Roses, Roses, and more Roses!

The feastday of St. Therese of Liseux, one of my favorite saints and the patroness of this blog, is coming up on October 1st. It's never to late to start a novena, or nine days/hours/weeks of prayer for a specific intention.

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus,
Please pick a rose for me from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love.

O little flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the favors I now place with confidence In your hands.  (Mention specific requests)
St. Therese, help me to always believe, as you did, in God's great love for me,
So that I might imitate your "Little Way" each day.   Amen 

St. Therese lived life simply, as a "Little Way."  She really appeals to me because she sought holiness and goodness in little things.  The Little Way is quite refreshing, as I still struggle to identify with the saints who wax poetically about how they love suffering or wrote extensively about metaphysics.  St. Therese helped me through the long infertility journey (particularly the plethora of medication) and now as a stay-at-home mom.  Although so much of these journeys are mundane, she shows how doing these things for the love of God can make one holy.  

One of the coolest perks of asking St. Therese for help is that she often sends roses.  Among her last words on earth: "My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses."  I've received both as a specific sign and as a "hey, I know your praying this novena" sign.  Some of the highlights:

• Back in 2002 I had just met a nice guy online.  During a retreat I asked St. Therese if he was the right guy for me.  The next week, he sent me a dozen pink roses for my birthday.  (he turned out to be my future husband!)
• When I was unsure whether or not to take a job and had asked St. T for help, I came out of church one day to find a rose on a table beneath a crucifix.
• Several times while praying a novena to her, I will randomly see roses in strange places.

The rose has become my favorite flower, and in honor of St. Therese's intercession, I carried white and pink roses in my wedding bouquet.   

So I invite you to meet St. Therese if you haven't already.  She's a great heavenly friend, and you don't have to be Catholic to talk to her.  St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us!!