St Therese the Little Flower and Me

[uglygal]

I just finished reading “Story of a Soul” and some other book about ST Therese, God’s Little Flower (can’t remember the other books name at the moment).

Wow! Finally a saint in the Catholic Church I can understand without getting a headache or being left trembling with fear of certain damnation to hell.

Are you sure she’s Catholic? I don’t believe the word “hell” was mentioned once in her autobiography, whilst the word “love” filled every page and her every thought.

I do believe I like her … alot

I am going to try the Little Flower Novena to see if she really listens. This is testament to this novena and I will update you on how it goes (I know we shouldn’t test God but no-one said anything about not testing saints )

Let it be known to everyone … I am going to do the Novena (first novena / christian prayer I have done since leaving the faith). I WILL let you know how it goes and what happens. If she fails me, I will tell EVERYONE I come across.
If she doesn’t fail me, I will tell EVERYONE of the Little Saint and resolve to follow her little way … and maybe return to christianity if St Therese’s spirituality is indeed what that Christian faith is about, as opposed to the jansenist absurdity I was raised in.

Well here it goes … I’ll go get my rosary beads out of the box in the garage.

 

[LilyM]

She does really listen - doesn’t mean her answer will always be ‘yes’, at least not right away. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t get what you ask for.

In such situations I consider it not the failure of God or some saint, but rather my own failure to ask for what is truly God’s will for me.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Be open to the possibility that your “answer” may not come on “day 9”…
Maybe earlier… maybe later…
But when it does, St. Therese definitely lets you know it’s HER!
Roses out of NOWHERE!

 

[PatienceAndLove]

Try St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross as well

 

[water]

Let it be known to everyone … I am going to do the Novena (first novena / christian prayer I have done since leaving the faith). I WILL let you know how it goes and what happens. If she fails me, I will tell EVERYONE I come across.
If she doesn’t fail me, I will tell EVERYONE of the Little Saint and resolve to follow her little way … and maybe return to christianity if St Therese’s spirituality is indeed what that Christian faith is about, as opposed to the jansenist absurdity I was raised in.

St. Teresa is working for God not for you and me. Hence, how your prayer gets answered is the Will of God - and those Saints in Heaven are perfectly in union with God.

So, let’s make the title of this topic “God v Me” …

Novena is not a magic prayer.

 

[CatholicCajun]

Don’t forget to incorporate St. Theresa’s Sacrifice beads also. And remember, God answers ALL prayers, sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the answer is no, so if the answer to your prayer is no, God sees the big picture and has your best interest at heart, so please keep this in mind. God Bless,

 

[Hellisreal]

I hope you reconsider your ultimatum/threat more.
You shall not tempt the Lord your God

by setting this up as a litmus test for going on a verbal ad campain or bashing spree if it should pass or fail your test-

I dont think little flower would do such a thing.

Even your title is alarming- little flower V me…

What does that mean? Hey little flower- prove yourself!

The Church has already called her a saint and a doctor. Your test, will be superfluous in changing that one iota.

Humble spirits dont set out to test the saints. They set out to be like them.

 

[LilyM]

Don’t forget to incorporate St. Theresa’s Sacrifice beads also. And remember, God answers ALL prayers, sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes the answer is no, so if the answer to your prayer is no, God sees the big picture and has your best interest at heart, so please keep this in mind. God Bless,

St Theresa’s sacrifice beads? I’ve heard of them once before - what are they?

 

[uglygal]

I hope you reconsider your ultimatum/threat more.
You shall not tempt the Lord your God

by setting this up as a litmus test for going on a verbal ad campain or bashing spree if it should pass or fail your test-

I dont think little flower would do such a thing.

Even your title is alarming- little flower V me…

What does that mean? Hey little flower- prove yourself!

The Church has already called her a saint and a doctor. Your test, will be superfluous in changing that one iota.

Humble spirits dont set out to test the saints. They set out to be like them.

Don’t always assume the worst in people … perhaps humble spirits don’t jump to the conclusion that a persons intention is bad?

PS - its not an ultimatum thread. I just wanna get a rose If I get one, I’ll tell everyone. If not, I’ll tell everyone too.

Hmm, maybe the post title is a bit skewed … if it can be changed then maybe “St Therese and Me” would be better. Do I have to ask a mod to change the title?

 

[uglygal]

She does really listen - doesn’t mean her answer will always be ‘yes’, at least not right away. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t get what you ask for.

