Law of Attraction Saint Teresa DebateWell, it happened again. 
The Law of Attraction Saint Teresa debate. Working in the Positive Change Movement and being a Catholic, I have frequently found myself in conversation with people who wonder if there is any connection between the concepts of law of attraction and the phenomenon of Saint Teresa and the roses. An avid bookworm and reader of positive psychology, as well as a myriad of management strategy, spiritual, success oriented and philosophy books, I suppose a renaissance woman such as I would have the answer to this question. Not quite, though I love a good debate. To top it off, long before I came across the law of attraction concept over twenty years ago, and thanks to my Mother, I have been a follower of Saint Teresa since childhood. I do not profess to understanding the whole phenom of this amazing woman, yet I know there is something to it. Perhaps that is why so many of my health care colleagues over the years were also carrying around the little prayer cards with her angelic face on one side, and the novena on the other. For those of you unfamiliar with the law of attraction Saint Teresa debate, the issue is complicated by the fact that there are two famous and revered saints who go by the same name. One: St Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582, and the one discussed here, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Carmelite nun, France, 1873-1897. Why is there a question about any possible law of attraction Saint Therese link? It’s all about the roses. She promised the following, before her painful and early death: I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my heaven, doing good on earth. Source: Though this is well documented in the public domain, the long established and respected Society of The Little Flower, my Mother’s favourite charity organization, is a fountain of information on the topic. In a nutshell, the story goes like this: when someone prays to Saint Teresa, or rather, to Saint Therese of Lisieux, roses may appear in one’s life, in some way. The Society is careful to say that many miracles have occurred, attributed to her intercession, without roses in the picture. A flower lover, and having been dubbed The Little Flower, the appearance or manifestation of roses is considered St Theresa's signature. The law of attraction Saint Teresa debate is centered around the question; is the fact that one is thinking about roses, when praying to St Teresa, what makes them appear? Yikes! If that were true, how would one explain the hundred of thousands of reports of help received, thanks to a prayer to Saint Teresa? Does it work? My opinion is based on the fact that, yes, I personally have had many, many prayers answered via Saint Therese. So have many of my family, friends, professional colleagues, patients and clients. And, yes, I have had had the roses show up : actual roses, cards or gifts with roses on them, the scent of roses… that one is particularly difficult to understand, and I could go on. About the law of attraction Saint Teresa link? I have discussed this issue with other licensed professionals in the helping professions, and the general consensus is that somehow, the phenomena are all connected. If this is the case, it opens up many questions around the links between modern positive psychology and the mental habits promoted therein, and their similarities with habits of positive, confident prayer. I'm sure Dr. Norman Vincent Peale would agree that the well documented life of Saint Teresa of Lisieux reads like a How-To of Positive Thinking. The thousands of published accounts of help received via this saint, not to mention those which are unpublished, are certainly a testament that there is a Source of power there. Regardless of whether you see any connection with Law Of Attraction Saint Teresa, it is difficult to dispute the good her efforts have done in the world. For professional women concerned about being seen as believing in something, think about this: the greatest of world leaders, not to mention the rich and famous, are routinely, openly seen praying and attending spiritual activities. Why would you be worried about what people think about your beliefs and practices? It is your right and privilege to follow any spiritual practice you prefer, in most countries, as long as it is of no harm to any other, and best of all, it is to be encouraged where there is benefit to those less fortunate. Do you have a great, positive thinking story to share?
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