Sacrifice Bead Info

Marie-Francoise-Thérèse Martin, better known as St. Thérèse  at age 8 The Sacrifice Beads of St. Therese (also known as “Good Deed Beads,” “Virtue Beads” or “St. Thérèse Beads”) spring from a childhood practice of Marie-Francoise-Thérèse Martin, better known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” Thérèse was the youngest in a family that had endured the deaths of four children. She had four surviving sisters; Marie, Pauline, Leonie, and Celine. When she was young, she had a tendency toward stubbornness and precociousness. But underneath this outward behavior was a great spirituality. This spirituality drew not just little Thérèse, but all her sisters to the religious life. Thérèse was guided by her older sisters, and it was Marie who gave her a set of beads on which to count the things she offered up to God. Their mother, who died of cancer when Thérèse was four, wrote: *** Even Thérèse wants to start making sacrifices now. Marie has given each of the little ones a chaplet on which they can keep count of their good deeds. They have real spiritual conferences together. It is most amusing. Celine asked the other day: "How can God get into such a little Host?" Thérèse answered her: "It's not surprising, since Our Lord is almighty." "What does almighty mean?" "It means He can do whatever he wants." But the most charming thing of all is to see Thérèse slip her hand into her pocket time and time again and move a bead along as she makes some sacrifice. *** The most typical configuration of sacrifice beads consists of a string of 10 beads with a Crucifix at one end, symbolizing our taking up our Crosses and going the Way of Christ. The other end usually has a metal ring or clip so that they may be easily carried wherever we go. They are to be used as a quiet reminder that we are called to offer up sacrifices to God in union with Christ's sufferings on the Cross. As individual sacrifices are offered up, one of the beads are slid toward the Crucifix. The beads are constructed such that when they are moved, they remain where they are put. Some people use the beads simply, by just moving one toward the Crucifix for each Sacrifice, but a more challenging and fruitful way of using them is to move a bead back toward the top for each sin one commits along the way. This is a good way of examining one's conscience all throughout the day. At the end of the day, during your evening prayers, these good deeds and acts of sacrifice can be offered to God in thanks for his love for us! The beads are then all moved back to the top, ready to go the next day. Another good use of these beads is as a one decade rosary for children or busy people whose prayer time is often interrupted. Though Sacrifice Beads are attributed with the young St. Thérèse and are most commonly used by children, they can be and often are used just as well by adults, too. In fact, prior to St. Thérèse, similar beads had been used by a number of religious orders and were known as “virtue” beads. The sisters often pinned them to their habits and used them in the same way as sacrifice beads. Sacrifice Beads shouldn't be used in a spirit of competition with others who might be using them (though a child discussing nightly with his parents his spiritual development by use of the beads is, of course, good!). Their use is, ultimately, between God and the one making sacrifices. "Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven. Therefore when thou dost an almsdeed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee." -Matthew 6:1-4 "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind." -Hebrews 13:16