La confianza en Dios. Ejercicios espirituales

by Jacques Philippe

Toda la enseñanza de la santa de Lisieux en boca de uno de los mayores predicadores católicos del siglo XXI.

La sencillez no es fácil de entender, la extrema sencillez puede incluso desdibujarse y confundirse con otros rasgos.

El día 1 de octubre, la Iglesia celebra la fiesta de Santa Teresita de Lisieux, a la que se declaró Doctora, a pesar de su corta edad y su breve vida en clausura, precisamente por la sencillez de su enseñanza, por la maravilla del “caminito nuevo”. Sin embargo, tenemos experiencia de lo difícil que resulta profundizar en el alma de esta santa. Muchos hemos leído y releído su autobiografía y nos parece una maravilla absolutamente inimitable y en ocasiones como una vida de santos a la antigua, con un cierto tono aniñado.

Entonces, ¿cuál es el modelo que la Iglesia propone como imitable para los fieles de todos los tiempos, cuando se trata de una monja que ingresa con 15 años en el Carmelo y muere en plena juventud? A esta pregunta responde el último libro de Jacques Philippe editado en España: La confianza en Dios. Primer volumen de la nueva colección de Ediciones Cristiandad, Grandes Predicadores.

Este libro es la trascripción-con las correcciones mínimas necesarias para adaptarlo al estilo escrito- del retiro predicado en una parroquia cercana a Madrid en octubre de 2010.

En estas páginas descubrimos el camino de sencillez y confianza de la santa explicado por el famoso sacerdote de la Orden de las Beatitudes. Gran conocedor de la espiritualidad de la santa de la que el también vive, nos presenta a una Teresa cercana y completamente asequible. Las meditaciones nos conducen de la mano de Teresa por “el caminito” de una santidad asequible para todos, como soñaba la carmelita.
Utilizando los textos de la autobiografía de la carmelita Jacques Philippe aborda los temas fundamentales de la vida de oración de cualquier cristiano, las luchas, los fracasos y las alegrías; descubriéndonos un modelo amable y un camino sencillo al Cielo.

En palabras del propio autor:

“He querido presentar lo esencial del mensaje de esta joven religiosa. Explicar en qué consiste este «caminito totalmente nuevo» o «camino de confianza y amor», que Teresa descubrió, vivió, y a posteriori transmitió a las novicias a su cargo en el Carmelo. Ella presintió que, más allá de este pequeño círculo, Dios quería desvelar este camino a una legión de «almas humildes», de personas frágiles y débiles, para guiarlas hasta la cumbre más alta del amor.

La extraordinaria difusión de la enseñanza de Teresa, que continúa hoy, demuestra que este deseo de la joven carmelita no fue una mera ilusión, sino que correspondía a la sabiduría del Padre, que «oculta sus secretos a los sabios e inteligentes y se los revela a los más humildes».

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality, Religion, Faith, Christian, Nonfiction, Prayer

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Jacques Philippe was born into a Christian family on March 12, 1947 in Lorraine, France. After studying mathematics in college, he spent several years teaching and doing scientific research. In 1976, he met the then recently-founded Community of the Beatitudes and answered the Lord’s call to follow Him through this vocation (see below for more information on the Community of the Beatitudes). He then spent several years in Jerusalem and Nazareth immersing himself in the study of Hebrew and the Jewish roots of Christianity. In 1981, he traveled to Rome to study theology and canon law and also began his work as a spiritual director, working in the formation of priests and seminarians of the Community. In 1994, he returned to France, where he assumed various responsibilities including spiritual direction, the development of training in the Community, and participation in its General Council. He has also preached retreats regularly in France and abroad and has consolidated his principal retreat themes into five books on spirituality. In recent years, he has devoted himself primarily to spiritual direction, preaching retreats, and working for the development of the Community in Asia and Oceania, where he travels frequently.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful explanation of St. Therese's "Little Way" and how her trust in God is so life-transforming, sensible and true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I must have read this before as there were quite a few highlights already, but as with all Fr. Philippe's books, this can be read multiple times with great benefit. This time, I am sure I finished it and hope there will an occasion to come back.

[Emily Martinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Fr. Jacques Philippe is a 5 star read in my book. The way he can take lofty spiritual truths and break them down into digestible nuggets of wisdom, while also offering extremely practical ways to live them out, blows my mind every time. Another must read that I’m going to need to revisit time after time.

