Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 9

Brown Scapular bearing the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Little Flower hand-embroiderd by StellaMarigold Art over at Etsy • Blessed Be God Prayer Book

"Love can accomplish all things. Things that are most impossible become easy where love is at work." - St. Therese

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Ninth Day

PRAYER

O MY dear Lord, grant me as much filial veneration and love for Thy faithful foster-father and Thy most holy and immaculate Mother, as Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus cherished in her simple and child-like heart. And thou, O my little Saint, address thyself to my great protector and father St. Joseph, and my most holy Mother Mary, and entreat them to obtain for me the grace of dying in the arms of Jesus and uttering thy own words: "O, I love Him . . . My God . . . I . . . love Thee." Amen. 
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 8

St. Therese Beaded Bracelet from Art Angel Gallery • Blessed Be God Prayer Book plus custom Missal Cover

"Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love." - St. Therese

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Eighth Day

PRAYER

O MY God and my love, give me on this earth the same mission Thou gavest to Thy Little Flower in heaven, of passing life in doing good to my neighbor. O Jesus, help me to console little souls and encourage them to love Thee; let them love Thee as much as Thy Immaculate Mother, Thy foster-father St. Joseph, Thy holy angels and Thy cherished Little Teresa loved Thee.  Allow me to pray with her: "Let Thy divine glance rest upon a vast number of little souls, worthy victims of Thy love." Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 7

"I applied myself above all to practice quite hidden little acts of virtue; thus I liked to fold the mantles forgotten by the Sisters, and sought a thousand opportunities of rendering them service." - St. Therese, Story of A Soul, Chapter VII

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Seventh Day

PRAYER

O MY dear Jesus, give me grace to practice little virtues. It is difficult, but I trust in Thy goodness and love for little souls. I am too weak to climb the steep ladder of perfection, but I know that as much as I hope I shall obtain from Thee. I join then Thy Little Flower and implore Thee with her to make me one of the many little, humble victims, worthy of Thy love. Amen.  Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 6

"When Charity is deeply rooted in the soul it shows itself exteriorly: there is so gracious a way of refusing what we cannot give, that the refusal pleases as much as the gift." 

- St. Therese, Story of A Soul, Chapter IX

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Sixth Day

PRAYER

O MY sweet Jesus, give me the charity and simplicity of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, whose mission in heaven is to make others love the good God as she loved Him, to teach souls her little way. Give me such longings that I may not rest until my heart loves God with all my strength, until I arrive at the spiritual childhood of the Little Flower of Jesus. Amen.   Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 5

"The good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love in a soul; one ray from His Heart can, in an instant, make His flower bloom for eternity..." - St. Therese, VI letter to her sister Celine

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Fifth Day

PRAYER

O MY Lord, Innocence itself, Thou hast endured all manner of opprobrious treatment for love of me. Give me the grace of humility, self-abnegation, and patience that I may imitate Thy spouse, Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, and say with all my heart, O my despised Jesus, grant me the merits of Thy humility and patience to bear in tranquil spirit all the sufferings of this life, and then enjoy Thy company with Thy spouse, the Little Flower. Amen.   Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 4

"To offer oneself as a victim to Divine Love is not to offer oneself to sweetness - to consolation; but to every anguish, every bitterness, for Love lives only by sacrifice; and the more a soul wills to be surrendered to Love, the more must she be surrendered to suffering." - St. Therese, Story of A Soul, Chapter XII

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Fourth Day

PRAYER

O MY God and my Lord, Thou givest me what is best for me, and as Thy Little Flower consecrated herself to Thee as a sacrificial victim to endure for love of Thee all sufferings and pains, so also may I accept whatever hardships and contradictions Thou hast destined for my sanctification with perfect submission and even with cheerful mind, that I may be able to say as Thy cherished spouse, "O Jesus, I am a victim of Thy love." Amen.   Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 3

"I understood that love comprises all vocations – that love is everything, and because it is eternal, embraces all times and places." - St. Therese

The following novena is from the Blessed Be God prayer book.

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus 
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Third Day

PRAYER

O MY Jesus, grant that I may love Thee, as much as Saint Teresa, Thy Little Flower, loved Thee, and that I may say with her: "O my Jesus, I beg Thee only for Thy love without limits and without bounds. Grant, O my Jesus, that for love of Thee I may be a martyr. I wish to love Thee as Thou hast never been loved." And thou, O little Saint, succor and assist me that I may never show myself ungrateful to Him Who loved me so much. Amen.   Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: Day 2

"We can never have too much hope in God. 

