The Little Flower and the Dumb Ox on Deification

Theosis, or deification, is an Apostolic teaching. More than simply being saved from something, namely the eternal separation from God which is named hell, Christians are saved *for* something: to love with God's own love and live God's own life, to experience such deep Union with God that they start taking after his own qualities and experience a participation in his own nature. It is heavily prominent in the Eastern Orthodox ethos. While it has been less prominent in Catholicism, it has never wholly vanished, and has been discussed and taught by some of its most renowned saints.

Here are but two of them: St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Thomas Aquinas. The “Dumb Ox” and the “Little Flower” sort of represent two opposite ends of the spectrum. One is the Church's foremost scholastic theologian, well versed in the philosophy and in the Church Fathers, shaping and giving form to precise meanings within Catholic theology. The other, considerably more emotionally expressive in her writings, is a saint of simplicity and courage, merely seeking to live and love in the present moment. Yet both were intensely committed to God, Christ and the Church, both knew their Scriptures very well, and both practiced ascetism. Furthermore, they both taught that the destiny of those in Christ is divinization, being conformed to the likeness of God through the grace of Christ.

ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX

"If through weakness I should chance to fall, may a glance from Your Eyes straightway cleanse my soul, and consume all my imperfections – as fire transforms all things into itself." (Oblation to Merciful Love)

"He longs to give us a magnificent reward. I assure you it costs Him dearly to fill us with bitterness, but He knows it is the only way of preparing us to know Him as He knows Himself, and to become ourselves divine! Our soul is indeed great, and our destiny glorious." (Letter to Celine, May 8, 1888)

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

"[There is no] limit imposed to the increase of man’s charity, while he is in the state of a wayfarer. For charity itself considered as such has no limit to its increase, since it is a participation of the infinite charity which is the Holy Ghost. In like manner the cause of the increase of charity, viz., God, is possessed of infinite power. Furthermore, on the part of its subject, no limit to this increase can be determined, because whenever charity increases, there is a corresponding increased ability to receive a further increase. It is therefore evident that it is not possible to fix any limits to the increase of charity in this life."

"Now the gift of grace surpasses every capability of created nature, since it is nothing short of a partaking of the Divine Nature, which exceeds every other nature. And thus it is impossible that any creature should cause grace. For it is as necessary that God alone should deify, bestowing a partaking of the Divine Nature by a participated likeness, as it is impossible that anything save fire should enkindle."

Icons by Nicholas Markell