Thérèse kept the Virgin’s smile deep in her heart. On the day of her First Communion, she was so moved, she wept for joy. Two years later, on Christmas, Thérèse felt the power of God within her, and this certainty made her stronger: she cried much less often and became very brave. From then on, she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up: she would be a saint! She wanted to be a Carmelite, for she was now sure that prayer could work miracles! One day, she asked Céline to have a Mass said for her intentions. “And for whom do you wish a Mass to be said, my Thérèse?” her sister asked kindly. “Well . . .” said Thérèse, “it’s for a criminal condemned to the guillotine. He refuses to see a priest before dying. His name is Pranzini. Oh, if only my prayer could save his soul!” That evening, Thérèse prayed very hard for Pranzini. The day after his execution, she opened the newspaper. What she read there made her melt in tears: just before dying, the criminal had asked to kiss the cross of Christ! “So Jesus heard me!” thought Thérèse.
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