He gives in the measure we ask." - St. Therese

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

Second Day

PRAYER

O ALMIGHTY God, Who art admirable in Thy Saints, grant me the gift of hope with which Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus was endowed, that I may believe firmly Thy words, "Whatsoever you shall ask in My Name, it shall be given to you," and as Saint Teresa abandoned all the vanities of the world and consecrated herself to Thee with unshaken faith and confidence, may I also despise all that the world appreciates, and seek Thee alone Who art my love and my all. Amen.   Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus: First Day

St. Therese Holy Card from our wedding • Blessed Be God prayer book

"After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will raise up a mighty host of little saints. My mission is to make God loved..."

The feast day of St. Thérèse is coming up! Her feast is celebrated on October 1st (New Calendar) and on October 3rd (Traditional Calendar)... We celebrate both feasts in our home!

"The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower, on October 1st each year. This date was chosen because Therese died on September 30th. Following the ancient custom of celebrating their entrance into heaven the next day, October 1st was chosen as the day to celebrate Therese's life and eternity. Some people may remember that her feast day was previously October 3rd. That date was established for several reasons, including a packed liturgical calendar. In the liturgical renewal of the 1970's, when the calendar of saints was updated and refined, St. Therese's feast was properly moved to the more appropriate October 1st date. It is interesting to note that St. Therese's home Church in France celebrates her feast day on the last Saturday of September, no matter what the date." - Society of the Little Flower

Novenas for her intercession can be prayed anytime. In anticipation of her upcoming feast(s), we are starting another nine day novena (Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus found in Blessed Be God) for a special intention, now through the eve of her feast. I will share the prayers for each day here on the blog.

*Another beautiful novena to St. Therese is the Rose Novena. It was the very first Novena I prayed to her and I'll be praying it as well. I've shared the printable prayer card here. 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus First Day, Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day, Fifth Day, Sixth Day, Seventh Day, Eighth Day, Ninth Day... 

Novena to Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus
The Little Flower of Jesus

Prayer for Each Day

O GLORIOUS TERESA of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen. 

First Day

PRAYER

O ALMIGHTY God and Creator of all things, Who to banish from human hearts lukewarmness in Thy service and inflame souls in divine love, hast enriched the soul of Thy Little Flower with such unshaken faith that she desired most ardently to give her life for Thee: I beseech Thee, by the merits of the lively faith of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, to infuse into my soul such an ardent faith that I may firmly believe all the truths taught by the Holy Catholic Church, and practice all the virtues until death.   Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria...

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus

MY LORD and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me the only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints - in heaven and on earth - together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen. 

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. 
Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. 
Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. 
Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. 

Amen. 

Novena to Saint Thérèse

The feast of St. Thérèse is coming up! On the traditional calendar her feast is celebrated October 3rd. (It was moved to October 1st on the new calendar.) Novenas for her intercession can be said anytime, but we will be praying a few different novenas for a special intention this year, beginning today in anticipation of her feast and ending on October 2nd, the eve of her traditional Feast and our 15th wedding anniversary! We will then pray another Novena to St. Therese which begins on her feast day.

You can find additional ways to celebrate the feast of St. Therese here and here.

Rose Novena Prayer

(You can find a printable Rose Novena prayer card here.)

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus

Please pick for me a rose

from the heavenly garden

and send it to me

as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus,

ask God to grant the favors

I now place with confidence

in you hands

( mention your special prayer request here )

St. Therese, help me to always believe

as you did, in God's great love for me,

so that I may imitate your "Little Way" each day. 

The Twenty-four 'Glory Be's’ Novena to St. Therese

The Glory Be is said 24 times each day for nine days, in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favours given to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus during the 24 years of her life. Start the novena each day with this prayer:

“Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, I thank You for all the blessings and favours You have showered upon the soul of Your servant Therese of the Child Jesus, during the 24 years she spent here on earth, and in consideration of the merits of this, Your most beloved Saint, I beseech You to grant me this favour, if it is in accordance with Your most Holy Will and is not an obstacle to my salvation.”

After this prayer, follow with the 24 Glory Be’s, between each of which should be included this short prayer”

“Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.”

