The Little Way Fellowship

St. Therese longed to be a great saint, but she was keenly aware of her limitations. She wrestled with the problem of how someone so small could ever reach the heights of sanctity. The answer was what St. Therese called her Little Way:

Always keep lifting your foot to climb the ladder of holiness, and do not imagine that you can mount even the first step. All God asks of you is good will. From the top of the ladder He looks lovingly upon you, and soon, touched by your fruitless efforts, He will Himself come down, and, taking you in His Arms, will carry you to His Kingdom never again to leave Him. But should you cease to raise your foot, you will be left for long on the earth.

Members of the Little Way Fellowship live St. Therese’s spirituality in a very practical way by committing to doing two things each day:

  • Offer one small daily sacrifice for our parish family.  This might be as simple as not adding salt to dinner, driving in silence for a few minutes, or skipping a favorite snack.

  • Say the Little Way Fellowship Prayer.

Membership is an annual commitment which begins each year on St. Therese’s feast day, October 1st. Each summer, members have the opportunity to renew their membership for another year.

Our sacrifices and prayers are small things in themselves, but if we do them with great love they will bear more fruit than we expect or imagine.  May we do all things for love of Him, for that is the Little Way to great holiness.

To join the Little Way Fellowship, please contact the office at (815) 357-4070 or office@thelittleway.org.

“What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love.”

Fellowship Prayer

St. Therese, flower of fervor and love, intercede for us. Make us more aware of the goodness of God and how well He tends His garden.

Instill in us your little way of doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. Give us the heart of a child who wonders at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm. Teach us your delight in God's ways so that divine charity may blossom in our hearts.

Little Flower of Jesus, bring our parish before God, our Father, and pray that He will shower grace upon us. With your confidence and friendship, we come before Jesus as God’s children.  Amen.