St. Therese - The Little Flower

 “My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience.”
― Thérèse de Lisieux, The Little Way for Every Day: Thoughts from Therese of Lisieux 

For those of you seeking the intercession of saints, this prayer to St.Therese is very powerful for both temporal and spiritual petitions. Those to whom this prayer was recommended have been amazed by its efficacy.

Prayer to St. Therese

“O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and counsel mankind, I implore your miraculous intercession. So powerful are you in obtaining from God favors and graces that Holy Mother Church has called you ‘the greatest saint of modern times.’ Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition:

          (Specify petition)

And to carry out your promises of spending heaven doing good upon earth, and of ever letting fall from heaven a shower of roses. Henceforth, dear little flower, I will fulfill your plea to be made known everywhere, and I will never cease to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen.”

The Life of Saint Therese of Lisieux

On January 2, 1873, Therese Martin was born at Alencon, France to Louis and Zelie Martin. She was baptized Marie Francoise Therese two days later on January 4th at Notre Dame Church.  Therese was a normal child who could also throw into tantrums especially when circumstance went against her way of thinking, however, she was everyone's favorite because of her good nature and intelligence.

After 12 years of sickness, Zelie Martin, died of breast cancer in August 1877. Therese, at that time, was only four years old. The family did all they could to comfort her at times she missed her mother so much. They all moved to a rented home that they called "Les Buissonnets" ("The Hedges"). Due to her mother's death, her happy disposition completely changed. As she described, "I became timid and retiring, sensitive to an excessive degree..."

In October 1881, Therese was enrolled at Lisieux's Benedictine Abbey school of Notre Dame du Pre. She hated the school and thought that the five years she spent were the saddest of her life. Because of her young age, she was bullied. The one who bullied her the most was a girl of fourteen who did poorly at school. Therese was top of her class except for writing and arithmetic. Marie and Pauline taught her well at home until she entered formal schooling.

Therese was extremely saddened when her closest sister who she thought of as her second mother, Pauline, entered the Carmelite monastery. The anguished Therese saw this as a continual suffering and separation. She knew that her sister, Pauline, would be cloistered and that she would never come back. She shed bitter tears. Her devastation reawakened the trauma caused by her mother's death. She then fell seriously ill on the winter. The doctors were unable to treat her that she suffered intensely from insomnia and headaches. None of the treatments helped. She was in delirium and suffered unimaginable hallucinations that sent her papa sobbing off the room. A miracle cured Therese on May 13, 1883 when she turned her gaze to the statue of the Virgin Mary on her bedside. She prayed for a cure. Therese described that Mary's face smiled, radiated with kindness and love. The statue since then was called "Our Lady of the Smile." However, when Therese was pounced on with a series of questions after she shared her wonderful experience to the Carmelite nuns, she lost confidence and started to doubt her own story. She was stricken with guilt and thought that she lied.

In the year 1886, Therese eldest sister, Marie, joined Pauline in the same Carmelite monastery that added to her heartache. It was only her and Celine with their father. Often times, her sadness would brought her to tears in which most people regarded her with weak character.


Her Life At The Carmelite Monastery

At the age of nine, Therese was resolved to enter the Carmelite monastery but was advised by the prioress to return when she was old enough. Therese was determined to do something great for the love of God and others. She saw her life as one salvation for all people which she realized can only be accomplished through suffering.

Her ardent desire to enter the  Carmel of Lisieux happened on 9 April 1888 at the age of fifteen. Her faith was tested of the worsening condition of her father who was sick with cerebral arteriosclerosis. Paralyzed, Louis gathered his strength to witness the day her dearly beloved daughter would receive the habit on January 10, 1889. And not so long after that, Louis was taken to the hospital due to dementia attack. Her fathered died peacefully on 29 July 1894 which was two years after his last visit to the monastery. Celine was at his side during his long and final illness. In September 1894, she joined her three sisters at Carmel.

Therese was true to her chosen vocation. She was obedient to her duties and responsibilities in the monastery. All tasks were performed with fervor and fidelity. That was how she spent her last 9 years in the monastery. Moreover, she strictly adhered to the rule that forbade unnecessary talks during work hours. From the first day she came to the monastery, she struggled a great deal to keep her distance from her sisters. The novices in the community was put under her care. On the outside, there was really nothing remarkable about this Carmelite nun.

