In honour of what would be her feast day to celebrate, if it did not fall on a Sunday this year, enjoy this selection of quotes from Thérèse of Lisieux—all on the theme of created nature. A couple of the quotes display the saint’s attraction to the created things of this earth, which then propel her to contemplation of their Creator. Another two show the importance of the world beyond our world. But even then, we could never appreciate the expanse of the night sky if we were to destroy our atmosphere and we can’t even now when we pollute its night skies with too much artificial light.

Never will I forget the impression the sea made upon me; I couldn’t take my eyes off it since its majesty, the roaring of its waves, everything spoke to my soul of God’s grandeur and power.

With enraptured gaze we beheld the white moon rising quietly behind the tall trees, the silvery rays it was casting upon sleeping nature, the bright stars twinkling in the deep skies, the light breath of the evening breeze making the snowy clouds float easily along; all this raised our souls to heaven.

Mountains whose summits were lost in the clouds, graceful waterfalls gushing forth in a thousand different ways, deep valleys literally covered with gigantic ferns and scarlet heather—ah! Mother, how much good these beauties of nature, poured out in such profusion, did my soul. They raised it to heaven.

When we were on the way home, I would gaze upon the stars which were twinkling ever so peacefully in the skies and the sight carried me away. There was especially one cluster of golden pearls which attracted my attention and gave me great joy because they were in the form of a T. I pointed them out to Papa and told him my name was written in heaven.