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An Undate On The Therese Movie


littleflower+JMJ

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  • 2 weeks later...

Bobbi posted this earlier, but I'm posting this again. This is not only a WONDERFUL article, but we need to remember to support the Therese Movie!!!!

ROL WEBSITE

Okay everybody needs to check out the Therese MOVIE!!!!!

Good movie! Let's get cracking!!!! Visit and visit often!!!!

Love Is Everyone's Vocation:

An Interview with Catholic Actress Lindsay Younce

Over the past few years St. Luke Productions has been working diligently to produce a feature length motion picture called Therese about St. Therese of Lisieux, known as the "Little Flower". Actress Lindsay Younce was chosen for the daunting role of St. Therese and today she speaks to us about the role and how it has effected her life. -Bobbi

Rol: Hi, Lindsay. It's wonderful to have this opportunity to get to know you. Can you give us a little background about yourself? Have you always been Catholic?

Lindsay: I was fortunate to have been raised in a Christ-centered home by a family who has a great devotion to God and to Scripture. Through my upbringing in the Quaker church, I learned from an early age what it means to devote oneself to obedience and humility. Quakers have a very rich understanding of God's justice, but also of God's tenderness. Even as a child, my love of history coupled with my fascination with mysticism, attracted me to liturgy. I longed to experience God and communicate with Him in a deeper way. I was sixteen when a Catholic friend of mine took me to my first Mass and I was petrified. But I knew my heart had been hardened to the Church. I desperately wanted to attend again out of curiosity.

A friend of mine, who was a very devoted Catholic (and the same who took me to Mass), encouraged me to read about the Church to clarify my views. I began studying church history. After studying Quaker doctrine and Scripture more intently, I didn't feel comfortable as a Quaker. I decided that if I were going to join a church, I wanted to be a part of one that practiced the same things as the Apostles. I read and read and read. I loved reading the early Church fathers. It was both exhilarating and frightening, though, as I realized the Catholic Church wasn't as wayward as I thought. But I steered clear from the Church as long as I could. However, Jesus was calling me there and I couldn't ignore Him. I had the opportunity to travel to Italy when I was seventeen. In the plane on the way home, I knew I was going to have to make a decision. I knew I had to fall into the arms of Mother Church, though I was still stubborn and reluctant out of fear of hurting my family.

My parents requested that I wait until I was older to become Catholic. I waited until I graduated high school, entered RCIA classes in the fall of 2000, and was baptized and confirmed Catholic in May of 2001.

RoL: What drew you to performing arts?

Lindsay: I love telling stories. And I hate to admit this, but I have always loved performing. My dad always jokes and says that even as a little girl, I was always waiting for the next chance to perform for whoever was around. I studied acting through high school and college, and continue to learn the craft. However, beginning in high school, I started to see how much people need the performing arts. The stage and screen are places for people to see themselves in stories. Sometimes it is an escape, but people are always soul-searching and thirsting to learn more about themselves, and whether they know it or not, to learn about their relationship with their Creator. How humbling to act as a vessel for that. And I, in turn, learn about myself through the characters I portray. I think that's a secret of performers you don't hear much about.

RoL: How did you get involved in the film Therese?

Lindsay: I was doing a one-woman show at my high school and a member of the audience suggested I contact Luke Films. I called them with the intention of helping out on set, maybe even act as an extra. I read for Celine in the audition, but they called me back to read for Therese.

RoL: Were you already well acquainted with the life of St. Therese before you began the movie? How did you prepare for the role?

Lindsay: I knew very few saints, and as popular as St. Therese is, the first time I learned about her was January 2000. Or, more accurately, she drew me to her. I sort of stumbled upon her relics when they were touring the Northwest. I drove into the church parking lot like every morning before school and there were police cars and people directing parking. I rolled my window down and asked, "What's going on?" The guy looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "St. Therese's relics are here." Who's Therese? I had no idea what I was doing in that church, standing against the wall because there were no seats. Of course as a Protestant, I thought all this relic stuff was creepy and one of those Catholic inventions. But I touched the case of her relics, like everyone else, and walked out of the church feeling different. I remember thinking, "Is this what they mean by receiving graces?" Then I forgot about her until I auditioned for the film. But I suppose she didn't forget...

How did I prepare?... Fortunately, there is a lot of material about Therese, because she is so well loved. I read Story of A Soul and The Last Conversations. I read her letters and a lot of biographies. I also read up on tuberculosis and French society in the late nineteenth century. I had the opportunity of staying in the retreat center at the Carmelite monastery in Eugene, Oregon while we filmed there. A lot of prayer. And a lot of grace.

