Love Without Faith?

According to a clear testimony of the New Testament, love is the highest spiritual value (cf. 1 Cor 13:13). And this love cannot have its true quality without faith. However, Th. R. Nevin in his book Thérèse of Lisieux: God's Gentle Warrior insists that this youngest Doctor of the Church had love although she lost faith and hope. The main part of this article deals with Nevin's arguments and shows that his assertion is baseless not only from the theological, but also from the historical point of view. Thérèse's words "I don't believe in eternal life" (attested only once) cannot mean (similarly, as much stronger and repeated complaints of Mother Teresa of Calcutta) a lack of faith, and in no way do they overshadow nor even invalidate her steadfast faith and hope, which were necessarily present in her love.

Keywords: Love; Faith; Thérèse of Lisieux; Mother Teresa of Calcutta