A Nine Day Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY ONE

O Thérèse of the Child Jesus, well beloved and full of charity, in union with you, I reverently adore the majesty of God, and since I rejoice with exceeding joy in the singular gifts of grace bestowed upon you during your life, and your gifts of glory after death, I give Him deepest thanks for them; I beseech you with all my heart’s devotion to be pleased to obtain for me (...mention request here). But if what I ask of you so earnestly does not tend to the glory of God and the greater good of my soul, do you, I pray, obtain for me that which is more profitable to both these ends. Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY TWO

Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, who did will that Blessed Therese, being watered by the heavenly dew of your guiding grace, should bloom in Carmel with the beauty of virginity and patience in suffering, grant that I your servant may go forward in the order of her sweetness an may be found worthy to become a devoted and loyal follower of Christ. Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY THREE

O Therese of the Child Jesus, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Carmel, I greet you, great saint, seraph of divine love. I rejoice in the favours our Lord so liberally bestowed on you. I humility and confidence I ask you to help me, for I know God has given you love and pity as well as power. Tell Him, now, I beseech you, of the favour I seek in this novena... Your request will crown my petition with success and bring joy to my heart. Remember your promise to do good here on earth. “I shall spend my heaven doing good on the Earth After death I shall let fall a shower of roses.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY FOUR

O Little Flower of Jesus, who at an early age had your heart set on Carmel and in your brief earthly life did become the mirror of angelic purity, of courageous love and of whole hearted surrender to Almighty God, turn your eyes of mercy upon me who trusts in you. Obtain for me the favour I seek in this novena...and the grace to keep my heart and mind pure and clean. O dear saint, grant me to feel in every need the power of your intercession; help to comfort me in all the bitterness of this life and especially at its end, that I may be worth to share eternal happiness with you in heaven. Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY FIVE

O Little Flower of Carmel, Almighty God endowed you, consumed by love for him, with wondrous spiritual strength to follow the way of perfection during the days of your short life. Sickness touched you early but you remained firm in faith and prayer was your life. O pray for me that I may benefit by your intercession and be granted the favour I ask in this novena...

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY SIX

O Little Flower of Jesus, you have shown yourself so powerful in your intercession, so tender and compassionate toward those who honour you and invoke you in suffering and distress, that I kneel at your feet with perfect confidence and beseech you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessity and obtain for me the favour I ask in this novena...Vouchsafe to recommend my request to Mary, the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of Jesus, her divine Son.. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY SEVEN

Therese of the Child Jesus, most loving Saint, in union with you I adore the divine Majesty. My heart is filled with joy at the remembrance of the marvellous favours with which God blessed your life on earth and of the great glory that came to you after death. In union with you, I praise God, and offer him my humble tribute of thanksgiving. I implore you to obtain for me, through your powerful intercession, the greatest of all blessings -- that of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beg of you to secure for me the special favour I seek in this novena...

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY EIGHT

O glorious St. Therese, who, burning with the desire of increasing the glory of God, invariably attended to the sanctification of your soul by the constant practice of prayer and charity so that, becoming in the Church a model of holiness, you are now in Heaven the protector of all those who have recourse to you in faith, look down upon me who invokes your powerful patronage and join your petition to mine that I be granted the favour I seek in this novena...

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

DAY NINE

O St. Therese, seraphic virgin, beloved spouse of our Crucified Lord, you who on earth did burn with a love so intense toward your God and my God, and now glow with a bright and purer flame in paradise, obtain for me, I beseech you, a spark of that same holy fire which shall help me to put things of the world in their proper place and live my life always conscious of the presence of God. As I conclude my novena I also beg of you to secure for me the special favour I seek at this time...

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Thérèse

Most gracious Little Rose Queen, 

remember your promises of never letting 

any request made to you go unanswered, 

of sending down a shower of roses, 

and of coming down to earth to do good.

The feast day of St. Thérèse is coming up! Her feast is celebrated on the 1st of October (on the New Calendar) and on the 3rd of October (on the Traditional Calendar).   Our family usually celebrates it on both dates, with the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels and our wedding anniversary on the day in between!   The novena for her intercession can be prayed anytime, but we always love praying it (for nine days in a row) in anticipation of her feast, ending on the eve of the Feast (Sept 30th or Oct 2nd).

In the past I have always posted daily reminders here at Shower of Roses. You can find all those posts here and here.   This year I wanted to suggest signing up for emailed daily reminders over at Pray More Novenas!  All you have to do is click here and join the Novena!

I also thought I'd share the prayer from a beautiful book, Novena: The Power of Prayer, which I'll be praying each day with our children:

the NOVENA

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, during your short life on earth you became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God. Now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, turn your eyes of mercy upon me, for I put my confidence in you.

Obtain for me the need to keep my heart and mind pure and clean like your own, and to abhor sincerely whatever may in any way tarnish the glorious virtue of purity, so dear to our Lord.

