Prayer to Saint Theresa De Lisieux:St. Theresa, The Little Flower, please pick me a Rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love.Ask God to grant me the favour I ask thee to implore and tell Him I will love Him each day more and more. Amen.Say the above prayer followed by 5 Our Father’s, 5 Hail Mary’s and 5 Glory Be’s for 5 consecutive days. On the 5th day after completing these prayers offer one more set of 5 Our Father’s, 5 Hail Mary’s and 5 Glory Be’s.
What is the meaning of “the little way†of St Therese? It is an image that tries to capture her understanding of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, of seeking holiness of life in the ordinary and the everyday. St Therese based “her little way†on two fundamental convictions: (1) God shows love by mercy and forgiveness, and (2) she could not be “perfect†in following the Lord. St Therese believed that the people of her time lived in too great a fear of God's judgment. The fear was stifling and did not allow people to experience the freedom of the children of God. St Therese knew from her life that God is merciful love; many scripture passages in the Old and New Testaments bore out that truth. She loved the maternal images for God in the Old Testament and the love of God for us in Jesus Christ. In fact, St Therese once wrote that she could not understand how anyone could be afraid of a God who became a child. She also knew that she would never be perfect. Therefore, she went to God as a child approaches a parent . . . with open arms and a profound trust.St Therese translated “the little way†in terms of a commitment to the tasks and to the people we meet in our everyday lives. She took her assignments in the convent of Lisieux as ways of manifesting her love for God and for others. She worked as a sacristan by taking care of the altar and the chapel; she served in the refectory and in the laundry room; she wrote plays for the entertainment of the community. Above all, she tried to show a love for all the nuns in the community. She played no favourites; she gave of herself even to the difficult members. Her life sounds so routine and ordinary, but it was steeped in a loving commitment that knew no breakdown. It is called a “little way†precisely by being simple, direct, yet calling for amazing fortitude and commitment.In living out her life of faith she sensed that everything that she was able to accomplish came from the generous love of God in her life. She was convinced that at the end of her life she would go to God with empty hands. Why? Because all was accomplished in union with God.Catholics and other Christians have been attracted to St Therese's style. Her “little way†seems to put holiness of life within the reach of ordinary people. Live out your days with confidence in God's love for you. Recognize that each day is a gift in which your life can make a difference by the way you choose to live it. Put hope in a future in which God will be all and love will consume your spirit. Choose life, not the darkness of pettiness and greed. St Therese knew the difference love makes by allowing love to be the statement she made each day of her life.AFTER HER DEATH: Pope Pius XI solemnly canonized St. Therese on May 17, 1925.On December 14, 1927, Pope Pius XI proclaimed St. Therese, Principal Patroness, equal to St. Francis Xavier, of all missionaries, men and women, and of the missions in the whole world.On May 3, 1944, Pope Pius XII named St. Therese Secondary Patroness of France, equal to St. Joan of Arc.Most recently, Pope John Paul II named St. Therese a Doctor of the Church on October 19, 1997, World Mission Sunday. Doctor of the Church" is a title given to a select few saints "on account of the great advantage the whole Church has derived from their doctrine." She became only the third woman in the Church to be so honored, joining St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa of Jesus, Foundress of the Carmelites.St.Therese never founded a religious order; she never performed great works and never went on missions, but she understood that what matters in the Christian life is not great deeds, but great love, and that anyone can achieve the heights of holiness by doing even the smallest things well for love of God. "All is well," she wrote, "when one seeks only the will of Jesus." St. Therese is a reminder to all of us who feel we can do nothing, that it is the little things that keep God's kingdom growing.
Novena: The Twenty-four "Glory be to the Father's" novena can be said at any time. However, the ninth to the seventeenth of the month is particularly recommended for on those days the petitioner joins in prayer with all those making the novena.Between the Glory Be's, say "Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us"
For HealingDearest Saint Therese, you are the Little Flower of Jesus. Pray this day that I may be made well in body, mind, and spirit. Help me to always see, as you so clearly did, that my sufferings and trials are meant to cleanse and purify me so that I may be more worthy to receive God's unending Love. Amen.
Morning Prayer by St. ThereseO my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of Its Merciful Love.O my God! I ask of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all Eternity.Amen.
Prayer to Saint Therese: St. Therese, please draw me into your great life of love.Teach me that no act is too small to fill with love. Give me great respect for others. Remind me that everyone is a child of God and is specially loved by God.Draw me closer to God and allow me to feel God's love for me. Draw me into the heart of God and widen the horizons of my mind and heart. Then I may be able to think nothing, feel nothing, wish nothing, do nothing except those things that will build up others and inspire them to love.Help me to do this over and over again - to practice with you, being Love in the heart God.Amen.
Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese:O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you “Prodigy of Miracles… the Greatest Saint of Modern Timesâ€. Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth… of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me you childlike faith, to see the Face of God in people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea “to be made known everywhere†and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you.AmenPrayer for Students: God, our Father and Creator through the intercession of St. Therese, we ask for insight and wisdom to see the signs of Your Love in the people and in the events of our lives.May we discern what we have to do as students and give us the strength to do it. Grant us success in our work and examinations.Help us to believe in Your Great Love for each one of us, so that we may live in truth and radiate Your Love in our lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.