As we continue our stroll with the saints, today Therese of Lisieux smiles and offers us her hand. The girl has a wisdom far beyond her age. She wishes to lead us towards the loving embrace of the Father, calming all our fears. “Surely, God is displeased with me, a sinner!” She encourages us to glance toward Jesus, wherever we find ourselves. Experience His Merciful gaze. Throw yourself into the Father’s arms! A relatively unknown story about St Therese is a play that she wrote in the convent. It was entitled “The Flight into Egypt.” In this imaginary piece, on the way to Egypt the Holy Family seeks refuge with another family. The father is a felon, and the son is deadly ill with leprosy. Mary heals the boy with her maternal intercession. The grateful mother expresses to Mary her deepest fear: the boy will just grow up to become a felon too. Mary utters a prophecy over this Unholy Family. “Your son WILL be like his father. But my own Son, Jesus, will one day whisper to him from the height of the Cross: ‘Today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” God accompanies us all to the very end with His Mercy. Jesus is there beside us, on our crosses. God finds us in our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Let us continue to journey towards Him through a return to Confession and the Eucharist. Let us throw ourselves into the Father’s Embrace! Sinners are welcomed at the Church of Saint Joseph in Aston!