[Maddie McElroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously so good. I aspire to have the faith of St Therese. I feel so close to the Lord after this read it spoke to all the tender places of my heart. The most perfect Lent read

[Melissa Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was uncomfortable for me to read in the absolute best way! St. Therese’s little way helped remind me of many places of my heart that I have been refraining from sharing with the Lord. I loved the practicality of the chapter about shifting our attitude when enduring trials. Highly recommend!!

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is excellent. He apologizes this book is based on a series of talks he did and that he spent little time cleaning it up. No apology was necessary, but it was nice to know the genesis.

Some highlights from it.

---
The final sentence is also very important for explaining what “being little” means: “It means not being discouraged by our faults, because children often fall over, but they are so little they don’t hurt themselves badly.”
---
The two main signs of pride are despising others and getting discouraged. Those who are humble and accept their littleness don’t get discouraged because they put their trust in God and not in themselves.
---
Being humble means consenting to our inner poverty. First of all, recognizing it, because sometimes we don’t want to face it, but above all accepting it!
---
I think a good definition of humility may be this: being in the right relation to ourselves, which enables us to be in the right relation to God and to other people; relating to ourselves according to the truth of what and how we are. One of its essential aspects, as we have seen, is peacefully accepting our weakness and inner poverty.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacques Philippe is one of my favorite spiritual writers. His work is so accessible and practical, yet it really cuts to the heart of the spiritual life. I read this one very slowly, because there is a lot to think about and work on. I probably highlighted most of the book! This is one that is worth re-reading often.

[Claire Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lord convicted me this morning in adoration that I can keep reading about "trust" and "love" but there won't be sanctification in my life until I engage with the present moment and choose to check my heart with the litmus test of: A) is this motivated in trust or distrust and B) am I actively loving others and the Lord?

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jackie Phillips St. Therese

🤝

My faith, hope, and love in God restored

[Mary Helen Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, great timing, highly recommend

[Ellie Shaheen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeahhhh I absolutely loved this book from both a discipleship to Jesus AND therapeutic view. Father Jacques does it again, can’t wait to use this book as a resource!!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally!!!!

[Kennedy Kellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Fr. Jacques Philippe. This is the second book I’ve read by him and, boy howdy, he just gets it. I read this at the exact right time for me. Truly every time I picked this up it pertained to exactly what I was going through that moment. Shout out Annalise. Shout out Holy Spirit. Shout out Fr. Jacques Philippe. And shout out to my new bestie St. Thérèse. Ily girl.

[Cynthia Newcombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

I have read several ofJacques Philipi's books and they are all very practical and helpful. I highly recommend this book!

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

“God does not ask us to pray well, only consistently and without being discouraged.”

[Margaret Gipson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devotional literature and St. Therese are both usually not up my alley, but this is a really lovely book.

[Maggie Lunsford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacques Philippe is just a praying man and you can tell by the thought provoking nature of this book. Would recommend for a little trip down the way of trust and love.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little treatise on the Little Way based on the writings of St. Therese's of Lisieux. Drawing from the teachings of one of the Church's greatest doctors, Jacques Philippe provides practical guidance for growing in the spiritual life by accepting our own poverty, relying completely on the love and grace of God, and embracing our identity as children of a Good Father. The content of the book is a solid introduction to Therese's spirituality and acts as a great companion to the Story of a Soul, making it perfect for readers who have little to no exposure to St. Therese. Nevertheless, Therese's timeless wisdom still shines through and is infinitely exhaustible for all readers, no matter their knowledge of Therese's life and teachings. I especially enjoyed Philippe's reflections on accepting our inner weakness and the necessity of humility and gratitude for the spiritual life. As I meditated on Philippe's reflections and sought to apply these principles in my life, I found a deepening in my relationship with God and a greater peace and joy resonating throughout my life. Would recommend this as a prayer guide for all, but especially for those navigating circumstances requiring great trust in God. St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this is interesting because I read this a few years ago and my review was like 3 stars! Was I being grumpy? I just read this again as a Lenten study, and blazed through it. I really loved this mini-retreat which takes you through St. Therese’s Little Way. What a spunky powerhouse of a saint, who only lived into her 20s.

[Timothy Riordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful little book.

