In the penultimate match-up of the First Round, two women square off with the winner taking on Harriet Tubman. Thérèse of Lisieux, the original flower child, takes on Martha of Bethany, Biblical disciple. Yesterday Gregory the Great defeated Martin of Tours in the Battle of the Bishops and will face Florence Li-Tim Oi in the next Round. We understand that, in an act of deferential concession, Martin then sliced his miter in half.
If you missed yesterday's release of the People's Edition of Monday Madness make sure you watch it today. Tim and Scott aren't in it -- we defer to the "little people" of Lent Madness. AKA some people who were with us in San Diego last week that were duped into finishing the statement "I love Lent Madness because..."
Thérèse of Lisieux
While experiencing nervous tremors as a young girl, Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) believed that she saw a vision of the Virgin Mary and was healed. She described this to Carmelite nuns, whose questions filled her with self-doubt and caused her to believe, wrongly, that she had lied about it. Several years later, on Christmas Eve 1886, she had what she said was a “complete conversion” as love entered her heart and liberated her to serve others.
The next year she told her father about her desire to mark the first anniversary of that conversion by joining the Carmelite nuns before Christmas. He picked up a little white flower with its roots and gave it to her. He said that God had created it and cared for it. Thérèse, who would eventually become known as “The Little Flower,” believed that to be a metaphor for her own life and that she would be planted in different soil. Yet she was still considered too young to be planted in the soil of the Carmelite nuns.
Later that same year, on a pilgrimage to Rome, she knelt before Pope Leo XIII and asked him to allow her to enter that religious community. He blessed her but left the decision in the hands of its superiors. She stubbornly remained there and had to be removed from the room by the Swiss Guard. Finally, however, she was allowed to become a Carmelite postulant at the age of 15 and moved into a cloistered community in Lisieux, which is located in northwestern France. Thérèse made her religious profession there at the age of 17.
She finally had the life she wanted – a life dedicated to prayer. So it’s interesting to note that she frequently fell asleep while praying and was embarrassed that she couldn’t stay awake in chapel with her religious community. But she realized that parents love their children while they sleep just as much as they do when they’re awake. In the same way, she knew that God loved her.
Chapel presented other challenges too. One of the nuns made clicking noises in that setting that drove Thérèse nuts. She might have been playing with her rosary. She might have had bad dentures. Whatever the true cause, it was simply maddening to Thérèse. But Thérèse decided to make it into a kind of music and offer it as a prayer as she sat there in the presence of God.
Those are both examples of her “little way” of being a Christian. After Thérèse’s death from tuberculosis at the age of 24, her writings were collected and published as The Story of a Soul. That’s how the world came to know and love her.
Collect for Thérèse of Lisieux
O God, by whose grace Thérèse of Lisieux became, with the fire of your love, a burning and a shining light in your Church: Grant that we may be inflamed with the same spirit of love, and ever walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Martha of Bethany
Though Martha of Bethany is mentioned in only two places in Scripture (Luke 10:38-42, John 11-12), she has had a lasting impact, for good and ill, on our conception of the spiritual life. It is sometimes hard to remember that Martha is a person and not a type. But, as one commentator puts it, “She looks at us out of the pages, a curiously vivid personality; downright, honest, practical, unselfish” (Interpreter’s Bible 1952, Volume 8, p. 636).
Martha is a devoted sister, never mentioned except alongside one or both of her siblings, Mary and Lazarus. Whether Martha is the oldest in the family is uncertain. However, Luke makes it plain that Martha invites Jesus to her house for that fateful meal when Jesus takes her multitasking to task. “Tell my sister to come and help me,” Martha says. In reply, Jesus speaks to Martha’s inner state rather than the presenting issue: “you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.” Martha, who had sought to serve Jesus and wishes for Mary to do the same, is instead invited to be served.
John reports that when Jesus arrives at Bethany after the death of Lazarus, it is Martha who first goes out to greet him. They engage in a conversation in which Martha’s statement of Christ’s ministry rivals the Confession of Peter.
Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world" (John 11:23-27).
Also like Peter, Martha has a habit of saying exactly what she’s thinking and keeping it real. As with Peter, Jesus treats this forthrightness with forthrightness. When Jesus tells those gathered to remove the stone from Lazarus’ tomb, it is Martha who points out Lazarus has been dead four days and smells pretty ripe. This earns her another ding from Jesus who says, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
Martha seems to take these rebukes in stride, continuing in her faithful discipleship and love of her Lord. In the final mention of Martha in Scripture, John 12:2, Jesus again joins the beloved siblings for dinner. Lazarus is at table; Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with perfume. And Martha served.
