I am starting to understand my newfound obsession with Therese of Lisieux

Truth be told, I had already read Story of a Soul and visiting Lisieux was something I was greatly anticipating at the same level of many of the places of my pilgrimage.

Something happened though.

I expected the experience of 'The Little Flower' to affect me. I just didn't expect it to affect me this much.

The fact that I witnessed the last hour of the last day of the exposition of her relics, in the Basilica in Lisieux, was incredible enough. To see them again, a month later in Washington, DC was a clear sign that God was telling me something.

I bought, and am reading, this book

In it, I was reminded of the miraculous conversion of the murderer Pranzini through the intercession of Therese.

The Conversion of Pranzini refers to the famous story of the last-minute repentance of Henri Pranzini, a notorious French criminal executed in 1887, as recounted in the autobiography of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (Story of a Soul).In 1887, Henri Pranzini (born in Egypt in 1856, an adventurer and con man) was convicted of the brutal triple murder of a courtesan (Marie Regnault, known as Mme de Montille), her maid, and the maid's 12-year-old daughter in Paris, motivated by robbery. The case shocked France, and Pranzini showed no remorse, refusing confession or priestly visits as his execution approached.

At the time, 14-year-old Thérèse Martin (the future Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face) read about the case and felt a strong calling to pray for his soul. She called him her "first sinner" (or "first child"), offering intense prayers, sacrifices, and even having a Mass said for his conversion. She trusted in God's infinite mercy but asked for a "sign" of repentance for her own consolation.

On August 31, 1887, just before the guillotine blade fell, Pranzini—who had refused all spiritual aid—suddenly turned, seized the crucifix offered by the priest, and kissed Christ's wounds three times. Thérèse learned this from newspaper reports the next day and saw it as the sign she had requested, confirming his repentance. This event deeply marked Thérèse, strengthening her vocation to save souls through prayer and her "Little Way" of spiritual childhood and trust. She later referred to Pranzini as her "first child" in her mission of intercession for sinners.

By every account Pranzini was a filthy monster, wholly undeserving of mercy. Therese gained his conversion. This is what God is showing me. If Therese can obtain the conversion of this person, we should certainly have confidence for the people we place before her.

Little Flower, obtain the conversion of the lost souls we love, who we trust to your intercession.

Amen