This beautiful nun vowed she would come down and let fall a shower of roses before she died at a very young age. The more I learn about St. Therese, the more I understand she has the capability to commune with us and even bring us into a communion with the saints in heaven. She brings roses to those who seek her help.
St. Thrse of Lisieux known as the Little Flower and Saint Theresa wrote one of the most widely read spiritual books in the world entitled, Story of a Soul. She penned the manuscript while in the Convent of Carmel in France where she died very young of tuberculosis. Her vocation was love and her mission was to teach her little ways to souls. While dying she asked God to allow her to spend her heaven on earth doing good until the end of the world. She also declared “after my death I will let fall a shower of roses” and vowed “I will come down!”
Have you been a witness to the presence of St. Therese? The experience was probably subtle since she practices little ways of teaching souls to love the Lord. I have been privy to her little ways and amazed at the realization of her presence and gifts. It is indeed a great blessing to know this beautiful saint, and I am honored that she is the one I chose as my patron saint when confirmed in the Catholic Church many years ago.
I treasure the little ways in which she has communed with me. My first impression of St. Therese was as a young child gazing upon her picture. She was such a beautiful nun clutching the crucifix and roses with the black veil of her habit framing her face. This picture hung in Lillian’s living room where I spent many hours as a young child. She was a babysitter who was more of a grandmother to me. I had lost my father and maternal grandmother by age four, and Lillian more than filled a void in my life. She absolutely adored and spoiled me. She and her husband also imparted in me a reverence for prayer and devotion.
Quietly and surely Saint Theresa has always watched over me. At age 12 I chose her as my patron saint because of that lovely picture. Speed forward to age 36, and I am trapped in a frightening and devastating marriage to a sociopath. I don’t know which way to turn and depression and grief overwhelm me. At this point I spoke to a co-worker who was also a psychic and she informed me that I had a spiritual guide. She described her as a woman with dark hair standing behind me. I had no idea who this spiritual guide might be – but I asked whoever she was to please help me.
I returned to my office where I was alone at my desk and I began to pray for help. I had a pencil in my hand and a yellow tablet on my desk. My prayers were pleading for help because I didn’t know which way to turn. My life was so hopeless with no prospect for escape. While praying silently I noticed my pencil move. I then watched in amazement as that pencil began to gently glide across the tablet. Words appeared which I will never forget: Lousy World Better Love Now.
Fast forward another ten few years and I am very happily married to a wonderful man. We are in Los Angeles working on the Northridge Earthquake. One Sunday we took a break and he drove me to a flea market being held at the Rose Bowl. As we meandered up and down the aisles of merchandise in that parking lot, my eyes fell on the beautiful picture of St. Therese. It now hangs in my bedroom twenty years later and I still marvel that I found St. Therese at the Rose Bowl, no less.
I did not discover the presence of St. Therese until years later. It was after I had started my own search for spiritual truth. That journey began when I was about 43 years old and I picked up the Bible that Lillian had given me and read it – all of it many times. My study evolved from that intense study of the Bible to include apocryphal books and lost ancient manuscripts. I read books on Kabala, Eastern mysticism, Zohar and Jungian theories. Then to my surprise I discovered the Western mystics.
I had been raised in the Catholic Church but had no idea that we had Western mystics! I was fascinated by St. Teresa of Avilla, St. John of the Cross and astounded by St. Therese of Lisieux!
I found St. Therese in her book, Story of a Soul. She had always been with me and I hadn’t noticed before. It was while reading this book that I came across her dying days that told how the pen she used to write with became too heavy. She finished her last words writing with a pencil! Oh, yes, I recognized her then!
Our relationship has continued to grow and I marvel at the roses I find along the path and silently acknowledge the help and guidance of my wonderful St. Therese.
On a recent trip to Chicago I was delighted by the water tower of roses across from my hotel room in Rosemont, Illinois. I knew that St. Therese and Mary Magdalene were greeting me when I arrived.
Therese leads me onto the right paths in my search for truth about mysteries of the Bible. She brought answers to my questions about the mysterious Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus. She shines a new light on the bible stories and persons of old. She brings answers that complete the story. St. Therese inspires me to write.
St. Therese wrote her manuscript until the pencil fell from her hand. The last words she wrote are “… through confidence and love.” The book was first published in France and entitled Histoire d’une Ame in 1898. It quickly became a spiritual classic read by millions and was translated into languages around the world. Therese was born on January 2, 1973 and died on September 30, 1897 at the young age of 24.
I believe St. Therese still guides my pencil. I have no doubt but that St. Therese can come down and has come down. She showers those who can see with her roses!