Therese of Lisieux, better known as St. Theresa has been acclaimed as the "greatest saint of modern times."
Marie Francois Therese Martin was born on January 2, 1873 in Normandy France. She became a Carmelite nun when she was 15 years old. Therese wanted to be a Carmelite nun in the worst way. When the superior of the Carmelite Convent refused to accept her, she went to the bishop who also refused to allow her to become a nun. Her father and sister took her on a pilgrimage to Rome to try to get her mind off this crazy idea. They went for an audience with the Pope but were forbidden to speak to him. As soon as Therese got near the Pope, she begged that he let her enter the Carmelite convent. She was quickly carried away by two of the guards. The Vicar General was so impressed with this that soon Therese was admitted to the Carmelite convent. She joined her sisters Pauline and Marie who were already there.
Once she entered the convent as a cloistered Carmelite nun, she knew that she would never be able to perform great deeds. She once said, "love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love." This is how she became known as "The Little Flower."
Therese didn't just want to be good; she wanted to be a saint. The following words that Therese wrote sum up why she was so special and has touched the lives of so many people:
"I have always wanted to become a saint. Unfortunately, when I have compared myself with the saints, I have always found that there is the same difference between the saints and me as there is between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and a humble grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by. Instead of being discouraged, I told myself: God would not make me wish for something impossible and so, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint. It is impossible for me to grow bigger, so I put up with myself as I am, with all my countless faults. But I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight, a little way that is quite new.
We live in an age of inventions. We need no longer climb laboriously up flights of stairs; in well-to-do houses there are lifts. And I was determined to find a lift to carry me to Jesus, for I was far too small to climb the steep stairs of perfection. So I sought in holy scripture some idea of what this life I wanted would be, and I read these words: 'Whosoever is a little one, come to me.' It is your arms, Jesus, that are the lift to carry me to heaven. And so there is no need for me to grow up: I must stay little and become less and less."
Unfortunately, Therese died at the young age of 24 on September 30, 1897. Within two years of her death, her notoriety was so great that the Martin family had to move. She was canonized in 1925 and her Feastday is October 1st.
It is no wonder why St. Theresa is beloved by so many people. Her "little way" of trusting Jesus to make her holy and relying on small daily sacrifices instead of great deeds appeals to all of us who are trying to find holiness in our ordinary lives. Her life is also a sign that we can have and do whatever we want in life if we believe.
How did St. Theresa become the patron saint of the Cardinal Vanguard? Read on and find out.
The Story of "St. T." and the Little Red Rose Cardinal Vanguard Band
(Contributed by lifelong supporters and fans of the Cardinal Vanguard)
The devotion of bringing a rose to St. Theresa was started by Pris Ledet, introduced to the E.D. White Band in 1972 and has continued thru the years to the present time.
St. Theresa is the patron saint of many people because she did everything in a little way. So we figured she would be the one to call upon to help this little band with many little young boys & girls to help in their goals of attaining success against big, big odds and many other huge bands! Well, for so many of the past 28 years this little red band has far surpassed the expectations and dreams of its band directors, staff, family members and has performed way beyond the ability of its members that we believe this little saint has interceded and helped them. We believe she goes up to the Great Maestro in her little way and says, "Lord, help this little red band..."
There is now a statue of "St. T." in the band room and outside the band room, and roses surround the statue most of the time. The band director and his staff always have a rose on them before, during and after performances to remind them of our little heavenly intercessor. So watch the sky at marching performances or inside auditoriums, and look for the shower of roses as this Little Red Rose Cardinal Vanguard Band makes goose bumps go up and down your body!!!
GO GET 'EM " ST. T. " AND WE LOVE YOU !
Billy & Ferdie Ledet
June / 2000