We know that Therese, being accepted in the monastery, has achieved her dream. However, she was only able to attain great inner peace on September 8, 1890 when she made her profession of faith. She grew in sanctity and enlightened  with the reading of St. John of the Cross that brought her comfort. She discovered "the true Saint of Love" in the "Spiritual Canticle' and the "Living Flame of Love." She felt and knew this was the path she wanted to take.

Therese was spared from a severe influenza epidemic that killed three of the sisters in the monastery in the winter of 1890-1891. She was happy to know that her sister, Pauline, was elected prioress in succession to Mother Marie de Gonzague in February 1893. Pauline became Mother Agnes. And Therese has to remain a novice due to politics in the monastery. Pauline had asked her this to keep the sisters from thinking that the Martin sisters would take over the convent.

Therese surrendered her life to Christ with the fervent hope that he would act through her. Her life in the convent was never easy. She lived a hidden life and continued doing small acts of charity without making a show of them. She accepted criticisms in silence, even the most unjust ones. She had nothing but only smiles for sisters who were unpleasant to her. She always prayed much for the priests particularly Father Hyacinthe Loyson who was excommunicated when he left the Catholic Church and married a young Protestant widow with whom he had a son. She offered her last communion for Father Hyacinthe on 19 August 1897.

On June 9, 1895, during a mass celebrating the feast of the Holy Trinity, Therese offered herself as a sacrificial victim to merciful love of God while some nuns offered themselves as a victim to God's justice. In her room she performed an 'Act of Oblation' for herself and for Celine. And on June 11, both sisters knelt before the miraculous Virgin. Therese read the document she had signed - In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you Lord to count my works. In the oblation she wrote, "If through weakness I should chance to fall, may a glance from Your Eyes straightway cleanse my soul, and consume all my imperfections - as fire transforms all things into itself."
  
Death of Therese  

Therese fell ill which she bore wholeheartedly without complaints. She was stricken with tuberculosis which she knew would be the key element of her final suffering in her spiritual journey. On the eve of Good Friday, Therese felt an indescribable happiness in her heart. She wrote, "Oh! How sweet this memory really is! I had scarcely laid my head upon the pillow when I felt something like a bubbling stream mounting to my lips. I didn't know what it was."

Therese was moved into the monastery infirmary in July 1897. Her physical suffering kept increasing that even the doctor exclaimed how the nun was in the state of physical distress! Therese received her last communion on August 19, 1897. She died on September 30, 1897 at the very young age of 24. She was heard to say, "I have reached the point of not being able to suffer anymore, because all suffering is sweet to me."

Her last words were, "My God, I love you!"

Therese was buried on October 4, 1897. Her final repose was in the Carmelite plot in the municipal cemetery at Lisieux where her parents had been buried. Her body was found uncorrupted when she was exhumed in 1910; and the pleasant Odour of Sanctity was observed. In March 1923, her body was returned to the Carmel of Lisieux before she was beatified in March of 1923.

Shower of Roses

Roses are her signature. This is her way of letting the person know as a sign that his/her prayer was heard and that God is responding.

Therese loved roses. When she was a child, she had thrown rose petals before the Blessed Sacrament.  After her death, there were stories that roses sometimes appeared out of nowhere; sometimes they would smell the strong fragrance of them. People who prayed for cure of fatal diseases and many other accounts of miraculous instances were attributed to St. Therese's intercession.

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi: Three Days of Darkness

Anna Maria Taigi was one of the great mystics of the last century. She achieved sanctification by living the ordinary life of a wife and mother in a spirit of Christian mission and surrender to the will of God.

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi was born in Siena on May 29, 1769. Her parents, Louis Giannetti and Mary Masi moved to Rome due to financial difficulties. This was when Anna Maria was only six years old.

At a very young age, Anna Maria married Domenico Taigi who was a young pious man with a difficult and rather coarse character. Given that, Anna Maria was more concerned of his husband's virtue.

Their marriage was of highest Christian principles. With a profound understanding of social and moral values of the Christian marriage, Blessed Anna Maria made God the center of her home. She avoided anything that would disturb the family peace by being docile to her husband. She avoided anything that would irritate him. Despite the impoverished circumstances, Anna Maria was generous to the poor.

Out of the seven children she bore, three of whom died in childhood. She raised her two boys and two girls with the most accurate and complete religious secular education.

To love God and to serve him in everything was her greatest desire. She was greatly devoted to the Holy Eucharist, to the Most Holy Trinity, to the Infant Jesus, to the Sacred Passion of Our Lord, and ever had the tenderest devotion to Our Lady.

