Erin FoxThe feast of St Thérèse of Lisieux is next week on October 1. St Thérèse was a Carmelite nun and is also known as the “little flower” which is why the rose is usually the associated symbol with her.
Born in 1873, Thérèse Martin had a very short life, dying at the age of 24. She was just 15 when she entered the convent. She didn’t carry out great missionary work, nor did she found any charities, yet it was her small acts of selflessness and love that made her the popular saint that she is today. Her small sacrifices and quiet way proved that small acts can have as great an impact on others and ourselves as much greater deeds.
Her belief was that it wasn’t necessary to accomplish great acts and that expressing her love for God was the way to achieve holiness. She was quoted for saying: “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.”
St Thérèse showed that holiness can be found in ordinary life. In 1924, she was beatified and just a year later she was canonised.
Make these paper roses for St Thérèse’s feast day this year. Create them with stems for a big bunch of flowers or arrange them into the shape of a cross.
For the paper roses you will need: Red or pink crepe or tissue paper, scissors, glue, floral wire and floral tape.
Take a long roll of tissue paper and cut a strip off the end. Fold the strip in half into a rectangle and cut a round off the top. Unroll the tissue paper so you have a long strip and then fold this in half.
To make the rose bud, take one end, roll it around a pencil and scrunch it up at the bottom. Fold the rest of the strip of tissue paper around the rose bud, scrunching and twisting it at the bottom of the bud. Wrap a piece of floral wire around the end of the bud to secure the rose petals and wrap floral tape around the wire. Repeat until you have as many roses as you like.