Laraine Bennett. The Little Way of Living with Less: Learning to Let Go with the Little Flower. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2022. Paperback. $18.95. 176 pages. Available from the publisher.
Numerous books have been written on St. Thérèse, but this one is different. It breaks open her spirituality and reveals the truth “about making room for what matters”—not just externally but within.
Speaking of her reason for writing the book, author Laraine Bennett said, “This book is meant for those who seek the peace and tranquility that comes with letting go of stuff that encumbers us and makes us weary and sad.”
Laraine Bennett has co-authored six books with her husband, Art, including The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord and The Temperament God Gave Your Spouse: Improve Your Marriage by Understanding Your Spouse. She recently released the game Know Thyself: A Game of Temperaments, also available from Sophia Press.
In this latest work, readers will learn tips on how to overcome clutter—physical, mental, and spiritual—as they encounter the spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in an authentic, relevant, and personal way. In each chapter, which focuses on a different virtue, Laraine Bennett relates engaging and sometimes humorous stories from her life and the lives of others to Thérèsian teaching. She also includes a practical application to live by.
Drawing from St. Thérèse’s lessons on detachment, Bennett shared: “By emptying our hearts from what we think we need to be happy (prestige, security, comfort, control) we can allow our hearts to be filled with his love and peace. When we ‘declutter’ our souls from all our attachments, we can be open to following God’s will. And, in so doing, we simplify our life and increase our sense of peace.”
Throughout this book Bennett also notes the importance of the atmosphere in homes, neighborhoods, and architecture in modern culture and history. She related, “Keeping our home orderly helps our children learn to be orderly to use their things properly, and to prepare their minds for learning .….. When we let go of possessions (perhaps some of those possessions that are not truly essential for our daily living), do we notice a sense of liberation, of freedom?”
St. Thérèse wrote “happiness has nothing to do with the material things that surround us; it dwells in the very depths of the soul.” As they apply St. Thérèse’s spirituality to downsizing on material possessions, readers will learn to create a refuge of beauty, recollection, and communion in their homes.
Truly, this book provides a Little Way to finding happiness in simplicity.
Bennett reflected, “Three lessons we can learn from St. Thérèse’s Little Way are detachment from material possessions, poverty of spirit, and gratitude. In so doing, we can alleviate our anxiety, increase our happiness and grow in the grace of God.”
Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Institute Press’ Director of Publicity, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a physical or digital copy of The Little Way of Living with Less, and/or to schedule an interview.