On December 26, 1808, Anna Maria entered the Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity. She was enriched by God with the many supernatural gifts. The apparition of a golden luminous globe like a miniature sun was the most unusual gifts she received from heaven. She could see both present and future events anywhere in the world including the state of grace of individuals both living and dead.

Anna Maria realized that one of her role was to expiate the sins of others. She sustained great austerities for the poor souls in purgatory. These souls, once set free, came to thank her. When she touched the sick, they were cured. Others that she warned of their death, died in holiness and in state of grace. Anna Maria, in her life time, suffered in body and soul.

The Church declared her Blessed in 1920. Anna Maria died on June 9, 1837. Her mortal body lies in the Chapel of the Madonna in the Basilica of San Crisogono, Rome, Italy.

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi saw a major and as of yet still forthcoming Chastisement for the world: "God will send two punishments: one will be in the form of wars, revolutions and other evils; it shall originate on earth. The other will be sent from Heaven. There shall come over the whole earth an intense darkness lasting three days and three nights. Nothing can be seen, and the air will be laden with pestilence which will claim mainly, but not only, the enemies of religion. It will be impossible to use any man-made lighting during this darkness, except blessed candles. He, who out of curiosity, opens his window to look out, or leaves his home, will fall dead on the spot. During these three days, people should remain in their homes, pray the Rosary and beg God for mercy."

"All the enemies of the Church, whether known or unknown, will perish over the whole earth during that universal darkness, with the exception of a few whom God will soon convert. The air shall be infected by demons who will appear under all sorts of hideous forms." (Prophecy of Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (1769-1837 A.D.) who was Beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.)

 
IMMINENT PUNISHMENT: THREE DAYS OF DARKNESS

Same prophetic vision was also foretold by Padre Pio, Elizabeth Canori-Mora, Rosa-Colomba Asdente, Palma d'Oria, in Italy; Father Nectou, in Belgium; St. Hildegard, in Germany; Pere Lamy, Marie Baourdi, Marie Martel, Marie-Julie Jahenny, in France. (This list is not exhaustive; many more mystics have announced the Three Days.) 

Here are a few quotes from these mystics: 

Sr. Elena Aiello

"The times are grievous. The whole world is in turmoil because it has become worse than at the time of the deluge! Everything is in suspense, like a thread; when this thread breaks, the justice of God will (strike) like a thunderbolt and will complete its terrible course of purification."

Padre Pio

NEW YEAR'S EVE 1949:  Jesus to Padre Pio

"My son, My son, I have been longing for this hour in which I again shall reveal to you the great love of My heart . . . Pray and make reparation to Me.  Admonish others to do the same because the time is near at hand in which I shall visit My unfaithful people because they have not heeded the time of My grace.  Persevere in prayer, so that your adversary shall have no dominion over you. Tell My people to be prepared at all times, for My judgment shall come upon them suddenly and when least expected – and not one shall escape My hands, I shall find them all!  I shall protect the just. Watch the sun and moon and the stars of the Heavens. When they appear to be unduly disturbed and restless, know that the day is not far away.  Stay united in prayer and watching until the angel of destruction has passed your doors.  Pray that these days will be shortened."  (Read more...(Read More...)

Venerable Elizabeth Canori-Mora (19th century, Italy)

“The sky took on a morbid blue color which terrified everyone who looked at it. A dark wind blew everywhere. An impassioned and mournful shrieking filled the air, like the terrible roar of a fierce lion, and resounded all over the earth in blood curdling echoes."  (Read More...) 



Although the Church does not oblige us to believe in any particular prophecy as seen by the mystics, the question remains, "How could we explain that these people from different distant places were describing the same thing?"

Related Stories:

The Three Secrets Of Fatima 

Three Days Of Darkness - Excerpts from Yves Dupont 

 

Is The World About to End?

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Pray, Hope and Don't Worry

Padre Pio was born to Grazio Mario Forgione (1860 - 1946) and Maria Guiseppa de Nunzio (1859 - 1929) on May 25, 1887 in Pietrelcina Southern Italy. He was baptized day after he was born in the nearby Castle Church with the name of his brother who died in early infancy, Francesco.  He has an older brother named, Michele and three younger sisters: Felicita, Pellegrina and Gracia. Two other children died as infants.

Religion was the center of life for the family and Pietrelcina. Attended the daily mass, prayed the rosary every night and would fast three days a week from meat in Honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Deep piety was evident in early childhood. At the age of five, he consecrated himself to Jesus. He also commented that in his younger years he had conversed with Jesus, the Madonna and his guardian angels. His parents learned of his desire to become priest in 1897.

