The Little Flower's flower: part 2

I have faith that prayers are heard and God is always working his plan for our good.  In praying "Thy Will be done," the Lord's prayer has been a particuarily helpful tool in training my mind to trust in this Goodness.

But sometimes, if I'm honest,  I would admit I worry whether some requests have been heard or have drifted off into some sort of prayer grave yard.  Especially if the prayers do not have decisive, timely answers. 

Recently, I've had a specific request on my heart that continues to surface.  I have asked that if it not be his Will, the desire would extinguish. Currently it remains strong.  So in my new found learnings of St. Therese, I knew that she would be the ideal Saint to intercede for me in taking this request to the Lord.

A few weeks ago I heard an inspiring story about an encounter with Saint Therese and her desire to give roses as a sign of her prayers.  She is known for sending flowers to those who request her intercession; giving her the name, the Little Flower. 

I was impressed with the story but unsure if she would do the same for me.  (Remember her and I didn't hit things off with a running start).  Would she find me undeserving of a heavenly rose because of my harsh critiques of her Story?  Would my request for prayers go unheard?

Nevertheless.. I found a  Novena (multi day prayer) to St. Therese in my Laudate phone app. I decided I couldn't lose in reciting the prayer.   Worst case scenario, I would have said more prayers than originally planned.. and who was ever harmed by praying more?

The Novena is five days long, and includes a request that St. Therese, "send a flower from the heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love.  Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore, and tell him I will love him each day more and more."  Simple.. yet daring (in my mind) to ask for so bold of a sign. 

Upon day five, Sunday, I woke up and prayed before Mass.  My prayer being not that the request would be fully answered but rather I would receive a sign (a rose in some form), giving me peace that St. Therese had indeed taken my prayer to the Lord.. that it was being raised before him as bowls of incense.  (Rev. 8:4).  I approached the day with hopeful, humble expectation.

Our priest gave a homily in which we could tell that the Holy Spirit had written.  The wedding at Cana was the Gospel. He shared how the marriages of those around us were to be viewed as gifts for the whole church; as Jesus's marriage to the church was for everyone. 

One such marriage was that in which an older man had loved his wife so greatly that when she passed away, he would daily take a rose and place it upon her grave; signaling his great love for her.  My ears perked up at the word rose but I still wasn't convinced it was my heavenly rose...

Until the priest, as the Holy Spirit seemed to be ramping up his voice within him, turned to where I was sitting and stated plainly... This man's gift of a rose is a gift for all of you.  Jesus, himself wants to give you a rose, right now from heaven, Today. 

I could not help smiling... I knew that was it.  It's January.. talk of roses is not popular.  The wedding at Cana is one of my favorite passages in the whole Gospel.  My priest had no idea that in discussing six seemingly random marriages during his homily, one of them would be so much more than an example of great love for my heart.  But it gets better. 

After Mass, there was a voice in my head that I couldn't ignore.  It encouraged me to email him and share with him my thanks and appreciation for his words and my answer to prayer. 

His email back was quick and amazed me.  He stated, "Thanks,... the funny thing is that I gave that same homily at the previous Masses and didn't mention heaven giving us a rose.  Then at 9am I looked at the Therese alcove and was overwhelmed.  I consciously knew that the Lord wanted to give someone a rose at that moment.  I knew it was happening as I spoke, even though I didn't know you were the one!" 

Just call my spiritual socks knocked off.

I know now there's no graveyard for prayers.  They reach the throne, of that I am sure.  Sweet St. Therese blessed me yesterday and allowed me to experience the amazing Love of God, despite my faults and my questions and my doubts. 

In the life of prayer, faith is called to guide our hearts.  It is rare when we have clear confirmations of our hearts request.  For God knows that we cannot be addicted to magnificent signs like a child is to candy. We would get a spiritual sweet tooth and our faith would suffer. But he does allow moments of reprieve.  Moments when Heaven breaks free and we see through the mirror a bit clearer.  Moments when he speaks to our hearts and allows us to see him, if only for a brief moment, face to face. (1 Corinthians 13:12). 

My heart was touched by the Little Flower, and I can now state with confidence that in meeting Therese I have met love.  It was undeserved and at times misunderstood, but she gave it anyway.  In receiving the Little Flower's flower, I have an increased confidence in the power of prayer, and in the beauty of the heavenly garden.  I have no doubt that it is overflowing with gifts just waiting to be showered upon earth. All we have to do is ask.