TM13 - The Death of Marie and Reflections - St. Therese and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

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The Death of Marie and Reflections – St. Thérèse and Marie: The Story of Two Cousins with Fr. Timothy Gallagher

Fr. Timothy Gallagher takes a look at the final years of Marie of the Eucharist, cousin of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. As Marie suffered from tuberculosis, she experienced physical decline but also a deepening spiritual life. Through correspondence with her friend Céline Poitier, Marie gradually became a source of spiritual support, drawing from the wisdom of Thérèse and her own painful journey. One poignant letter uses a musical metaphor to comfort Céline, comparing her imperfect endurance of suffering to a child’s flawed but heartfelt piano recital—offered with love and accepted with tenderness. Marie encouraged Céline to see God as a loving parent, quick to console, forgive, and embrace. Her spiritual growth is seen in her patient endurance and her consistent effort to reassure others, despite her weakening condition.

Fr. Gallagher reflects on Marie’s long struggle with scruples, her sensitive nature, artistic gifts, and modesty; her transformation—from someone burdened with inner turmoil to a woman of serene faith and self-giving love. Thérèse’s personal influence helped Marie find freedom from self-focus, allowing her to live a quiet version of the “little way”—loving God through the hidden, everyday trials of illness and community life. Her final days were marked by peace, surrender, and affection for those around her. In her dying words—“My Jesus, I love you”—Marie reveals a heart wholly turned toward God.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How do I respond to physical or emotional suffering—do I offer it to God or resist it inwardly?
In what ways might I, like Marie, be too hard on myself or overly focused on my own spiritual flaws?
Do I view God more as a stern judge or as a tender and compassionate parent?
Am I open to receiving spiritual guidance from others, even when it challenges my comfort or habits?
How can I better accompany others who are suffering, as Pauline and Thérèse accompanied Marie?
What small acts of love in my daily life might become offerings to God, following the “little way”?
Do I take time to recognize and affirm the gifts God has given me, or do I hide them out of fear or self-doubt?
In what ways can I grow in trust, even when I don’t understand God’s plan or feel spiritually dry?
How might I be called to serve as a spiritual support to someone close to me, like Marie did for Céline?
Am I willing to see holiness not only in canonized saints but in ordinary lives of faithful love and quiet surrender?

Photos of Marie of the Eucharist (Marie Guérin)

About this Series

Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects upon the enduring legacy of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, exploring how her life and spirituality were deeply influenced by her family and how it offers profound insights into everyday holiness. He examines the role of family and spiritual friendships in nurturing faith, the importance of compassionate care for others, and how Thérèse’s example can inspire listeners to seek sanctity in their daily lives. He also brings forth more details of the spiritual bond between the Martin and Guérin families, offering a model for fostering deeper connections within one’s own family and community.

Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio, which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org