'Pourquoi je t'aime ô Marie!' : the last poem of Therese of Lisieux scriptural, spiritual and Marian perspectives

Abstract

The dissertation proposes to study the biblical, spiritual and Marian themes found in Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, and how these arc recapitulated in her last poem: Pourquoi je t'aime ô Mariel We shall attempt to show how the Bible features prominently in the life and works of the saint, and how the very same Bible is the source for her spirituality, which is the little way of confidence, abandonment, trust and love, elements which will be explained when dealing with Saint Therese's spirituality. In her littleness Therese finds Mary to be the perfect model, and this will also be shown when Therese's Marian spirituality is considered. In the study of the poem we shall attempt to bring these three elements together.