Abstract

Wolfgang Vogl:
Sisters in the Spirit. Therese of Lisieux and Therese of Konnersreuth
(FKTh 2014-2, p. 113–131)

From 1914 on the stigmatized mystic Therese Neumann (1898-1962) of Konnersreuth received decisive spiritual impulses for her religious life from Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), and Konnersreuth became already 1942 generally known as the "Bavarian Lisieux". The principles of the spirituality of Lisieux such as the love of Christ, the spirit of childhood, the implicit confidence in God, devotion and the primate of mercy were internalized by Therese Neumann. As the result of a grave illness between 1918 and 1925 the aspect of participating Jesus Christ's work of salvation by deputizing atonement, was more and more in her focus in order to delight Christ, who longs for the love of the people. Particular highlights of the spiritual relationship between the two "sisters in mind" were the healings given by Therese of Lisieux to Therese Neumann, above all, the regaining of her eyesight on April 29th 1929 and the complete healing of the paralysis and of the bedsores on May 17th 1925. Father Josef Naber (1870-1967), pastor of Therese Neumann found the right words to describe the spirituality of Konnersreuth dominated by Lisieux: “To love the Savior and give him souls“.