This is my story of how I came to know about St. Theresa of Lisieux. And also how I recieved my first Rosary.
Last Christmas my Step-Mom gave me a Rosary. I did not really think much about it at the time. I took it home with me and put it a way. At the time I did not realize that the Catholic church was where God was leading me. Her giving me the Rosary was just another piece of the puzzle. Then recently I went to see the movie about St. Theresa. I was intrigued by the movie. Then I took out the Rosary that my Step-Mom gave me and realized it had St. Theresa on it. So I had a book of daily readings of Saints. I looked up her name and October 1st was her day. In the middle of the page was the Antiphon and it was Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God." This verse struck me because it is a verse God has given me over and over again since last October. So I felt God was really trying to tell me something here. In the reading about St. Theresa it said that Theresa became famous for sending roses as a sign of continued work in heaven on behalf of those who call upon her intercession. So I said the prayer of intercession on the page. Then I asked God if it was really true that St. Theresa would send roses as a sign of her intercession for us. Well after I prayed I picked up a book that I had bought on intercessory prayer. I had not read it before then. When I looked on the front cover one of the stories was about St. Theresa. So I read the story of this women who asked for her intercession. And how St. Theresa sent roses to her as a sign of her intercession in heaven. So I thought that was interesting. Then the next day I placed an order online. When I got my confirmation back for the order it said" A little bit of Heaven is on your way from Raining Roses." Then I went to my chiropractor on October 1st 2009 which is St. Theresa's saint day. And he always has some type of quote of the day put up on the wall in the waiting area. I just had the feeling that God was answering my prayer about that she really would send roses as a sign of her intercession.
I love the quote:"You can complain because roses have thorns, Or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." I like it because it made me think. All the thorns in my life are the very ones that have brought me closer with Jesus. If it had not been for all the pain(thorns) I have experienced I would not be as close as I am to God. So I am choosing to rejoice because the thorns in my life has brought about something in me that I did not know was there. God seen a beautiful rose in me. But it took some pain in my life to bring it out.And I know that some people will have a hard time with understanding about the intercession of Saints that are in heaven. But I feel God has given me some understanding about this through much prayer. I just came to God as a child. Asking Him to explain these things to me.
