Novena to St Teresa
October 15 is a great feast for us Carmelites as we celebrate St. Teresa of Avila, Carmelite nun, mystic, reformer, and doctor of the Church, “Doctor of Prayer”. From the great St. Teresa of Avila, we learn about personal and contemplative prayer, a way to talk with our Lord as a close friend. Pray this novena with us! May our hearts be set afire with a more ardent love for our Lord!
Novena to St. Teresa of Avila
Pray this each day (October 6-14) leading up to the feast on October 15.
Daily novena prayer taken from the manual of prayers of the Carmelite Sisters
Eternal Father, by Your Holy Spirit, You raised up our peerless Mother, St. Teresa of Avila, to show Your Church the way to perfection. May her inspired teaching awaken in us a longing for true holiness. May these prayers of preparation for her feast keep us faithful to Christ and help us to work in the Church for the salvation of all mankind. Amen.
V. Holy Mother St. Teresa, look down from heaven and see.
R. Take care of this vine and protect what your right hand has planted.
(Here make your petition)
V. Let us pray:
(All) Lord, our God, watch over this religious family You nourish with the Bread from heaven. Help us to follow the example of our Holy Mother, St. Teresa, and sing Your merciful love forever. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Daily Meditations
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Novena Daily Meditations
Click on the buttons to be taken to the daily meditation for each day.
Novena | Day 1 (October 6)
“I am quite sure that if we could but once approach the Most Holy Sacrament with great faith and love, it would suffice to make us rich. How much more so if we approach it often!” – St. Teresa
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, increase in us the gift of faith, especially in the Most Blessed Sacrament!
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 2 (October 7)
“Hope, O my soul, hope.” – St. Teresa
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, increase in us the gift of hope, a great confidence in Your Goodness since You shed every last drop of Your Precious Blood for our salvation.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 3 (October 8)
“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.” – St. Teresa
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, give us the great gift of Your perfect love.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 4 (October 9)
“When I was in this terrible state of exhaustion… these words alone were sufficient to remove it and give me complete tranquility: ‘Be not afraid, daughter, for it is I and I will not abandon you: fear not.'” – St. Teresa
Dear Jesus, grant us a great desire and determination to love You above all things like St. Teresa did.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 5 (October 10)
“There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge of the world.” – St. Teresa
O Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, as You granted for St. Teresa, give us the true gift of humility.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 6 (October 11)
“I remember that, when my mother died, I was twelve years of age or a little less. When I began to realize what I had lost, I went in my distress to an image of Our Lady and with many tears besought her to be a mother to me. Though I did this in my simplicity, I believe it was of some avail to me; for whenever I have commended myself to this Sovereign Virgin I have been conscious of her aid…”
“I have never known anyone who was truly devoted to [St. Joseph] who did not advance greatly in virtue: for he helps in a special way those souls who commend themselves to him.” – St. Teresa
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, we beg for the gift of special devotion to Your Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Your beloved foster father, St. Joseph.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 7 (October 12)
“Grant, that our love may never be small, but always most ardent, like a great fire that cannot but shine brightly.” – St. Teresa
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, grant us that our hearts, too, may be wounded with your Divine Love.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 8 (October 13)
“This Beloved of ours is merciful and good. Besides, He so deeply longs for our love that He keeps calling us to come closer.” – St. Teresa, Interior Castle
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, grant us the gift of a great desire for heaven, possessing the Beloved eternally.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Novena | Day 9 (October 14)
“I would create the universe again just to hear you say you love Me.” – Our Lord to St. Teresa of Avila
Dear Jesus, as You did for St. Teresa, grant us the grace of dying a holy death, burning with love for You!
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!