Most gracious Little Rose Queen, remember your promises of never letting any request made to you go unanswered, of sending down a shower of roses, and of coming down to earth to do good.  Full of confidence in your power with the Sacred Heart, I implore your intercession in my behalf and beg of you to obtain the request I so ardently desire.

(Mention your request.)

Holy little Theresa, remember your promise to do good upon the earth and shower down your roses on those who invoke you.  Obtain for me from God the graces I hope for from his infinite goodness.  Let me feel the powers of your prayers in every need.  Give me consolation in all the bitterness of this life, and especially at the hour of death, that I may be worthy to share eternal happiness with you in heaven. Amen.

The Christmas Rose Novena

As you all know, I love praying Novena's to St. Therese and the Christmas Novena is one of my favorites!

Two years ago I prayed this novena, shortly after my miscarriage, for the health of my next baby and that God would calm my fears of another pregnancy... A few months later (shortly after a downpour of roses) I found out that I was expecting!  I then went to look up my due date (noticing my calendar, which happened to picture a big rose and the phrase "Count Your Blessings" that day)  and was amazed that I was due on Christmas!   (This was later confirmed by an ultrasound that was trying to decide between Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.)  Our "Christmas Rose" was on her way!

Anyhow, the Christmas Rose Novena to St. Therese begins today, on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 12 days before Christmas. One is to pray the novena 12 times per day for 12 days to honor the 12 years of Christ's childhood.   This year I will be offering the novena in Thanksgiving for our little Rose and the recent good news regarding her heart, as well as for a few very dear women who have recently suffered the loss of their babies.  May Our Lord comfort them all, and bless them with a new baby to have and hold soon!

May you all receive a Christmas Rose of many blessings this Christmas!

MYSTICAL ROSE NOVENA

Remember, O Gracious Little Rose Queen, your promise to spend your heaven in doing good on earth and even, if necessary, to come down to help those who ask your aid. If it is God's Holy Will, and my dispositions are pleasing to Him by their honesty and true desire for goodness, keep your promise to shower roses and send me some visible sign of your heavenly friendship for me and for those I love. In memory of the great interior enlightenment you received on a certain Christmas of your early life, ask God for a ":Christmas Rose" for me in these my urgent needs, that I may experience an increase in faith, hope and confidence. (Meditate, here upon your petitions so that St. Therese can understand why your are asking her to assist you.) I desire to know and to accept real objective truth about life and death. Give me assurance that you understand and will remain my heavenly friend, so that one day we may be together with God. Keep your promise to give some answer! Amen.

St. Therese of Lisieux ~ Pray for us!

The Christmas Rose Novena

The Christmas Novena to St. Therese begins today, 12 days before Christmas. One is to pray the novena 12 times per day for 12 days to honor the 12 years of Christ's childhood.

Last year, just weeks after having miscarried, I prayed this novena "asking God for a Christmas Rose for me in these my urgent needs, that I may experience an increase in faith, hope and confidence," particularly regarding my fears of another pregnancy... Little did I know that this year I would anxiously be awaiting the birth of our little "Christmas Rose!"

MYSTICAL ROSE NOVENA

Remember, O Gracious Little Rose Queen, your promise to spend your heaven in doing good on earth and even, if necessary, to come down to help those who ask your aid. If it is God's Holy Will, and my dispositions are pleasing to Him by their honesty and true desire for goodness, keep your promise to shower roses and send me some visible sign of your heavenly friendship for me and for those I love. In memory of the great interior enlightenment you received on a certain Christmas of your early life, ask God for a "Christmas Rose" for me in these my urgent needs, that I may experience an increase in faith, hope and confidence. (Meditate, here upon your petitions so that St. Therese can understand why your are asking her to assist you.) I desire to know and to accept real objective truth about life and death. Give me assurance that you understand and will remain my heavenly friend, so that one day we may be together with God. Keep your promise to give some answer! Amen.

St. Therese of Lisieux ~ Pray for us!

A Novena to Saint Therese beginning on her Feast Day

Start with:

Saint Therese, flower of Carmel, you said you would spend your heaven doing good upon the earth. Your trust in God was complete. Listen to my prayer; bring before God my special intention...

Pray for me that I may have something of your confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God who you so ardently loved.

Saint Therese, you kept your word to love God and to trust the world to that loving providence. Pray for us that we may be faithful to our commitment to love. May our lives, like yours, be able to touch the world and bring it to peace.

DAY ONE

Loving God, you blessed St. Therese with a capacity for a great love. Help us to believe in your unconditional love for each of us.

