Author: LIU Xian, Associate Professor, Institute of Qing History, Renmin University of China
Abstract:
In 1910s the biography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux had been introduced to China, years before she was canonized in 1925. More biographies appeared in China in 1920s. Following the model of St. Thérèse, at least two women congregations were established under her name in China. The Little Sisters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus was one of them. This congregation, together with the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist, were among the earliest indigenized congregations in Chinese Catholic history, and both were founded by Fr. Vincent Lebbe. They shared the same motto: “Total Sacrifice, True Love of others, Constant Joy.” Based on newspaper articles and memoirs, the author traces different publications of biography and spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in the Republican China, revealing the founding history of this congregation and the formation of its spiritual tradition. The radicality of this motto are in accord with St. Thérèse’s austere, humble, and prayerful life. And the spirituality of St. Thérèse helped to form the characteristic of Little Sisters. The effort to indigenize by the Little Sisters can be identified in the naming of the congregation, the dialogue between Sino-western Classics, and self-identification as Chinese. Asceticism, family structure, prayerfulness and Chineseness are the four ideals for this indigenized woman congregation. In imitation of the spirituality and practice of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, these ideals were each realized.
Keywords:
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Little Sisters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Vincent Lebbe, Catholicism, indigenous congregation
Full Text (International Version):
