In The Way of Trust and Love, Jacques Philippe leads readers through a spiritual retreat inspired by the teachings and example of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as “The Little Flower.” Philippe captures Thérèse’s deep yet simple approach to holiness—trust and love. The book invites readers to apply her insights into trust and love to their own spiritual journey.
Fr. Philippe states: “Efforts to change ourselves are bound to fail; the courage we need is that of persevering in the kind of fruitful disposition that opens us up effectively to God’s action.” St. Thérèse had this fruitful disposition that opened her up to God’s action. This was her secret to heroic holiness. For Thérèse, it was entirely a way of trust and love.
Key Themes and Insights:
- The Present Moment: Philippe emphasizes that St. Thérèse found holiness in the ordinary. For her, trust and love were practiced in the present moment, transforming daily life into an opportunity for spiritual growth. By embracing the seemingly insignificant tasks of life with faith, we too can open ourselves to God’s grace.
- Small Acts of Love: Even when feeling distant from God or struggling spiritually, Thérèse taught the importance of small acts of love—toward God and others. It is in these small sacrifices and gestures that our hearts are reoriented towards love, echoing Thérèse’s “little way.”
- Inner Poverty and Trials: Philippe explores St. Thérèse’s recognition of her own spiritual poverty and imperfections, yet she trusted that God would work through her weakness, which encouraged her to rely fully on His mercy. One of the book’s central teachings is how to navigate trials through trust in God. Every trial, whether great or small, is an opportunity to deepen our reliance on God’s will. Instead of asking “Why is this happening?” Philippe encourages readers to ask “How can I live through this with faith?”—much like St. Thérèse did during her own dark nights of the soul. Every trial, no matter what its causes and characteristics are, is a trial of trust or love. Essential question to ask: What attitude does God want me to have toward this situation? What act of trust am I being invited to make in this situation? What conversion in relation to love, leading to a love that is truer and purer, am I being summoned to undertake? The point is to move from “Why?” to “How?” The real question isn’t “Why is this happening to me?” but “How should I live through these things?” St Thérèse, for example, saw her “dark night of the soul” as a purification of hope and an invitation to pray for atheists, she said “May my darkness serve to enlighten other souls!”
- Faithfulness in Prayer: For Thérèse, the value of prayer lay in faithfulness, not in feelings of consolation or success. Philippe encourages readers to persevere in prayer, knowing that even when we don’t feel God’s presence, He is working silently within us. St. Thérèse’s life shows that the fruits of prayer come over time, often in ways we don’t immediately recognize. By thanking God for even the smallest blessings, we open ourselves to His generosity.
- Courage and Detachment: Holiness requires courage—courage to say no to small daily attachments and to make sacrifices for the sake of love. Thérèse’s life was full of such small renunciations, as she continually chose to trust God over her own desires. Philippe urges readers to follow her example by cultivating detachment in their own lives.
- Charity Toward Others: Thérèse believed that the surest way to love God is by loving others, especially those who are hardest to love. Philippe highlights her conviction that true charity consists not in trying to change others, but in accepting them and loving them as they are. This acceptance allows God to work in their lives through our quiet support and prayer.
- Penance as Love: St. Thérèse’s understanding of penance was unique. Rather than traditional forms of self-punishment, she believed in catching God by the heart through love. She exemplified this in her prayer, “Jesus, punish me with a kiss,” expressing her desire to turn even penance into an act of loving union with God.
Daily Application
The book provides practical questions to reflect on daily:
- What small act of love or trust can I make today?
- What “yes” is God asking from me in this moment?
- How can I let the Holy Spirit work in my heart today through a small conversion?
Conclusion:
The Way of Trust and Love offers a roadmap to holiness by following St. Thérèse’s path of trust, love, and surrender. Philippe’s retreat-based approach gives readers a simple yet profound means to deepen their spiritual life by embracing the present moment, loving others in small ways, and trusting in God’s mercy. This work serves as a guide for anyone seeking to grow in holiness by embracing their weaknesses and finding God’s grace in everyday life.
For those familiar with Catholic spirituality, this book’s teachings closely align with the Church’s call to sanctification through the ordinary, and it offers accessible wisdom for those at any stage of their spiritual journey.
Present moment: If we have faith, we will discover that everyday insignificant events can be great opportunities to progress in trust and love. So much can be brought into the way of trust and love.
Little acts: When we feel far from God and weak (spiritual slump), practice little works of love. Forget yourself and make life good for others!
Gratitude: If we thank God, He will give us 10x more = our hearts, through gratitude, open up to more graces. Never let an opportunity pass by where you are not giving thanks to God and others.
Inner poverty: St. Thérèse trusted Jesus would run to her when she felt interiorly poor and transform her into a flame of Love. She said, “I expect to discover new imperfections in myself every day.” Let us trust that Jesus will do the same for us. This will be the antidote to discouragement, which is the #1 danger of the spiritual life. Children fall all the time, but so small that they aren’t hurt and get right back up. So don’t be discouraged by your faults! The Father cannot resist a child who gets back up with great trust and love in Him. If our trust disappears when we do wrong, it shows that our trust was based on ourselves, not on God.
Facing trials:
Prayer: We are called to be faithful to prayer, not to pray well. If we are faithful to our times of prayer, little by little we will be given peace and the lights we need outside the times of prayer. The rubbish will be cleared away. Perseverance through prayer leads to a purer love for God, more genuine & free & less selfish. Consolation is irrelevant to prayer: God deposits treasures in our hearts for the times when we will need them. In prayer it’s enough to stay humbly in God’s presence. God instructs us in secret without our being aware of it. In prayer it’s enough to stay humbly in God’s presence.
Courage: Deny yourself small things every day. It is impossible to progress in sanctity with attachments. You must be willing to give up everything for love of God. Ex: St. Therese didn’t cry when she heard it would be her last Christmas being spoilt with presents. Ex: She would cling to the handrail to prevent herself from sharing joys to the Superior.
Charity to Others: The surest way to love God is to love the people around us & those hardest to love. Only when you accept them & their weaknesses will they begin to change. Don’t waste your time trying to “fix” others. Look to give a spiritual banquet of friendly joyful charity. Perfect Charity consists of: (1) bearing other’s faults – never reveal other’s weaknesses, pray & intercede for them; (2) do not be surprised by their weaknesses; (3) be edified by the tiniest acts of virtue you see in others.
Penance: St. Thérèse gives the example of 2 sons who did wrong, 1 runs away, 1 run to his Father embraces him and asks punishment of a kiss – catch God by His Heart! She said, “Jesus, punish me with extra graces so that I will never offend you again! Jesus, punish me with a kiss!”
Daily Questions to ask God:
- What is the little act of trust or love you’re calling me to make today?
- What is the ‘yes’ you are asking me for today?
- What is the little conversion, the door that opens to let in the Holy Spirit?
Prodigal Catholic 
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