Collect for Martha of Bethany
Generous God, whose Son Jesus Christ enjoyed the friendship and hospitality of Mary, Martha and Lazarus of Bethany: Open our hearts to love you, our ears to hear you, and our hands to welcome and serve you in others, through Jesus Christ our risen Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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162 comments on “Therese of Lisieux vs. Martha of Bethany”
I think that after Jesus suggested to Martha that it was okay to sit at his feet (like Mary was sitting at the feet of a rabbi indicating that she was one of his students) I think Martha took him up on it and that she became a student as well. Her statement of faith at Lazarus's death doesn't rival Peter's, it surpasses it! Her statement - “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world” - gives Jesus three messianic titles. Only a few others in the gospels name Jesus as the Messiah before the ressurection -- and not one of them is as strong as Martha's statement!!!! Go Martha!!!
I cannot believe I just voted against my own bracket pick. I've read Therese, and loved her for years. She seemed like the clear winner. But the Celebrity Blogger completely won me over. I'd never thought of the parallel with Peter before, but it's spot on, and it made me realize I'd been selling Martha short. My thanks to Celebrity Blogger Laura Toepfer for opening my eyes, and my deepest thank to all of God's straight-talking, hard-working, bold-yet-humble women. Without you, the church would fall apart, and so would I.
i am really torn today. I can identify with Therese being told that her earliest spiritual experiences weren't viable for whatever reasons. And although I am a Mary at heart, I get distracted and fret about what isn't done and what I can't control, and I too have been chastised for pointing out that I can't see what God is doing and not fully believing in it. Martha's proclamation of faith jumps out at me. Both women were true to their vision and understanding of God.
...as one who yearns to be noticed and appreciated, there's something about quiet, small, perhaps unnoticed acts of devotion that appeal to me. Therese shows me the blessings of being fully content when God alone notices. sorry, Martha:(
Soul sister Martha all the way!
As one of the people who makes the coffee every Sunday morning at church, I can relate to Martha. Just because you are setting out the coffee and cookies doesn't mean you aren't listening.
I think Martha is worthy of the Golden Halo! After all, Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." And Martha sought to fulfill his words. We should give thanks for all the Marthas of the world.
I love the story of Mary and Martha because it clearly demonstrates, to me, that Jesus considered women worthy of instruction, worthy of learning, and worthy of a higher calling than housework.... in essence, worthy of being disciples.
That said, I've also always felt that as much as Jesus said that Mary chose "the better part", I bet he and his male followers still expected to be fed, and you know none of THEM went to help Martha in the kitchen. And meal preparation was really, really labor intensive in that time and place. (Have you tried preparing Mediterranean food? I mean, really!) Poor Martha was doing her best to serve the Lord, literally, and all she got for her troubles was a reprimand. The least we can do is vote for her now.
You are so right. I have always been disappointed that Jesus didn't tell Peter, James and John to get in that kitchen and start cooking.
Being one who thinks best with busy hands I voted for Martha. I think she was listening to Jesus even as she prepared the meal and did the dishes. And when everyone went on their way I'll bet she contemplated what was said while she was sewing. She clearly had done some thinking by the time her brother died.
But I also loved the story of Theresa, falling asleep during prayers. I am impressed and inspired how she turned the annoying clicking into prayer - a wonderful model for dealing with many annoyances. And I agree with the idea that she showed signs of seizures - perhaps of a nature that was not noticeable to others - like absence seizures where you just blank out for a bit. The sleepiness comes after the seizure.
I once went to a wedding suburban Detroit at a Catholic church called 'The Shrine of the Little Flower'. Growing up Catholic, I knew that this was an atypical name for a catholic church, and imagined a building that was, well, small, 60s and hippy. Instead it was this nearly Gothic thing. I always wondered where the name came from, and now it all is clear! Thanks CB Neil Alan Willard for such an interesting writeup! I knew nothing about her and would like to learn more. However....
I've always felt sorry for Martha, even though there are some that would think me more of a Mary (besides the fact that it's my name). Today she is the one that my heart is going to, although I admire the absolute faith of both women.
This was a hard one - I was all set to vote for Martha (I am always fighting against multi-tasking) - and then read some comments about Theresa which gave me pause. Too bad I can't vote for both.
However, my vote will be Martha - my mother's and my first name.
