I am a ‘Brummie’ born and bred and traditionally we drink our tea very strong and sweet – ’strong enough to stand a spoon up in’ , as my grand dad used to say.

This sums up why I chose to take the name Therese ( Marie surely being self-explanatory).

Therese is always known for her sweetness and childlikeness – and this really put me off for a long time – but on her feast day i felt a niggle to have another look – maybe a nudge from her – and i discovered another side to her – her strength. The strength and tenacity, that enabled her to give herself totally to God in love, through her sufferrings. Her simplicity that saw that everything comes from love – that without love there is nothing and life is meaningless, that with love everything and everyone has value however small or seemingly insignificant.

I have been told that my spirituality is one of simplicity too – now with Therese as my patron,guide and intercessor i hope i can grow in strength and love. I will try to follow the ‘little way’ fo simplicity and love in this hidden life i have been called to. In fact – within every Benedictine house there is a ‘family’ charism too – i think perhaps ours may be simplicity as Mother Abbess often tells me – ‘God loves you, never forget it, it’s all that really matters – prayer and love.

As i said – a Brummie cup of tea’ – strong, sweet, simple to make and very refreshing. Have a cup or two and suddenly life seems a bit brighter – strange but true.Pax Sr Marie-Therese.

NB – a Brummie – a person from Birmingham.