a trail of rose petals!

i've been following 

a trail of scented rose petals!

it began while tidying up

my basket of knitting projects 

in progress

i came across a pink (strawberry milkshake pink!) lace shawl i began knitting

in march of last year

with all my knitting notes

and on the back of the photocopied page from my Estonian lace book

with the flower garden pattern

(Lilleaiakirjaga rätt)

i found a handwritten note

that i must have made while knitting and listening

to Eckhart's talk on

The Imitation of Christ

from Thomas à Kempis

"I freely and willingly serve Thee."

this simmered in my heart for a few days

and i kept feeling a feminine force behind it

following the scent of another rose petal

i discovered that 

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

also known as "The Little Flower of Jesus"

who was so influenced by Thomas à Kempis' book

The Imitation of Christ

that she could quote passages from it from memory

in her early teens (1885-ish)

was declared the 33rd and youngest and 3rd woman (at that time)

Doctor of the Church

a title given by the Catholic Church to Saints of particular importance

which thus far only 36 Saints have received this declaration

another scented rose petal appears

and unveils the four women saints

who are Doctors of the Church

Saint Teresa of Ávila

Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Saint Hildegard of Bingen

i feel behooved and enthused to continue

following this trail 

of rose petals in the rose garden

such blessings!

photo: Eden rose that grew in our rose garden last summer

heart-shaped rose petals: from the internet