Had to vote for Martha. Practical, get-the-job-done Martha. Martha who also needs regular reminders to sit down and sit still. Too much like me to deny her.
Poor old Martha, attending to all the day-to-day stuff everyone else was too special to do, whether or not anyone appreciated it--which apparently they didn't much. The ultimate patroness for us hardworking moms. Had to vote for her.
As Jan on the Brady Bunch might have said, "Martha! Martha! Martha! Why is everyone always talking about Martha!" She always struck me as a competitive, passive-aggressive tattle tale who (to paraphrase) tells Jesus "I told you this was going to happen and you should have listened to me, BUT NO!" Yes, I suppose her forthrightness is refreshing if you like that sort of thing but she reminds me too much of my always-working-in-the-church-kitchen-while-making-nasty-comments-to-others-mother-in-law. I have read "The Story Of A Soul" three times. Give me the useless-in-the-kitchen, neurotic teen dreamer, mystic and lover of Jesus who pestered everyone around her to let her join a cloistered convent and then realized what she really wanted after all was to be a missionary and go to foreign lands and convert thousands to Christ. So she put all her faith in prayer and asked God for the impossible: to make her dream come true of being a missionary who spills her blood for Christ while keeping her vow in the cloister. And God answered her prayer. She spilled her blood in tuberculosis while writing down her spiritual autobiography. Her posthumously published writings about her little way of love have inspired millions all over the world for the last hundred years.
And yet it was Martha's home where Jesus went when he wanted to relax and be with friends. If, as the story in question relates, Jesus and his 70+ followers showed up for dinner (I doubt that number based on the size of an ordinary house, but for the sake of argument, say he did bring 70 men with him for dinner), who wouldn't be asking for help in the kitchen?! And the story relates a sibling relationship . . . and anyone who has siblings knows that can be difficult! Ever have Thanksgiving dinner at your sister's house?
I love Martha, but I have to vote for my patron saint, Therese. The brand of overly precious 19th-century French piety that attends her image was never my cup of tea, and I was disappointed to see that notion of her played up, as per the usual, in her bio here. She is a Doctor of the Church, not just a cute little girl! The circumstances of her life did not allow for grandiose heroism, nor even for the opportunities Martha experienced in being able to serve Christ in person. Instead, Therese thought deeply and suffered willingly the obscure trials that most human beings endure, day-to-day. She had the inspiration to codify that common path as the "Little Way" to God. It looks unlikely at this point that she can win this showdown with Martha, but that's OK! I have no doubt that she is rooting for her less patient predecessor!
My vote goes for Martha. I admire Little Flower's utter devotion to her faith and in some ways, I envy her knowing what she wants at SUCH a young age. I agree with Nancy, who replied earlier, that Therese must have died of BOREDOM at 24! There are so many other ways to spread goodness in the world. Anyway, Martha's strength and "get the job done" attitude wins me over. I just love Martha's spirit!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, another day of Lent Madness knowledge.
I was convinced to vote for Therese by the quote that "parents love their children while they sleep just as much as they do when they’re awake. In the same way, she knew that God loved her." I have the same challenge and love her take on the issue. Seems to me that she was a "glass half full" kind of person and that her faith reflected that. On the other hand, I have never been a fan of Martha of Bethany.
I am happy to learn more about the "little flower" -- a reason I love Lent Madness to learn more about who came before us. However, I just relate way to much with Martha. And unlike a previous comment about her being a housewife, she reminds me very much of a deacon.
I have a tendency to real Marthaness, so I voted for her.
I saw in the New York Times Travel Section Sunday, that the 100th anniversary of Harriet Tubman's death will be commemorated in both New York and Maryland, on March 9th. Did the SEC know beforehand?
The SEC knows everything!
Just ask them! 😉
My birthday Oct 3rd, is the little flowers feast day! She is considered a 20th century saint known for her piety! So while I admire dear Martha but my allegiance today goes with Threse! pax TNC
I despise Ste. Therese! A willful brat who probably was lying about the vision of Mary! Gotta go with Martha.
Oooooh! Harsh! If a girl is going to be "a willful brat", how nice that it is on the side of the angels, as it were. When god calls, how should we respond?
Or God, for that matter!
Don't drag yourself any longer to His feet, follow that first impulse that draws you into His arms. That is where your place is. St. Therese pray for us!
tough choice. both stories are beautifully written and teach us something new. Had to vote for Martha....
