I want to base my hope in You alone. Since You can do everything, deign to bring to birth in my soul the virtue I desire. To obtain this grace of Your infinite mercy, I will very often repeat: “O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, make my heart like Yours!” (Prayer of St. Thérèse of Lisieux)