C'Est La Confiance, English

In his apostolic exhortation C'Est La Confiance ("e;It Is Confidence"e;), Pope Francis reflects on Saint Therese of Lisieux on the 150th anniversary of her birth. The title of the document is taken from words used by Saint Therese in a letter to a Carmelite sister expressing her full confidence in the merciful love of God. As she stated, "e;It is confidence and nothing but confidence that must lead us to Love."e;Therese (1873-1897), popularly known as the "e;Little Flower,"e; is one of the best known and most beloved saints. Pope Francis writes that "e;[w]e would do well to delve more deeply into her message"e; shared in her Story of a Soul as well as the example she set forth with her "e;little way"e; of life the path of trust and love.Therese, for her part, wished to highlight the primacy of God's action; she encourages us to have complete confidence as we contemplate the love of Christ poured out to the end,"e; Pope Francis writes. "e;With confidence, the wellspring of grace overflows into our lives, the Gospel takes flesh within us and makes us channels of mercy for our brothers and sisters."e;