As a child I learnt catechism in English unlike most children my age who attended classes at the church before Sunday mass in Konkani, my mother tongue. My parents found a doting and delighted nun in a convent run school in the lane next to my home who had trained my elder brother.
So as a dutiful child I walked every wednesday evening to meet Sister Xaviera and ensured I was well prepared with the tiny yellow book on prayers so I do not look silly ( after all my brother was the ” saint in the making”) … But sister knew better. While she was very sure I would learn every word by heart and pour it out before her, she outsmarted the 7 year old me with some thing bigger, she asked me to explain it!!! gee.. I was not prepared for that.
So while I experienced the first few formal encounters of my faith and churches teachings with a nearly blind 80 something carmelite nun , she one wednesday after class slipped me a tiny white card with a Nuns picture, the edges were golden and the nun had these beautiful red roses designed around her picture and it glistened when I titled it in the sunlight.
I had no idea who she was and what I was to do with it, but dutifuly read the novena card with a tiny description on her life. While I was amazed about the “shower of roses ” section, not much went in my tiny brain. I kept that card always in my book and when I wished to watch it glow in the sunlight I would sit with it on my roof top and stare at it. I learnt the story of St Therese from the information on the card and a little extra reading I did in my later years.
How could she want to join a convent so young? Why would she be living for a short while? She obviously was no regular saint! She even dozed off while praying ( sounds so familiar !!) .. but what struck my 7 year old self was the “little flower of Jesus”. She wished to go to die and go to heaven and shower goodness on earth!! How cool is that!?!
Today when we celebrate her feast on 1st October ( the month of Our Lady, as my mom says and my birthday month) I sit here reminded of the shiny white card which glistened in the sun. Making me wonder did I just shine and not glow when the situations got heated up? was I that fancy sunday catholic who knew every prayer and hymn (almost) in the book and sang and answered the loudest to show off to my peers? Was I waiting for a mighty conversion when I fall infront of the altar and the roses showered on me.. the chosen one
Well our faith lives are not as dramatic, and it is okay.. Like St Therese, who practically lived in anonymity, all we need is “little things “… the smile that Sister gave me when she touched my hand every wednesday after I explained my side of the prayers, the glow on the face of a stranger when I appreciate them, hell the happiness when I appreciate the cooking by my mom at home. Its not very hard and dramatic to be a faithful catholic. We just got to keep up in the little things!!
Today let us try, in this month dedicated to the mother of JEsus ( my favourite month) to make an effort every day to shine in the sun of our faith and God glory and let a shower of roses befall on us when we meet the Lord in heaven with St Therese standing there. If she can do it, we all can aspire to be saints of little things everyday!
PRAYER:
Dearest St Therese, today I give you a bunch of roses for this wonderful act of selfless love you taught us. Help me to put it in practise and bite my tongue from saying that sarcastic comment or stop myself before refusing to help a stranger! Guide me with your ways and help me to be a a catholic shining in the light of Jesus in every “little thing “Amen