“The more one grows in the spiritual life, the more one depends on God, lives off God, receives everything from his grace. Here there is no question of becoming autonomous. That would mean aiming to do without God: “I’m strong enough”. I have enough experience. We should beware of a form of desire for perfection, that we may sometimes nurture. The desire for perfection is a good thing, in itself, but it can be ambiguous. What do we really want? We would like to be experienced, irreproachable, never make any mistakes, never fall, possess unfailing good judgment and unimpeachable virtue. Which is to say, we would like to have no more need of forgiveness for mercy, no more need of God and his help. If at bottom, our dream of perfection is to be able to manage without God, we are no longer on the path of the Gospel.
The Gospel path is just the opposite. It leads us to receive everything from God: the meaning of our lives, the courage we need, the light by which we make our choices. It leads us to receive everything from God in trust and prayer and simplicity. That is one aspect of what Thérès means by “staying little”: consenting to receive everything necessary from God’s hand, day by day, without worrying about either past or future. Day by day, we do what is asked of us, without anxiety, without fear, certain that God is faithful, and will give us what we need from moment to moment; never falling, pray to the illusion that one day we will be able to manage without God.

[Jolene McLane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Way of Trust and Love, Father Jacques Philippe excels at illuminating the wisdom offered by St. Therese of Lisieux. He wrote this book to encapsulate a spiritual retreat he preached that touched many people’s lives. It is an easy and short read, with accessible language and concepts that are both simple and profound. Using St. Therese as his model, Father Philippe invites readers to examine their spiritual life and respond to God’s call to deepen their trust in Him. Upon reading it, St. Therese quickly became my favourite saint. Though this book calls you higher, it does so in the most loving and inspiring sort of way. I recommend reading it as part of your prayer time, or in small doses at the end of your day. It is only 6 chapters long, but not a word is wasted. If you want to develop your relationship with Christ, grow in love for Him and others, understand better how to navigate suffering, deepen your trust, or be inspired to strive for sainthood- this book is for you!

[Anne Frain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so truth is - I started this one in a book club last fall but I don’t think any of the words actually sat with me. While on retreat I decided to give it another try and I was glued to every page. Fr. Jacques Philippe writes books that are so easy to comprehend and short and packed with goodness. We are invited to trust the Lord and in that trust we are truly loving Him and our neighbors!

When facing a trial we can ask ourself:
- what act of faith am I being called to make?
- what attitude of trust am I being called to adopt?
- what conversion to love am I being called to undertake?

Sooo much to pray about after this book!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars because somehow, Jacques Philippe was able to articulate and explain through St. Therese just the sort of encouragement I needed to hear. Reading this was like very good spiritual direction meetings. There is much for meditation here, and I will be returning to different sections for some time now.

[Annalise Rome · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good! Just what I needed to hear. Fr. Jacques is always amazing. He articulates the things I think and feel but can’t find the words to explain. This book is easy to understand but gives you a lot to think and pray about.

[Gracie Muraski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it’s safe to say I’ve never met a fr Jacques Phillipe book I didn’t love. Seriously, he is so digestible while also being so accurate to my heart and mind. This was a great Lenten read, probably processed even more fully by meeting weekly with a group of women to discuss it more deeply. Good takeaways of accepting myself in my fragility and brokenness, trusting in the Lords strength and provision as a good Father, fostering attitudes of gratitude and being grounded in the present moment, and so much more. Love!

[Tabitha Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for lent & also listened to the Abiding Together podcast reflecting on it - as always, I love the simplicity and hard packed truths from Fr. Jacques Filippe! St. Therese is my Saint of the year so it was very fitting

[Emily Theisen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book!! This was my first glimpse into St. Therese and I’m so thankful for it! It was a gift starting this book in a group with dear friends and it was a gift reading it on my own as well. There is much to learn here and I can’t wait to pick it up again some day!

[Molly Rembold]

This read was a punch in the gut and I totally understand the hype around St. Therese now🌹

[Theresa Gonzales Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. Liquid gold for the soul. I will be returning to this one and reflecting on it. Beautiful. Highly recommend.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this along with the book study from Abiding Together— had a lovely time!

[Anita Santana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful little book explaining the theology and methodology of the Little Way! I read this for the 2026 Lenten Book Study with the Abiding Together Podcast (Miriam James Heidland, Heather Khym, Michelle Benzinger) and found it a very fruitful experience.