Princess Page

My most cherished memory of my daughter Teresa was when she was four or five years old. It was Halloween, and she was dressed as a Disney princess. I will never forget the moment at a Halloween party when we held hands and walked together. She was beaming with pride, she was a princess!  What she always wanted to be.

Teresa's desire to be a princess seems to me to be universal for little girls. Have you known a young girl who didn't have the aspiration? There is a reason.  I believe this desire is nothing short of God given.  As I reflect on Teresa's life today; where she lives in the Kingdom with God, I am certain her desire is completely fulfilled by our Lord.  I sincerely believe Jesus has made her a princess, together with the rest of his brides.  I have not always held this belief in the state of her soul.  Her death left within me a deep fear for her salvation. By the Mercy of God however, I have not been left without consolation.

The first action I took after the news of her death, was to pray the chaplet of mercy for her, because of my belief that God is not bound by time, he could hear my prayer and apply it to her, as if it was the moment of her death.  It was Our Lord who told Faustina, how great was this prayer when said for the dying.  His words to Faustina, "When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying.  I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a just judge but as a merciful savior."  (Diary: 1541)  

In the pursuing months after her death, this was confirmed to me in different instances by my bishop, as well as, by our retired bishop. They both had the same message: Pray for your daughter, God is not bound by time.  Speaking with them, it was as if they understood my fear for her soul, because of the circumstance of her death. You see. Teresa died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 19.  I will never forget the words of my bishop, when I in great distress told him the circumstances, he replied, "so what?"  I later took from this how one dies makes no difference, the Author of Life, is present to every life and every death.  Every soul is precious to our Lord, and He always looks for even the slightest hint of an invitation to be welcome into a heart, so that He may bring about His salvation. This knowledge meant, there was every reason to hope in God's mercy for my daughter.  Teresa passed on the 5th of June, 2017.  

More months passed, and I continued in the state of wonder and fear for Teresa's soul.  Like I said though, I was not left without consolation.  I received multiple confirmations that she was indeed with the Lord. Not the least of which was through my then 12 year old son, Christopher. The two of us were visiting Marytown, a Franciscan monastery that houses the national shrine to Maximilian Kolbe.  This was Teresa's favorite place to pray and find peace.  When we left, my son told me as we walked into the church, he heard God speak to him and say, "Don't be afraid, Teresa is with me."   The time eventually came in the last couple years when I no longer prayed for Teresa, instead I pray to her.  This also was confirmed to me while I was on a retreat a year and half ago. Fr. Pablo from Argentina told me not to pray for Teresa because she didn't need it.  God is merciful!  

How many saints have understood this, perhaps none better than our sister Faustina who said, "All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God: even if a person's sins were as dark as night, God's mercy is stronger than our misery.  One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a  ray of God's merciful grace, and then God will do the rest."  (Diary 1507)