How St. Thérèse Can Inspire Us Every Day
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” -St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse is known for doing little things with great love. She reminds us that through everyday life, we can stop and offer it all up for God, and by doing that same action with intention, we bring the energy of love into the moment. She also reminds us of the importance of our prayer as energy for the guardian angels to be able to do their work on earth as it is in heaven. Our prayers matter, our action matters, and when we combine prayer in action, that is golden.
I remember one story of St. Thérèse that continues to stick with me today… that even while she was doing the laundry or washing dishes, she would offer up all of her work for Jesus and truly bring joy into her day. I think of this often as I look at a pile of laundry or dirty dishes that I really want to walk away from. I just don’t feel like cleaning in that moment. But then I remember this story from St. Thérèse, and it inspires me to go beyond my momentary discomfort and choose to work harder, as I offer it all up for God. What does that really mean—a bit of sacrifice is good for the soul? We remember that it is not always about how we feel in the moment but about doing an act of kindness for others or simply doing an act without complaint. It feels good when our actions have a bigger meaning.
Before she died, she spoke about how she would spend her time in heaven by doing good on Earth. She said, "When I die, I will send down a shower of roses from the heavens." Often, miracle stories of St. Thérèse include people receiving a showering of roses, sometimes with her name or image imprinted on the rose petals. Imagine with every breath in, we offer our prayers to heaven, and with every exhale, we imagine a shower of rose petals falling all around us… as if St. Thérèse is in heaven with a heavenly bouquet of roses, just for us.