This popular prayer asks for the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” It stems from her promise to send a “shower of roses” from heaven as signs of God’s grace. Devotees pray it to ask for specific favors and for the grace to imitate her “Little Way” of spiritual childhood.
This prayer’s imagery comes directly from St. Therese herself. Before her death in 1897, she famously said, “I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.” After her canonization in 1925, devotion spread rapidly. This prayer is a popular, anonymous formulation that captures the essence of her promise, becoming a hallmark of personal petitions to the beloved saint throughout the 20th century and into the present day.
The prayer is an act of trust in the communion of saints, the belief that those in heaven intercede for us on earth (CCC 956). Asking for a rose is a request for a tangible sign of God’s favor through St. Therese’s help. More deeply, the prayer asks for the grace to live her “Little Way,” a path to holiness focused on doing small, everyday actions with immense love and complete confidence in God’s mercy.
This prayer is frequently prayed as a novena for a specific intention, especially in the nine days before St. Therese’s feast day on October 1st. It is suitable anytime one needs to ask for a special favor or feels overwhelmed and desires to cultivate a spirit of childlike trust and humility. It is a personal devotional prayer, fitting for any time of day when seeking heavenly assistance and spiritual encouragement.
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