RoL: St. Therese is one of the most famous saints in the Church. What do you think makes her so extraordinary?

Lindsay: The very nature of the Little Way is to accept our imperfections, hand them over to Jesus, and prepare for Heaven in absolute grace. I know I get frustrated sometimes when I think of the great saints like Mary Magdalene, Catherine of Siena, Thomas Beckett, and others who did very heroic things for God. But Therese insisted that to serve God was to love. That simple command- to love- though very difficult, feels much more attainable than a great sacrifice like martyrdom.

RoL: I've heard many people comment that they weren't "born a saint" as if sainthood is something magically granted and not something one must work for with God's grace. Therese seems to be a perfect example of someone who struggled with her faults or imperfections. Would you agree with that?

Lindsay: Of course. I often think of what she told Celine as she was dying. Therese said that we must hold our hands like beggars and let Jesus lift us to Heaven. These words of Therese always bring me comfort and I hear them echoing in my own heart often: "I want to be a saint. But I feel so helpless."

RoL: How has doing this role effected your life personally?

Lindsay: While undergoing intense character work for any role, I think actors really must surrender themselves and unite themselves to the person they are portraying. Though this is always a learning experience, it's not always a joy. It was refreshing as an artist to surrender to this role. It was incredibly humbling as I studied her spirituality. And because of the great gift we have in the communion of the Saints, I began to feel a real bond and friendship with her, which led to my taking her name, along with Saint Faustina, at my baptism and confirmation. I am continually trying to learn from her humility. If she believed she could be a saint, in spite of all her imperfections, then shouldn't I expect that of myself? I find myself asking how she could expect us to be saints with her as an example. She was so loving and selfless. Then I remember the very core of the little way and must swallow my words.

RoL: What message does St. Therese have for Catholics today, particularly young adults?

Lindsay: Love is everyone's vocation. Only by loving others can we truly forget ourselves and perfect our love for God. Particularly for young adults, Therese, though patient and obedient, trusted Jesus with the vision He had given her in spite of her youth. Though many mistrusted her and attributed her zeal to her young age, she persevered.

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For further information about the movie Therese, log onto the stunning website www.theresemovie.com where you can view the movie trailer, selected scenes, and brief interviews with people involved in the movie. There is also a discussion board where you can enter a contest to win a trip to the world premiere. For further information of how you can help promote the movie or make a donation visit Saint Luke Productions: Coming Attractions.

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UPDATED Therese NEWS 6/12/03: We received an email today from Mike Masny of St. Luke Productions, he asks the public to visit www.theresmovie.com and do the following:

Go to the "Showing the Miracle" link and click on "Help bring Therese to a mainstream theater near you." You will then see a FORM appear, please fill this out and send it to St. Luke Productions. We will use this information to determine where Therese is released. The more support we get, the more likely you will see Therese in your area." He goes on to say: "Since the launching of www.theresemovie.com we have recorded over 350,000 visits, and we are still growing. The movie industry will not take this spiritual film seriously unless you tell them that you want Therese in movie theaters. I thank you for your support of this beautiful film and ask you to pray for us.

contact bobbi & brian

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I did this. I remeber do thing a couple months ago. I thought it was done so I have not gone there for awhile.

Little flower I am going to still your first post and type it in another forum that I am registered with. Hope you do not mind. :P

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littleflower+JMJ

no prob, cure.

you've helped me with the rose avatars, so go ahead.

anything to get the therese movie out!!!!

:D :D :D

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littleflower+JMJ

i know theo.!! hahah my grammar is not that great.

im accident-mispelling prone! haha and i dind't realize tilll like afterwards..

silly me.......silly silly me :blink::unsure::rolleyes:

haha but you know what i mean right?

an UPDATE?

oh dear! undate sounds so.................awful.....

LETS KEEP HELPING THE THERESE MOVIE COME OUT!!

YAY! FOR THERESE!!

:D :D :D

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Theologian in Training

i know theo.!! hahah my grammar is not that great.

im accident-mispelling prone! haha and i dind't realize tilll like afterwards..

silly me.......silly silly me  :blink:  :unsure:  :rolleyes:

haha but you know what i mean right?

an UPDATE?

oh dear! undate sounds so.................awful.....

LETS KEEP HELPING THE THERESE MOVIE COME OUT!!

YAY! FOR THERESE!!

:D  :D  :D

Yes, I knew exactly what you meant, just giving you a hard time. :)

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