OTTAWA — Father Gary Caster is listed as the author of “The Way of Simple Love: Inspiring Words from St. Thérèse of Lisieux,” but his words are found on only three pages of the new 180-page paperback published in September by Franciscan Media.

A talented writer — Father Caster’s 2018 book “Prayer Everywhere: The Spiritual Life Made Simple” was the year’s top book on prayer according to the Catholic Press Association — in this case, he is more an editor and arranger, and with good reason.

Father Gary Caster

“The ‘Little Flower’ from Lisieux continues to captivate women and men today,” writes Father Caster in his brief introduction. St. Thérèse, the young Carmelite nun who died from tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 27, was called “the greatest saint of modern times” by St. Pius X, and St. John Paul II later declared her a Doctor of the Church.

In “The Way of Simple Love,” Father Caster — a priest of the Diocese of Peoria who now serves as parochial vicar of St. Columba, St. Patrick, and St. Francis of Assisi parishes in Ottawa — arranges St. Thérèse’s inspiring words according to several important themes of the spiritual life. The chapters offer the saint’s insights into confidence, holiness, humility, abandonment, obedience, the love of God, mercy, charity, and suffering.

The writings are drawn from two sources. There are more than 100 passages from “Story of a Soul,” St. Thérèse’s spiritual autobiography written while she was dying. The rest come from letters she penned to family members, friends, and Catholic figures, particularly in the mission field.

A PROMISE FULFILLED

St. Thérèse helped people understand that nothing was too little to give Jesus, and nothing done out of love for him was insignificant, said Father Caster.

Feeling unimportant? “The clear and compelling language of her story and her letters remains the perfect antidote to such feelings,” he writes. “Perhaps this is why so many lives still resonate with hers.”

While the language St. Therese uses might be new to readers, “the insights she offers are as eternal as the God who loves us and longs for each of us to be united with him, in the Son, through the Holy Spirit, for all eternity,” says Father Caster.

Ordained in 1992, Father Caster has worked as a high school chaplain, religion teacher, director of campus ministries, and parish mission and retreat leader.

Of his six previous books, two others also spread the writings and insights of St. Thérèse: “The Little Way of Lent” and “The Little Way of Advent.”

Father Caster told The Catholic Post he was introduced to the life of St. Thérèse in the fourth grade by his teacher, Sister Teresita. “I’ve been devoted to her ever since,” he said, “and I promised her that should I become a priest I would introduce her to people so she could then to Jesus.”

“The Way of Simple Love” ends with two prayers composed by St. Thérèse, including one from the day of her religious profession in 1890.

“Never let me be a burden to the community,” she prayed, “let nobody be occupied with me, let me be looked upon as one to be trampled underfoot, forgotten like Your little grain of sand, Jesus. May Your will be done in me perfectly, and may I arrive at the place You have prepared for me.”