Prayers of St. Therese of Lisieux

Nine days with St. Therese

Sixth Day

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, 
be a great missionary throughout the world to the end of time.
Remind our Master of His own words, 
"The harvest is great, but the laborers are few." 
Your zeal for souls was so great, 
obtain a like zeal for those now working for souls, 
and beg God to multiply their numbers, 
that the millions to whom Jesus is yet unknown 
may be brought to know, love and follow Him.
Intercede for us all the days of our life, 
but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God
the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Zeal for souls. 

Let us work together for the salvation of souls. We have only the day of this life to save souls and to give them to the Lord as proofs of our love.  I tell Jesus that I am glad not to be able to see, with the eyes of my soul, this beautiful heaven which awaits me, in order that He may vouchsafe to open it forever to poor unbelievers.   I cannot perform brilliant works; I cannot preach the Gospel or shed my blood. But what matter? My brothers work in place of me, and I a little child, keep very close to the royal throne. I love for those who are carrying on the warfare.  My deeds, my little sufferings, can make God loved all over the world.

Concluding Prayer

Seventh Day

O little martyr of Love, 
you know now even better than in the days of your pilgrimage
that Love embraces all vocations; 
that it is Love alone which counts, 
which unites us to God and conforms us to God's will.
All you sought on earth was love; 
to love Jesus as He had never yet been loved. 
Use your power in heaven to make us love Jesus.
then, we will desire to make Jesus loved by others; 
we will pray much for souls. 
We will no longer fear death, for it will unite us to Him forever.
Obtain for us the grace to do all for the love of God, 
to love God so well 
that God may rejoice with all of us.
Intercede for us all the days of our life, 
but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God
the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Love of God 

I will love God alone and will not have the misfortune of attaching myself to creatures, now that my heart perceive what He has in store for those who love Him.  What attracts me to the kingdom of Heaven is the call of our Lord, the hope of loving Him as I have so desired and the thought that I shall be able to make Him loved by a great number of souls who will bless Him forever.   When Christ said, "Give Me a Drink," it was the love of His poor creatures that He, the Creator of all things, desired. He thirsted for love.  Remember that the dear Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone. Remember that He is consumed with a desire to come into your heart.

Concluding Prayer

Eighth Day

 
Dear St. Therese, 
like you we will die one day. 
We ask you, obtain from God, 
through your own precious death, 
that we may have a holy death, 
strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, 
entirely resigned to God's Will, 
and burning with love for God. 
May our last words on earth be, "My God. I love You."
Intercede for us all the days of our life, 
but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God
the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Death. 

It says in the catechism that death is nothing but the separation of the soul and body. Well, I have no fear of a separation which will unite me forever with the good God.  I am happy to die because I shall be able to help souls who are dear to me, far more than I can here below.  Life is not sad; it is very joyous. If you say, "This exile is sad," I understand you. We are wrong to give the name "life" to something which will end; it is only to the things of Heaven that we should apply this beautiful name.

 Concluding Prayer

Ninth Day

 
Dear Little St. Therese, 
by love and suffering while you were on earth, 
you won the power with God which you now enjoy in heaven.
Since your life there began, 
you have showered down countless blessings on this world;
you have been an instrument to work countless miracles. 
We ask of you to remember all our needs. 
Sufferings must come to us also, 
may we use them to love God more, and follow Jesus better. You are especially the little missionary of love. 
Make us love Jesus more, and all our brothers and sisters.
With our hearts we thank the most Holy Trinity 
for the wonderful blessings conferred on you, 
and upon the world through you.
Intercede for us all the days of our life, 
but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God
the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Mission of the Little Flower. 

I do not intend to remain inactive in Heaven. I want to work for the Church and for souls. I have asked this of God and I am certain that He will grant my request.  I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth. This is not impossible, since the angels though always enjoying the beatific vision, watch over us. No, I cannot be at rest until the end of the world.  I beseech Thee, O Jesus, to cast Thy divine glance on a great number of little souls. I beg of Thee to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Thy Love.

 Concluding Prayer