This beautiful nun swore that she would come down and let a shower of roses fall before she died at a very young age. The more I learn about Saint Teresa, the more I understand that she has the ability to communicate with us and even bring us into communion with the saints in heaven. She brings roses to those who seek help from her.

Saint Teresa of Lisieux known as the Little Flower and Saint Teresa wrote one of the most widely read spiritual books in the world entitled Story of a Soul. She wrote the manuscript while at the Carmel Convent in France, where she died very young of tuberculosis. Her vocation was love and her mission was to teach her little paths to souls. As she died 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 a shower of roses fall” and promised “I will come down!”

Have you witnessed the presence of Santa Teresa? The experience was probably subtle as she practices little ways of teaching souls to love the Lord. I have been aware of her in small ways and have been surprised to realize her presence and her gifts. Indeed, it is a great blessing to meet this beautiful saint, and I am honored that she is the one I consider my patron saint when she was confirmed into the Catholic Church many years ago.

I treasure the little ways you have communicated with me. My first impression of Santa Teresita was when she was a little girl looking at the image of her. She was such a beautiful nun clutching the crucifix and roses with the black veil of her habit framing her face. This painting hung in Lillian’s living room, where I spent many hours as a child. She was a nanny who was more like a grandmother to me. She had lost my father and my maternal grandmother at the age of four, and Lillian more than filled a void in my life. She absolutely adored and pampered me. She and her husband also gave me a bow for prayer and devotion.

Silently and safely, Santa Teresa has always watched over me. At the age of 12 I chose her as my patron saint because of that beautiful painting. Fast forward to age 36 and I am trapped in a terrifying and devastating marriage to a sociopath. I don’t know which way to go and depression and grief overwhelm me. At this point I talked to a co-worker who was also a psychic and she informed me that she had a spirit guide. She described her as a dark-haired woman standing behind me. I had no idea who this spirit guide could be, but I asked whoever it was to help me.

I went back to my office where I was alone at my desk and started praying for help. I had a pencil in my hand and a yellow tablet on my desk. My prayers begged for help because I didn’t know which way to turn. My life was so hopeless with no prospect of escape. As I prayed silently I noticed my pencil move. I then watched in amazement as the stylus began to glide smoothly across the tablet. Words appeared that I will never forget: Lousy World Better Love Now.

Fast forward another ten years and I am very happily married to a wonderful man. We’re in Los Angeles working on the Northridge earthquake. One Sunday we took a break and he took me to a flea market at the Rose Bowl. As we wandered through the merchandise aisles in that parking lot, my eyes fell on the beautiful image of Santa Teresa. It now hangs in my bedroom twenty years later and I still marvel that I found St. Therese in the Rose Bowl, no less.

I did not discover the presence of Santa Teresa 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 took the Bible that Lillian had given me and read it, all over and over again. My study evolved from that intense study of the Bible to include lost ancient manuscripts and apocryphal books. I read books on Kabala, Eastern mysticism, Zohar and Jungian theories. Then, to my surprise, I discovered Western mystics.

I was raised in the Catholic Church, but had no idea we had Western mystics! I was fascinated by Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint John of the Cross and dumbfounded by Saint Teresa of Lisieux!

I found Santa Teresa in her book Historia de un alma. She had always been with me and she hadn’t realized it before. It was while she was reading this book that I came across her last days telling how the pen she used to write with became too heavy. She finished her last words by 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 way and I am silently grateful for the help and guidance of my wonderful Saint Teresa.

On a recent trip to Chicago, I loved the rose water tower in front of my hotel room in Rosemont, Illinois. I knew that Santa Teresita and María Magdalena were greeting me when I arrived.

Therese leads me down the right paths in my search for the truth about the mysteries of the Bible. She brought answers to my questions about the mysterious Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus. She sheds new light on biblical stories and people of old. She brings answers that complete the story. Santa Teresa inspires me to write.

Santa Teresa wrote her manuscript until the pencil fell from her hand. The last words she wrote are “…through trust and love.” The book was first published in France and titled Histoire d’une Ame in 1898. It quickly became a spiritual classic read by millions and was translated into languages ​​around the world. Teresa was born on January 2, 1973 and died on September 30, 1897 at the young age of 24.

I think Santa Teresa still guides my pencil. I have no doubt that Santa Teresita can go down and has gone down. She showers roses on those who can see!