This is the last poem written by ‘The Little Flower’, St Thérèse of Lisieux, before her death at the age of 24 in 1897. Naturally, Thérèse wrote her poems in French, so this is one of the English translations of the poem. It is no easy task to translate a poem from one language to another, but I believe the best effort was made by the translator in this case to retain the flow and sentiments of the much-loved saint’s work.

How appropriate that Thérèse’s final poem should be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary whose statue had miraculously turned and smiled on Thérèse in her childhood. For months she had been lying prostrate in bed from a mysterious illness, but from that day of Mary’s smile, the young Thérèse made an astonishing and complete recovery.

“Do not be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much, you will…