Remembering St. Therese

 St. Therese of Lisieux's feast day was a few days ago. I kept her in mind throughout that whole day and realized that this year has been a 'St. Therese year'. Every time I look at my phone, I see an image of her, as my screen saver is her, with a shower of roses. When I got my new phone in January, I decided I wanted an image of her every time I use my phone.

Also, I would think of St. Therese often when I would walk into my job earlier this year. I would pray to her as my new job quickly became a bad job (or I already realized that before I even started working) and ask her for the graces to endure it.

St. Therese, I feel has been following me, even in little ways- hence her name, the little flower, and she is a Doctor of the Church and known for her little way. I wrote about that on one of my blog posts. Here is another blog post I wrote about St. Therese of Lisieux. 

I found a prayer card of her while looking around at a cute, catholic thrift store in Monterey and have since put it near my lamp stand so I see it every night and every morning. 

I recently read a book that was about St. Thérèse and her childhood, her suffering, hardships she endured and also later when she was a Carmelite nun. The book was quite informative and inspirational. The title is called The Context of Holiness. 

I've learned more about St. Therese through reading the above-mentioned book, as well as imagining what she would do in certain situations, such as how she would treat people she didn't particularly like (also mentioned in the book), her joy and cheerfulness, her love for God and her family. 

When I think of her, I want to be more like her in her holiness, her joy, her humility, and service. I also feel that she has 'chosen me', as the saying goes- the saint chooses the person. She was also the youngest girl in her family, sensitive, close to her mom (before her mom died when she was only 4 years old.)

On her feast day last Tuesday, I was thinking of some sort of sign to be reminded of her. Sure enough, in one of the classes I was helping in, I saw a boy wearing a shirt of a rose on it. And roses are also a symbol of her, as one of her names is the 'little flower', and in images and paintings she often holds roses. 

Also, when I went to stop by the chapel after work, outside I saw many roses in the garden- which I always do, but that day felt more special:) 

When I spent a little time in the chapel, I was reading a great book, Interior Freedom by Jacques Phillipe. And as I was reading, he was mentioning St. Therese of Lisieux! It was another perfect connection on her feast day.