Saint Theophane Vernard, pray for us

In reading this excruciatingly painful book about the last days of Saint Therese, I look for

consolation wherever she did. One of the saints that she clung to so tenderly was Saint Jean- Theophane Vernard who was martyred by beheading in 1861.

It was Saint Venard who said;

“We are all flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in His own good time: some a little sooner, some a little later . . . Father and son may we meet in Paradise. I, poor little moth, go first. Adieu."

From this, Saint Therese's whole persona as ''the little flower'' emerged.

A simple picture of the saint, pinned to her bed curtains, provided her solace.

These are the kinds of Divine ''rabbit holes'' spiritual reading bring us. His feat day is November 6th. I will be in Israel when I celebrate it.

Saint Theophane Venard, pray for us.