St Therese and roses

[Nunsense]

I have been taught that he intended to divorce her because of his unworthiness to be the foster father of Our Lord. He trusted perfectly, both in Mary and in God.

Well, that's certainly an interesting perspective but not necessarily one that is taught universally by the Church, or the only point of view within church theology. But once again, no matter what I post, you are going to want to shoot in down in flames. My point was simply that I prefer those saints who 'appear' to be very human, rather than like plaster saints. So read into that what you will but I am comfortable in my orthodoxy too.  

[MarysLittleFlower]

My main source for what I think about St Joseph is from a TAN book called Life and Glories of St Joseph. just to share. 

[BarbTherese]

 Peter and Paul squabbling gives me hope that we who argue aren't completely lost! LOL

I sure hope not!

[Spem in alium]

My main source for what I think about St Joseph is from a TAN book called Life and Glories of St Joseph. just to share. 

This is a very interesting book, yes, though not my favourite. I really love Andrew Doze's book, St Joseph: the shadow of the Father. 

As I'm doing my doctorate on St Joseph, I've done a lot of reading on him and from my understanding many academics seem to be divided on whether Joseph ever committed a sin. I certainly don't believe he ever committed a mortal sin.

As for the issue re. the mystery of the Incarnation, for what it's worth, it is my view that Joseph had such deep respect for Mary, and such faith in God, that he felt unworthy to assume he had a place in the mystery, especially when he hadn't been instructed what to do. However, I really do think he is such a great example of humanity, also. Even though he demonstrates great trust in God (acting immediately on the angel's messages, travelling by night, etc.), his humanness is still shown through references to his anxiety and fear. These emotions, and his sense of unworthiness too, show real humility and humanity. 

My favourite saintly example of humanity is St Peter. He teaches me a lot. Regarding St Therese, I have read A Story of a Soul. Her picture tends to crop up when I go on retreats (generally I'll find a picture of her in the room I'm staying; there was a photo of her in my room when I entered the convent, and when I travelled to Rome recently the first thing I was greeted with when I entered my room was a large painting of the Little Flower). There are some areas of my life she's certainly had a hand in, though I don't hold a strong devotion to her. 

[AveMariaPurissima]

Some books about St. Thérèse and her spirituality that I highly recommend:

I Believe in Love, by Fr. Jean C. J. d Elbée.  My SD told me to read this book -- and I cannot overstate how much it has helped me!

The Way of Trust and Love, by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Everything is Grace: The Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux, by Joseph F. Schmidt, FSC.  I'm currently reading this one, and it makes Thérèse seem so much more approachable and relatable and like a real person -- not the flat, overly sweet, clichéd, why-aren't-you-more-like-your-older-sister kind of figure she comes across as sometimes. I'm finding out that she and I have more in common than I perhaps realized previously.

[BarbTherese]

This is only a small book of some 104 Pages - but all are real gold pages!

"The Love That Keeps Us Sane - Living The Little Way of St Therese of Lisieux" (Fr Marc Foley OCD) http://www.amazon.com/Love-That-Keeps-Sane-Illuminationbooks/dp/0809140020

[PhuturePriest]

Two years ago there was a girl I really liked, but I was discerning the priesthood and felt conflicted. I prayed to Saint Therese and asked her to send me white roses if God wanted me to pursue a relationship with the girl (I did this because white roses are rare, so if I saw one I would know with certainty,) and red roses if God didn't want me to pursue the relationship. Several days later I was looking at a picture of myself on Facebook wearing a cassock in my house, and just above me was a wreathe of red roses I had never noticed in my life.