Women of Grace® Event Details
Benedicta Enrichment Seminar: "The Science of Weakness: A Journey into the Life and Teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux"
Benedicta Enrichment Seminar:
"The Science of Weakness: A Journey into the Life and Teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux"
Malvern Retreat House
Thursday, July 20, 8am - 7pm ET
Friday, July 21, 8am - 2pm ET
The legacy of St. Therese of Lisieux was not carved out of heroic martyrdom or great deeds on the world stage. Instead, her legacy is all about what great things the Lord can do with even the simplest souls. Join us as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Flower of Lisieux with a special Benedicta Enrichment Seminar entitled, “The Science of Weakness: A Journey into the Life and Teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux.” Presented by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS, this series of five conferences is based on the writings of St. Therese, various Theresian scholars, and documentation from the beatification and canonization processes that reveal fascinating details about her life, her loves, and the weaknesses that spawned her Little Way of Spiritual Childhood. Only by stripping away the gossamer veils that too often hide the humanness of the Little Flower can devotees fully appreciate the origins of the teachings of her Little Way and how we too can turn our weaknesses into strengths!
THURSDAY, JULY 20
8:00 AM Breakfast and Registration
9:30 AM Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM
10:15 AM Welcome and Introductions
10:30 AM First Conference: Marie-Francois Therese Martin: A Study in Weakness
Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
This conference will center upon little-known facts about the life of Therese and how her unusual upbringing shaped her view of the world and the faith.
11:30 AM Reflection
12:00 PM LUNCH
1:30 PM Second Conference: Theresian Humility: Finding Strength in Weakness
Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
This conference explores how Therese’s weaknesses inspired the formation of the Little Way. Through her acquisition of true humility and growth in poverty of spirit, Therese teaches us how to confront, accept, and even love our weaknesses, so that we can allow the grace of God to transform them into strengths.
2:30 PM Reflection
3:00 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy
Fr. Ken Geraci, CPM
3:30 PM Third Conference: Theresian Mortification: Suffering for Love
Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
This conference looks at how Therese’s endearing habit of “scattering flowers” of little mortifications performed with great love can help us to turn our everyday suffering into a powerful force for spiritual growth.
4:30 PM Reflection
5:30 PM DINNER
6:30 PM Discussion
7:00 PM Closing
FRIDAY, JULY 21
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Fourth Conference: Theresian Confidence: Taking Jesus by His Heart
Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
This conference celebrates the most cherished hallmark of the Little Flower of Lisieux – her indomitable confidence in God – all of which sprang from her reliance on the virtue of hope.
10:00 AM Reflection
10:30 AM Fifth Conference: Theresian Surrender: Abandonment to God
Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
In this conference we study Therese’s love for the present moment where she lived in the constant company of God and found all the grace she needed to confront the challenges of the day. Participants will learn to do the same and discover a thoroughly Catholic form of “mindfulness” that will lead them closer to God.
11:30 AM Reflection
12:00 PM LUNCH
1:00 PM Afternoon Tea with Therese!
2:30 PM Closing
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Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Susan Brinkmann, O.C.D.S., is an author and award-winning journalist is a member of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites. She serves as Director of New Age Research for Women of Grace® and is a frequent guest on EWTN’s Women of Grace® television show. She is the founder of Live Catholic, an educational nonprofit devoted to teaching authentic Catholic prayer in the Carmelite tradition to the faithful. Susan formerly worked as a Correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times, the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
For the last 10 years she has been the lead researcher for Women of Grace’s New Age Q&A Blog which is the largest blog of its kind in the world. The library of information now exceeds 1600 entries on everything from acupuncture and angels to wicca and yoga.
She has also authored seventeen books, including The Learn to Discern Compendium: Is It Christian or New Age which has an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Avila Institute published her book, A Catholic Guide to Mindfulness which educates the Catholic faithful about the Buddhist practice of mindfulness and how it differs from authentic Catholic spirituality, teaching and thought. Along with Johnnette Williams, she co-authored the Young Women of Grace Study Program which teaches girls ages 13+ what it means to be authentically feminine. Susan’s Like a Catholic series which introduces Carmelite spirituality to the faithful. This series includes Pray Like a Catholic, Live Like a Catholic, Mindful Like a Catholic, and Fight Like a Catholic, all of which have imprimaturs from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Her daily devotional, entitled Day by Day in the Little Way: 365 Reflections on the Teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux introduces devotees to the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood.
In the fall of 2024, Viident Publications launched Susan’s new series of Catholic women’s novels entitled The Chronicles of Ariella, a gripping saga of murder, romance and redemption that spans six novels and 2000 years of Church history.
Her national journalism awards include the Bernadine-O’Connor Award for Pro-Life Journalism, the Eileen Egan Journalism Award from Catholic Relief Services, and numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association and the Philadelphia Press Association.
