“For those who don’t know, if you pray a novena to St. Therese of Lisieux, she will sometimes “send” you a rose if your intention is answered. People commonly will find roses in weird places during or after a novena.” – Catholic Lore.

I don’t worship St. Terese, but she touches me, especially through white roses.

St. Terese, who died at 22,  gave a white rose to people in need whom she met and helped; the white rose became a global symbol of compassion and love.

I am not a Christian, but I have come to love the white rose and feel its power, purity, and hope.  Spirituality is not only for the deeply religious.

For St. Therese, there was always hope and always love.

When photographing the flower, I almost always get a powerful feeling, as if it is trying to tell me something. It always comforts and inspires me. Christians believe this feeling is caused by St. Terese sending a message.

I don’t know what it means, but I do feel it. I spent a couple of hours with these new flowers today, and the more I look at them, the more beautiful they seem.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Consider closing your eyes, wishing for something good,  taking a couple of deep breaths, and looking back at the flower to see if there is a message for you or a response. It’s early, but this is my favorite flower of the year. Seeing it in intense light is a spiritual experience for me.

I love the light here.

The sun always seems to break through.

Roses have dignity and sometimes stuffiness. They are not new or flashy, but the white roses are all the more beautiful for me.