NOVENA TO ST. THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS
AND THE HOLY FACE
(SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 2)
October 3: Feast of Thérèse of the Child Jesus (in Nigeria)
HYMN:
- Let all who lovingly avow
Those gifts the Christ Child came to share
Acclaim Thérèse’s virtues now
And praise her name in song and pray’r. - Her patroness and mother chose
The lofty peaks of Carmel’s height
And there Thérèse in fervour goes
To follow Christ, her one delight. - All glory, Jesus, be to you
This day revealed to little ones,
To Father and blest Spirit, too,
While age to age forever runs.
First Day (September 24)
St. Thérèse, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach you with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before you my desires, and beg that through your intercession they may be realized. You promised to spend your heaven doing good upon earth. Grant me according to this promise the favours I humbly ask from you.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Second Day (September 25)
O dear little Saint, now that you see the crucified Jesus in heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, you know still more clearly than you did upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. With your great power of intercession, pray for me to our divine Lord.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Third Day (September 26)
Dear Little Flower, make all things lead me to heaven and God, Whether I look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vast expanse in which they float, or whether I look at the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, the beauties of the earth so full of colour and so glorious, may they speak to me of the love and power of God; may they all sing His praises in my ear. Like you may I daily love Him more and more in return for His gifts. Teach me often to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer to Jesus many little sacrifices.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Fourth Day (September 27)
Dear Little Flower of Carmel, bearing so patiently the disappointments and delays allowed by God, and preserving in the depths of your soul an unchanging peace because you sought only God’s will, ask for me complete conformity to that adorable Will in all the trials and disappointments of life. If the favours I am asking during this Novena are pleasing to God, graciously obtain them for me through your intercession.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Fifth Day (September 28)
Little Flower of Jesus, from the very first moment of your religious life you thought only of denying yourself in all things so as to follow Jesus more perfectly. Help me to bear patiently the trials of my daily life. Teach me to make use of the trials, the sufferings, the humiliations, that come my way, to learn to know myself better and to love God more.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Sixth Day (September 29)
St. Thérèse, 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 labourers 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, to love and to follow Him.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Seventh Day (September 30)
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 perfectly to God and conforms our will with His. All you sought on earth was love: to love Jesus as He had never yet been loved. Obtain for us the grace to do all for the love of God, to give Him pleasure, to love Him so well that He may be pleased with us as He was with you.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Eighth Day (October 1)
Dear St. Thérèse, like you I have to die one day. I beseech you, obtain from God, by reminding Him of your own precious death, that I may die a holy death, strengthened by the sacraments of the Church, entirely resigned to the most holy Will of God, and burning with love for Him.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.
Ninth Day (October 2)
Dear Little St. Thérèse, 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 our world. You have been an instrument made use of by your divine Spouse to work countless miracles. You are especially the little missionary of love. Make me love Jesus more, and all others for His sake.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be…
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face – Pray for us.