With Empty Hands: The Message of St Theurecse of Lisieux

by Conrad De Meester

This is an entirely new edition and translation of Conrad De Meester's brilliant and moving presentation of the life, thought, and spirituality of St. Thrse of Lisieux. The author has completely revised and amplified his previous book in the light of the new, thoroughly annotated editions of her own works and the many recent works of research and commentary, which have led him to develop and change some of his interpretations of the saint's life and character.

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Nonfiction, Biography

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Father Conrad De Meester, OCD, a Carmelite priest from Louvain, Belgium, is the author of numerous works on the spiritual masters of Carmel: Thérèse of Lisieux, Laurent of the Resurrection, and Elizabeth of the Trinity. In particular, it was he who compiled the critical edition of the Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity for Les Editions du Cerf. He has two titles to his name published in English: With Empty Hands: The Message of Thérèse of Lisieux (St Paul Publications Australia, 1982) and St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Her Life, Times and Teachings (ICS Publications, Washington, DC, 1997). The Power of Confidence is a revised and updated edition of the masterpiece which won him his well-deserved reputation when it was first published as a doctoral dissertation twenty-seven years ago.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmelites are celebrating the 150th year of Therese's birth. Read this as the first of several books in her honor and as a part of that celebration. I am going to need to go back over the book and reread places to prepare my review, but Oh, this was marvelous. Yes, I love St. Thérèse, but not every book about her is this good.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

"But a thousand questions and a thousand temptations do not constitute a single real doubt."

"It is possible to love anywhere and at any time."

"A fervent soul will always find new heights to be scaled, for God is always just a little 'beyond' our capabilities."

"In spite of our poverty (indeed, thanks to our poverty), if we persevere in hope we shall be much more 'of God'."

"All sorts and conditions of people are not only attracted to her but find they can relate to her easily. This little saint who, once she took up the religious life, never set foot outside the cloister, teachers us that we can all be apostles and missionaries in our God-given vocation, wherever we find ourselves. Simply by our charity, prayer and the crosses of our everyday lives, and in the petty tasks and sacrifices of the daily grind, we can all spread God's kingdom."

My thoughts + summery of a few parts:
In this book Carmelite Conrad De Meester reflects on passages from Story of a Soul . (I read this along with Story of a Soul at the same time) and it talks about how Thérèse at the end of her life says she will go to God with empty hands because her works will be nothing. (I believe I am summarizing that correctly but don't take my word. Read the book! Haha. This is not to say that we should not do works. Part of the faith is the effort in living out what you believe which is works. This is where the Protestant and Catholic views differ. Catholics believe faith, grace, and works are all needed, while Protestants believe it is through faith and grace alone.) I only mention this as this is where the title of the book comes from because Thérèse remarks how she wants to go to God "with empty hands."

At first I was not over the moon about reading this (this book was assigned for class) as it felt like it was summarizing Story of a Soul with less context; however, as the book went on I started to enjoy it more! It mentions quotes from Thérèse I wouldn't have read otherwise (quotes from letters and poems) and makes connections between her different analogies and metaphors that I wouldn't have made or that went over my head initially. You can tell Conrad De Meester was well read on Thérèse and had great respect for her. (I would not read this as a complete substitute for Story of a Soul but rather to help elaborate or refresh yourself.)

This book mostly goes over her analogies. I especially liked the elevator metaphor. She really shows what it is to make oneself small like a child to make it easier for us to go to God (based in Scripture where it says the kingdom of God belongs to the little ones). And if I am not making sense don't fret! This book does go over some pretty complex and deep metaphors. I certainly only scratched the surface with my understanding of these concepts! And I had a whole class on St. Thérèse taught by a Carmelite! (Which I can't express how fortunate and lucky I am to have had that!!)

Even after reading both Story of a Soul and With Empty Hands I'm not sure I could perfectly define St. Thérèse's "Little way" still (I'm a bit like her sister Marie who asked for clarification because she, too, didn't understand) but I am getting there and am very glad and fortunate to have read this book as well as Story of a Soul and With Empty Hands so I can at least get a few glimpses of it.

I hope I don't scare anyone away from reading this book. It was good and well written. But much like Story of a Soul and countless other books, if it doesn't make sense the first read, that is totally fine. Try again later!

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the assigned text for my lay carmelite group, which we read over several months. I wish the author had written a bit more literally about St Therese’s life—I found myself lost in the prose at several points.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book! I recommend it highly

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit dry at the beginning, but a thorough review of the development and growing depth of the spirituality of St. Therese of Liseaux.