In such situations I consider it not the failure of God or some saint, but rather my own failure to ask for what is truly God’s will for me.

I just want a rose

 

[water]

PS - its not an ultimatum thread. I just wanna get a rose If I get one, I’ll tell everyone. If not, I’ll tell everyone too.

I once asked for the rose but I asked for the wrong reason - “to see if I get one” - it never did happen. Looking back, I feel bad about it and how I should have not done that.

Not long ago, I asked for the rose not because I just wanted to have a rose, but for another purpose. I had a rose with the exact color I wanted …not only that, my prayer for the purpose was heard and granted.

I let everybody I know know about this rose, and I also let them know about my “praying for the rose for the wrong purpose”.

 

[uglygal]

Be open to the possibility that your “answer” may not come on “day 9”…
Maybe earlier… maybe later…
But when it does, St. Therese definitely lets you know it’s HER!
Roses out of NOWHERE!

I thought the Novena was 24 days long? I will be doing 24 days, in which you pray 24 Glory Be’s, an Our Father, Hail Mary and a specific prayer to St Therese.

 

[uglygal]

Here I had gotten all excited and confident that someone might actually hear me from beyond the pearly gates and ???

Is there something wrong in the audacity of my confidence? St Therese was quiet audacious and I dare say none of you would say anything bad about her - then why about me?
I’m confused

 

[water]

what are you confused about? did someone here say bad thing about you?

 

[uglygal]

what are you confused about? did someone here say bad thing about you?

Well I’m not sure? I feel I have been accused of wanting to go on a bashing spree and verbal attack, of putting up an ultimatum to “prove or disprove” her sainthood and trying to change that the Church has called her a Doctor … or something along those lines.

But why should I care. One thing I particularly liked about her was her daring confidence to be loved and heard by God … even to the point of sheer foolish audacity If she can have that, than I can too.

 

[LilyM]

Here I had gotten all excited and confident that someone might actually hear me from beyond the pearly gates and ???

Is there something wrong in the audacity of my confidence? St Therese was quiet audacious and I dare say none of you would say anything bad about her - then why about me?
I’m confused

Being human, St Therese herself asked sometimes for things that were contrary to God’s will and didn’t receive them. Every human being who prays does this at least sometimes, and she was no exception.

Unlike you, she didn’t seem to take this as proof either that He didn’t exist or didn’t hear her, and more to the point she didn’t lose faith because of not getting what she wanted either!

So your praying ‘to see if she really listens’ (which are your exact words) is indeed a massive misunderstanding of the whole idea of praying to saints. OF COURSE she and all the saints listen. Of course she and they sometimes say ‘no’ or ‘not now’ as well as ‘yes’.

And since when is asking ‘because I wanna get a rose’ not asking for something? Of course you’re asking for something - a rose!

 

[water]

Well I’m not sure? I feel I have been accused of wanting to go on a bashing spree and verbal attack, of putting up an ultimatum to “prove or disprove” her sainthood and trying to change that the Church has called her a Doctor … or something along those lines.

I am sorry you feel that way. I can’t speak for others, but from my own experience that I shared with you just to share my thoughts about praying for certain thing. My main focus was on God’s will.

You can certainly ask for a rose with no other intention, if it is His will, you will be granted. He knows whatever He gives you can “boost” your faith in Him. I was just concerned that sometimes, we ask for things and it never happens, we might lose hope.

 

[uglygal]

Of course I’m asking for something, I want a rose as proof that St Therese can hear me and be my friend. I was under the impression you people thought I was asking for something like a job, or a house, or money etc etc.

I don’t want a rose to prove that God exists - I KNOW he exists and I already believe in Him.

 

[water]

Of course I’m asking for something, I want a rose as proof that St Therese can hear me and be my friend. I don’t want a rose to prove that God exists - I KNOW he exists and I already believe in Him.

What if you don’t get a rose for the first time you pray? would you keep on asking until you get it? would you pray for 10 more times and it still won’t happen and you would quit believing that she can hear you?

Would you believe when others share their belief (the Saint heard them)? or would you believe only if it happens to you?

 

[uglygal]

What if you don’t get a rose for the first time you pray? would you keep on asking until you get it? would you pray for 10 more times and it still won’t happen and you would quit believing that she can hear you?

Is it really that doubtful she will hear me?

Would you believe when others share their belief (the Saint heard them)? or would you believe only if it happens to you?

Because other people have been heard gives me reason to believe I will get one too.