By Any Other Name: A Story of the Intercession
of St. Therese of Lisieux

by Elizabeth Ficocelli

 

Therese of LisieuxMichael, my second-grader, unpacked his book bag and showed me his homework assignment. "Parents. Please talk about your favorite saint with your child so that he or she can share in our class discussion on saints next week."

Leaning over, I picked up the book I had just finished reading, "Story of a Soul," the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux. I gazed at the sweet, smiling face of the "Little Flower" on the cover and couldn’t help but smile back. "Ironic," I thought. "I was in second grade myself when you first made yourself known to me."

I closed my eyes and could see it clearly: a small simple medal with that same face smiling up at me from the sidewalk as I was walking to school. Not being Catholic at the time, I assumed the image must be that of Mary. "Probably some lost Holy Communion present," my mother mused, studying it that afternoon. "I doubt it’s very valuable. But you may keep it if you like."

So I tucked the little medal inside my jewelry box, fascinated but puzzled by the inscription on the back, "After my death I will let fall a shower of roses." It wasn’t until I was an adult convert that I correctly identified St. Therese’s image and discovered how much she has intervened in my life.

"Mom?"

My son’s voice brought my thoughts back to the present.

"I’m sorry, Michael. I was just thinking about St. Therese of Lisieux. She’s a very special saint who I think has been keeping an eye on me since I was your age. Would you like me to tell you about her?"

"I guess." His response was about as enthusiastic as if I had asked him choose between Brussel sprouts or lima beans for dinner.

Undaunted, I told my son about St. Therese’s short life as a Carmelite nun and how her obedience, humility and generosity. I spoke of her tremendous love for Jesus and I tried to describe her "little way" to holiness that earned her not only sainthood but the title Doctor of the Church.

My son was starting to fidget.

"You know," I continued. St. Therese said something very interesting before she died."

"Oh yeah? What was that?"

"She said that after her death she would let fall a shower of roses."

The fidgeting stopped. "What?"

"Her nickname is the ‘Little Flower’," I explained. "A lot of people pray for St. Therese’s intercession when they have a special need, and she has been known to confirm requests with a flower. It happened to me."

"It did?" Now I had his attention. Michael sat down next to me and took the book from my hands.

I proceeded to describe an experience that happened to me the year before. While on retreat, I was plagued with a burning question: was my mother in heaven? On the last day, I prayed to St. Therese about this and gathered up the nerve to ask for the affirmation of a red rose. Almost immediately, a little red bird landed in the tree outside of my window and began to sign. "Is this my sign?" I wondered. A moment later, a young seminarian strolled by donned in a bright red sweater. "Or this?" I puzzled. Even the sun seemed to have a reddish glow about it. "Now I’m seeing things," I laughed to myself and got up to go to the closing Mass.

After a beautiful worship service, I joined the other retreatants in the dining hall for our final meal together. On each plate was a folded prayer card with the picture of St. Therese of Lisieux on the cover. With trembling hands, I opened the card, and out fell a silk red rose. Since then, I’ve had no more questions about the whereabouts of my mother – or St. Therese, for that matter.

"Can I do that?" my son asked, incredulously. "Can I ask St. Therese something and have her answer me with a flower?"

"Sure," I answered. "What do you want to know?"

"I want to know if Mrs. Reed is in heaven." His answer came so fast it surprised me. I was touched at the concern Michael still had for the beloved neighbor and surrogate grandmother he had lost a year earlier.

"Ok," I smiled, "go ahead."

Michael suddenly became very shy. "Can you do it with me?" he asked sheepishly.

I laughed and pulled him close. "All right," I said, becoming more serious. "St. Therese, Michael would like to ask your intercession on something. He wants to know if our neighbor, Mrs. Reed, is in heaven yet. Amen."

"You forgot the part about the flower," Michael insisted.

"Oh, yes. My son would also like to ask you to send him a flower in response."

"So, where is it?" demanded Michael, half seriously.

"You have to give it time," I replied. "And let St. Therese do her work."

* * *

Two mornings later, when our conversation about St. Therese had long been forgotten by me in the hustle and bustle of busy family life, I was alarmed by the insistent yelling of my son.

"Mom? Mom!!!" It was coming from the kitchen. I practically flew downstairs, recognizing the tone in his voice that said, "This is really important!"

"Mom!" he said, triumphantly when I arrived out of breath. "My prayer has been answered! I got my flower! I got my flower! Mrs. Reed is in heaven!"

Dumbfounded, I followed the direction of his pointed finger. There, on the kitchen table, in a vase, stood a single yellow rose.

My mouth hung open – then, it all became clear to me. Our weekly Scripture group had gathered here the night before. As usual, Mr. Reed had brought a flower with him to represent the presence of his wife. He often brought a yellow rose – her favorite – and this particular one was cut from a rose bush we had planted in his wife’s honor. In cleaning up after our meeting, I realized that Mr. Reed had accidentally left his flower behind. I was going to run it across the street last night, but I decided it was too late and I could do it in the morning. I placed the flower on the kitchen table and went to bed, never giving it another thought.

For Michael, none of this was important. The only thing that mattered was this simple yellow rose, specially delivered to him by a heavenly messenger who cared.

"Yes," I answered, choking back my emotion. "St. Therese certainly has answered your prayer. Not only did she send you a flower, she sent you one from Mrs. Reed’s rose bush! What better sign could you get that Mrs. Reed is in heaven?"

As we hugged, I felt the familiar rush of warm energy as I soaked in the wonder of divine intervention. But the real miracle for me was seeing my son so easily accept it all. I know his life will be greatly enriched by believing confidently in the intercession of saints. And his class presentation on St. Therese won’t be so bad, either.

Published in Catholic Parent, January/February 2000

© Elizabeth Ficocelli, Published in Liguorian, October 2000, Reprinted with permission from the author About the author - "After a 20-year career in advertising, Elizabeth launched a new ministry in spiritual writing. She published a series of children’s sacramental books with Paulist Press and has had articles published in national Catholic magazines including St. Anthony Messenger, Liguorian, America, Columbia, Catholic Parent, Catholic Planet and Lay Witness Online. Shower of Heavenly Roses: Stories of the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux is her first adult book."