Book Circle Recap: September 20, 2025

On September 20, 2025, the US-China Catholic Association Book Circle gathered to discuss John C. H. Wu's meditations on St. Thérèse of Lisieux. This virtual discussion focused on the sections of Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality entitled "Thérèse and Céline" (pp. 127–141) and "The Science of Love" (pp. 203–226).

Image from Angelico Press

More than ten participants gathered virtually to reflect on Thérèse's exemplary faith, as well as the wisdom in her "Science of Love" as elaborated by John C. H. Wu:

Sensitive, intuitive, paradoxical, humorous, subtle, flexible and ethereal, she did for spiritual life what some of the greatest minds have done in their own spheres of activity. (pp. 19–20)

Among these aspects of Thérèse's personality described by Wu, the "intuitive" and the "paradoxical" were of particular interest during the course of Saturday's Book Circle discussion. Participants remarked on the paradoxical genius of simplicity in Thérèse's devotion to God, for example—a wisdom taught primarily through intuition rather than through rational explanation. Examples of such intuitive expression—of teaching virtue by example, through daily practice in the company of others—are found in Thérèse's relationships with her family: Her relationships with her sisters and her cousins apparently contributed meaningfully to her spiritual development, and she grew to serve as a positive influence on them, in turn, through her devotion to God as a Carmelite nun.

Ultimately, Thérèse's life challenged Book Circle participants to recall intuitive encounters with the outstanding love of God in their own lives, and to consider how they might seek to follow her in the daily practice of love such that others might also learn of God's great love for humanity. Wu's reading of Thérèse, deeply informed by his interpretation of ancient Chinese sages like Lao Tzu, suggests that the attempt to live out such supernatural wisdom involves a level of rigor something like that of the scientist striving to discover the secrets of nature. How might the Science of Love taught by Jesus and emulated by Thérèse inform the conduct of our daily lives?

The next Book Circle discussion will be held via Zoom on October 18, 2025, at 6 AM PT / 7 AM MT / 8 AM CT / 9 AM ET / 9 PM China Standard Time. We will be discussing the section entitled "Technology and Christian Culture: An Oriental View" (pp. 147–157) in John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality, which is currently available from Angelico Press for 15% off with the discount code wu15. If you have not yet joined us for a Book Circle discussion, please sign up for Book Circle email updates today and invite your friends to do the same!

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