I was living and working in Chicago in the 1980s and read a story that moved me deeply. A man on death row was to be put to death in a matter of weeks. He had murdered someone and was not in the least repentent. He scoffed at the idea and showed no remorse. I was so dismayed at the thought of him dying unrepentent that I decided to make a novena to St Therese of Liseaux for his conversion. It is well known that St. Therese, known as the Little Flower, gives roses to show that she has answered your prayers. So for or nine days I got down on my knees and begged Jesus, through St. Therese's intersession, to convert this man's heart before he died. And on the nineth and final day of my novena, I received a knock at my door. It was the florist who delivered a dozen long stemmed roses.