He was tutored privately until his entry into the Capuchin Friars at the age of fifteen. He took the habit of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin on January 22, 1903.  On the day of his investiture, he took the name of Pio in honor of St. Pius V, the patron saint of Pietrelcina. He was called fra (for brother) until ordination of priesthood.  On January 22, 1904,  Fra Pio knelt the altar and made his first profession of the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.  He took his final vows in 1907 and at the age of 23 and by grace completed his studies and was ordained priest in 1910 by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi at the Cathedral of Benevento. His first celebration of the Mass was done four days later at the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Angels. Within the month of ordination, Padre Pio was praying in the Piana Romano on September 7, 1910 when Jesus and Mary appeared to him and gave him the wounds of Christ, the Stigmata. He asked Jesus to make it invisible, "I do want to suffer, even to die of suffering, but all in secret." The wounds went away and supernatural life remained a secret for awhile.

From the end of 1911 - 1916 Padre Pio was separted from his religious community due to on going health issues. He returned to his community life on September 4, 1916 and was assigned to San Giovanni Rotondo.  There were only 3 friars left at Our Lady of Grace on the outbreak of the war. His responsibility included teaching at the seminary and spiritual director of the students. He later on became in charge of the college when another friar was drafted into war. Padre Pio was also inducted into the service in August 1917 and was assigned to the 4th Platoon of the 100th Company of the Italian Medical Corps. He became a spiritual director on return to San Giovanni after he was dismissed in March 1918. He had observed five rules for spiritual growth: weekly confession, daily communion, spiritual reading, meditation and examination of conscience. Padre Pio's motto, "Pray, Hope and Don't Worry" is the synopsis of his application of Theology into his daily life.

Betwen August 5 - 7, Padre Pio had a vision of Christ. As a result, Pade Pio experienced a "transverbaration" or piercing of the heart indicating the union of love with God.

As his spiritual influence increased, so did his detractors. Accusations against him led to restricting public access to Padre Pio. His celebration of mass was varied each day without any announcement to diminish the crowds. Despite though of these restrictions and controversies, his ministry continued to flourish. Various statements were made to deny supernaturality of Padre Pio's phenomena. He was also ordered to desist all activities except the celebration of the mass which was to be made private. It was only Pope Pius XI who reversed its ban on public celebration of mass on early 1933.

The health of Padre Pio deteriorated in the mid-1960s, however, he continued his daily mass and hear 50 confessions daily. He was almost bedridden by July of 1968. On the 50th anniversary of the stigmata, he celebrated mass, attended public recitation of the Rosary and benediction. In the early morning hours of September 23, Padre Pio called his superiors to make his confession. He renewed his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Padre Pio died in his cell at 2:30 AM. He lived sick but died healthy with the stigmata healed, as he foretold.

BILOCATION & ODOR OF SANCTITY

The most remarkable gift attributed to him was the phenomenon of Bilocation which enables a person to be present in two places at the same time. Bilocation must not be confused with omnipresence - being present everywhere at the same time belongs only to God.

Click the link  The Bilocation for testimonies on this topic.

THE STIGMATA

The prayer of his profound desire to identify with Christ crucified not only by participation in the priestly apostolate but in some mysterious way in that supreme immolation of Our Lord on Calvary (cf. Le Stimmate di P. Pio, G. Cruchon, SJ, Colana "Spiritualità", No. 1, p. 102). "I am dying of pain because of the wound and because of the resulting embarrassment which I feel deep within my soul. . . Will Jesus who is so good grant me this grace ? Will he at least relieve me of the embarrassment which these outward signs cause me" (Ep., V. 1, p. 1904).

Click the link  The Stigmata.

THE POOR SOULS

Millions of souls climbed to Mt. Gargano to the Capuchin Friary of Our Lady of Grace seeking for his intercession with God. Majority of these souls though were not of the living but that of the poor souls of the dead confined  to Purgatory for the expiation of the temporal punshiment due to their forgiven sins.

Click the link  The Poor Souls.

GUARDIAN ANGELS

God granted him the vision of his guardian angels and also of others. It was through the guardian angel of a person that their need was brought  to Padre Pio's attention, who then prayed for this person. Padre Pio never abandons his spiritual child . Even if he did not visit them personally, they would receive help through his guardian angels no matter what danger they were in.

Click the link Guardian Angels.

Resource:  Thanks to EWTN.COM.