DAY TWO

Loving God, you loved St. Therese’s complete trust in your care. Help us to rely on your providential care for us in each circumstance of our lives.

DAY THREE

Loving God, you graced St. Therese with a capacity to see your hand in the ordinary routine of each day. Help us to be aware of your presence in the everyday events of our lives.

DAY FOUR

Loving God, you taught St. Therese how to find a direct way to you through the “little way” of humility and simplicity. Grant that we may never miss the grace there is in humble service to others in family and neighborhood.

DAY FIVE

Loving God, you graced St. Therese with the gift of forgiving others even when she felt hurt and betrayed. Help us to be able to forgive others who have wounded us, especially...

DAY SIX

Loving God, St. Therese experienced each day as a gift from You, as a time for loving and through others. May we, too, see each new day as a single moment of saying yes to Your will in our lives.

DAY SEVEN

Loving God, St. Therese offered to You her frailty and powerlessness. Help us to see in our weakness and our diminishments an opportunity for letting Your light and Your strength be all we need.

DAY EIGHT

Loving God, You shepherded St. Therese with a gracious love and made her a tower of strength to people who had lost faith in You. Help us to be unafraid to pray with confidence for the many in our culture who do not believe they can be loved.

DAY NINE

Loving God, St. Therese never doubted that her life had meaning. Help us to understand our possibilities for loving and blessing our children, our elderly parents, our neighbours in need, and for priests throughout the world.

To conclude this novena: Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Novena to Saint Thérèse ~ Day Nine

(January 2, 1873 – September 30, 1897)

Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY NINE

O St. Thérèse, seraphic virgin, beloved spouse of our Crucified Lord, you who on earth did burn with a love so intense toward your God and my God, and now glow with a bright and purer flame in paradise, obtain for me, I beseech you, a spark of that same holy fire which shall help me to put things of the world in their proper place and live my life always conscious of the presence of God. As I conclude my novena I also beg of you to secure for me the special favor I seek at this time...

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Thérèse ~ Day Eight

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus breathing her last (1897)

Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY EIGHT

O glorious St. Thérèse, who, burning with the desire of increasing the glory of God, invariably attended to the sanctification of your soul by the constant practice of prayer and charity so that, becoming in the Church a model of holiness, you are now in Heaven the protector of all those who have recourse to you in faith, look down upon me who invokes your powerful patronage and join your petition to mine that I be granted the favor I seek in this novena...

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Thérèse ~ Day Seven

Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY SEVEN

Thérèse of the Child Jesus, most loving Saint, in union with you I adore the divine Majesty. My heart is filled with joy at the remembrance of the marvelous favors with which God blessed your life on earth and of the great glory that came to you after death. In union with you, I praise God, and offer him my humble tribute of thanksgiving. I implore you to obtain for me, through your powerful intercession, the greatest of all blessings -- that of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beg of you to secure for me the special favor I seek in this novena...

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Thérèse ~ Day Six

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus preparing the sacred vessels before Mass

(June 1896)

Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY SIX

O Little Flower of Jesus, you have shown yourself so powerful in your intercession, so tender and compassionate toward those who honor you and invoke you in suffering and distress, that I kneel at your feet with perfect confidence and beseech you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessity and obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena...Vouchsafe to recommend my request to Mary, the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of Jesus, her divine Son.. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Thérèse ~ Day Five

St. Therese dressed as St. Joan of Arc 

for a play that she had written to honor St. Joan

Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY FIVE

O Little Flower of Carmel, Almighty God endowed you, consumed by love for him, with wondrous spiritual strength to follow the way of perfection during the days of your short life. Sickness touched you early but you remained firm in faith and prayer was your life. O pray for me that I may benefit by your intercession and be granted the favor I ask in this novena...

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Thérèse ~ Day Four

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus,
novice at the Carmelite convent
(Age 16, January 1889)

Novena to Saint Thérèse

O St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were -- to that Queen of Heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life” Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment...and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY FOUR

O Little Flower of Jesus, who at an early age had your heart set on Carmel and in your brief earthly life did become the mirror of angelic purity, of courageous love and of whole hearted surrender to Almighty God, turn your eyes of mercy upon me who trusts in you. Obtain for me the favour I seek in this novena...and the grace to keep my heart and mind pure and clean. O dear saint, grant me to feel in every need the power of your intercession; help to comfort me in all the bitterness of this life and especially at its end, that I may be worth to share eternal happiness with you in heaven. Amen.

St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us.