Shirt of Flame: A Year with St. Therese of Lisieux

Shirt of Flame (A Year with Saint Tersese of Lisieux)By Heather KingI would never have read this book had I not heard an interview with Ms. King on Writers On Writing. At the time, I was recovering from my own book tour and was beginning to feel the wear travel puts on a homebody like me. I was in need of some soul nurturing. This book intrigued me. I've always been interested in Saint Tersese, but I was reluctant to dive into an out and out biography."Shirt of Flame" pulled me in from the first page. The title comes from T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets. Ms. King takes the reader through a year long journey as she reveals snapshots of her own story while exploring Saint Tersese's huge but short-lived life. Even having heard the interview, I was not prepared for the impact Shirt of Flame would have on my internal and external life.Each chapter or section of the book is titled for a month of the year. Sections of Saint Tersese's book, "Story of a Soul", is quoted throughout Shirt of Flame. And while I found these sections revealing and encouraging, the memoir parts belonging to the author touched me most. Through the author's experiences, I was able to draw parallels between my struggles and internal life. Heather King gave voice to many of my longings and desires."That I had come to God, then to Christ, through alcoholism was no accident, for in spiritual terms my craving for drink had been a thirst for the infinite, gone badly awry. That the obsessions to drink had been removed one long-ago month at a Minnesota rehab was the central fact of my existence. That after being lost for so long I'd found my way as well to writing and the Church was the miracle around which constellated, on my better days, boundless gratitude, astonishment, and joy."What beautiful courage abounds in this book. I strongly recommend this book to everyone. As for me, I was changed from the inside out.

Thank you, Heather King, for writing such a humble and honest account of your own life and your love for St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Though I've read all of Therese's writings and much that's been written about her, I still found this book extremely valuable and illuminating on many levels. The author successfully shows how the little flower's life and teachings are still relevant to those of us struggling to find our way in modern day society. Her intimate knowledge of the saint's life and how she relates that to her own suffering and redemption by the grace of Christ, and to that of others, is very rewarding. As such, I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who admires and loves Little Therese as much as I do. The author also includes heartfelt and powerful prayers at the end of each chapter. I was touched and inspired by them, so thanks again to the author. She has shown that the little way of St Therese can bear much fruit in the life of a Christian who surrenders themselves to God and relies on His mercy and grace. Despite our age and status in life, we're all children of God and Heather King demonstrates this by presenting us with anecdotes about her own life and the wide range of friends and acquaintances she's encountered and helped (and who have helped her). She also writes with style and grace. After finishing this inspiring book, I'll certainly look forward to reading more of her writing.

One of my Lent 2020 resolutions was to read the Story of a Soul - it was my 2nd attempt, the 1st having failed because of St Therese's effusiveness about her love for Jesus is mystifying for someone who isn't quite there yet, spritually speaking. This 2nd time round, I found spiritual gold nuggets, and was surprised at how everyday life and interaction w people are the same everywhere, whether in the cloister or in the "real" world (whatever that means), in the 18th century or the 21st. This led me on to want to read more about her and books based on her Little Way, which led me to this book by Heather King. Ms King weaves her story and struggles with St Therese's, and expands on how the Little Way can be lived in our times. There is a sense that Ms King is holding back a bit, here and there, but perhaps that's a private conversation between herself, St Therese, and Jesus. All in all, a good follow-up read after the Story of a Soul.

Heather King is an essayist, memoirist, and blogger (see her shirt offal,e web site) who struggled with alcoholism for many years, got sober in 1987, and converted to Catholicism in 1996. I heard a priest once say, "We're all addicted to something." Heather has adroitly pulled the writing of Therese, "The Little Flower," and deftly applied them to that darker part in each of our lives "that we don't discuss at cocktail parties."I briefly met Heather in 2013 when she was directing a women's addiction retreat at Malvern Retreat House (Malvern, PA). What impressed my was that simultaneously, there was a second retreat there for young adults, When they heard that Heather was there, they became incredibly excited and immediately went to try and meet her personally. Now, these young people were not alcoholics but something about Heather's writing touched them deeply. Reading over my highlights, I was struck by her insights - deep, often raw, brutally honest yet intimate, tender and full of redemptive language. This is not spiritual "fast food." I read "Shirt of Flame" simultaneously with "Story of a Soul" which provided rich spiritual nourishment, which, incidentally, took me months to do. Much to much of a banquet to consume quickly.

Whether you are acquainted with St. Therese of Lisieux or not this is a wonderful personal account of how a life of spiritual devotion changes life and eventually how love approaches death.

Heather King's life and writings are such a gift.All of Heather's books are thought-provoking and inspiring but "Shirt of Flame" is especially stirring.

Anyone who wants to live a fruitful life will find this book helpful.

An excellent piece on a very difficult character, which provides good insights into her life and her concerns.

The little saint has pulled in many over the years. I first met her when I was i my 20s, and kept going back, both attracted and questioning. Heather King has written a book about Therese that has some of the quality of Therese's own writing; that is to say, it is divergent from convention. While Therese is a Catholic favorite, she is also shockingly audacious. She is obedient outwardly, and inwardly goes her own way. In short, she goes straight to God and trusts her own experience above the "shoulds" of others. She sees what happens to her (good, bad, and everything else) as the will of God for her. This is Heather King's way also. My alcoholism - gift. Loneliness - gift. Writing ability - gift. The way to God is through what's here now. Therese calls this, "suffering" - one of my quarrels with her.SHIRT OF FLAME engages with Therese in a deep and thought-provoking way that deserves respect and attention. For those who have been drawn in by Therese, it is richly rewarding.

Low external validity. I'm happy for the author but I don't see anything instructive for a person with a spiritual/worship past.

This book was recommended to me as a thoughtful memoir by a recovering alcoholic. But I had no idea this was a fanatical religious treatise and that to enjoy it you'd best be a born-again Catholic of the old-style with a love for stoical, immature saints, a belief in suffering as a virtue, and a certainty that abortion is a grave crime. Not psychologically or politically healthy for this particular reader on so many levels, nor did it really explore the alcohol issues, which was my main interest. I have nothing against the author who does come through as very earnest, sincere, sensitive to problems like homelessness, and in general just very human in the best sense of the word---flawed but trying to live a decent, productive life in spite of the obstacles. Also, you can't help but admire her bravery in leaving a secure professional position to pursue a life as a writer. She expresses herself well, it's just that her audience needs to be as fervently Catholic as she is.