“I am not Dying, but Entering into Life.”
Some of you may recognize these as the words of St. Therese of Lisieux. They have been shared, however, by a much lesser known saint. Her name is Audrey, and the journey of her simple, yet extremely painful struggle is yours to share.
When I first began reading “Audrey”, I was put off by the style of writing. It is not your typical novel, in that it is made up a vignettes. This is certainly not my preferred style. So while I struggled to enjoy reading, I was pulled in by the simple and powerful faith of this little girl. Chapter four begins the story of Audrey’s sickness. It is terminal. From this point on, I cannot put the book down. I do not know if it is because the story now flows better, or because this little girl’s testimony has become so powerful that one cannot escape. Her acceptance, even (dare I say) glorification, of her sickness is beautiful. I always try to offer my physical pain for the intercession of a person or cause, but these bouts of suffering come and go. This little girl’s suffering never ended. It was physical and emotional. And yet it seems she never forgot the beauty of suffering.
Perhaps Audrey’s most spectaclar feat was bringing her family back to the Faith. Perhaps it was her inspiration for a weekly rosary said by people who had never prayed the rosary before, or who had nearly forgotten how. Perhaps it was her intercessory prayers that confirmed for a young man his desire to become a priest. Perhaps it was the way she catechized the hospital staff. Perhaps…you get the point. This little girl knew the meaning of the cross. She knew that suffering can be beautiful. She knew why that particular Friday was Good.
This review was written as part of The Catholic Company product reviewer program. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Audrey - True Story of a Child’s Journey of Faith.