The little flower or the worrier ... oh, my, just not sure which to go with today. A worrier and a doer whose trying to give up some of that in this phase of life, I'm tempted to vote in honor of Martha, but I do love the idea of Therese's contemplative life. And, yet, a part of me feels sad for her ... that she lost some of childhood in the process. Perhaps, however, she was called and had no choice. I'm still thinking on this one.
Going with Martha - I am a Martha. Edwina gateley once pointed out that Martha acknowledges Jesus as Messiah in much the same words as does Peter. Peter gets the keys of the kingdom in reward - where are Martha's keys?
Thanks for this... this helped me decide. And, Peter was always messing up, but doesn't nearly get held up as a model of what not to be as Martha has been. So, Martha - you get my vote.
Martha never denied Christ. Peter denied Jesus three times in one night.
I spent eight years hearing from Ursuline nuns about St. Therese at my elementary school. I don't want to hear any more about her. Sorry, Therese, but you are already a saint, which is a pretty awesome thing. Be grateful for that... It's time to vote you off the island.
I grew up hearing quite a lot about "The Little Flower" and I too don't want to hear anymore. She may have led a prayer life and that is admirable but quite frankly I suspect she may have been a few beads short of a Rosary.
My vote went to Martha, she was a hardworking woman, who was very straight forward, spoke her mind and didn't hesitate to stand up for herself..that's why my vote went to her.
I am like so many of you, torn between two different ways of being as shown in the lives of these two women. Not an easy choice at all.
I think this write up failed to fully emphasize the influence of Therese on modern Christianity. Her focus on doing small things with great love was a new idea when Story of a Soul was published. The power of the writing of such a very young woman is truly impressive. She is revered by both great scholars, such that she was named a Doctor of the Church, and everyday individuals. The reverence by average people is so intense that in many Roman Catholic Churches, the only statues other than Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (and maybe the patron of the parish) are statues of St. Therese and St. Anthony, one of them by each entry door. Her certainty of faith and conviction to follow her calling from God despite the roadblocks placed in her way are admirable and a wonderful example of true devotion.
Martha is one of the most vivid characters in the New Testament, but I have to cast my vote for Therese. Anyone whose faith and conviction in her call are sufficiently robust to withstand the daunting hoops and hurdles of rules and processes, the frustrating pettiness, and the withering arrogance of some in the upper echelons of a hierarchical church deserves to get my hearty affirmation.
I'd like to learn which Teresa, Therese, or Theresa is really the Doctor of the Church. What are the requirements for that title? Can it be attained before one is 24? And what about the "little flower" being the gift of her father, actually? I am glad to hear about the snoozing, though. Did Martha ever get a nap? She reminds me of a neighbor of my youth, bossy and capable, who gave my sister and me each a carnation corsage when we had the measles and could only lie in a darkened room for days.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, both St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux are Doctors of the Church.
"In the Catholic Church, this title is given to a saint from whose writings the whole Church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom "eminent learning" and "great sanctity" have been attributed by a proclamation of a pope or of an ecumenical council."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_the_church
There are only 35 of them. Augustine and Aquinas are probably the best known. Only 4 are women: Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Sienna, and Hildegard of Bingen. Some of them have special honorifics, eg Aquinas is called the Angelic Doctor. Therese is called the Doctor of Love.
From JPII's declaration proclaiming her a Doctor of the Church:
"Her message, often summarized in the so-called "little way", which is nothing other that the Gospel way of holiness for all, was studied by theologians and experts in spirituality. . . Thérèse is a teacher of the spiritual life with a doctrine both spiritual and profound, which she drew from the Gospel sources under the guidance of the divine Teacher and then imparted to her brothers and sisters in the Church with the greatest effectiveness. . . . A century after her death, Thérèse of the Child Jesus continues to be recognized as one of the great masters of the spiritual life in our time."
In addition to her three manuscripts, she wrote letters, poems, and plays:
"In the 266 Lettres we possess, addressed to family members, women religious and missionary "brothers", Thérèse shares her wisdom, developing a teaching that is actually a profound exercise in the spiritual direction of souls.
Her writings also include 54 Poésies, some of which have great theological and spiritual depth inspired by Sacred Scripture. . . . To this literary production should be added eight Récréations pieuses: poetic and theatrical compositions, conceived and performed by the Saint for her community on certain feast days, in accordance with the tradition of Carmel."
Her "eminent doctrine" (qualifying her for the title of Doctor) is outlined in sections 7, 8, and 9 of the declaration:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_19101997_divini-amoris_en.html