Novena to St. Therese

Heavenly Father, help us understand and treasure the grace of the Little Way that St. Therese taught us.  Help us rejoice in our littleness and weakness, realizing as she did that through them Your divine strength is free to do its work of life in us.  Show us that nothing is an obstacle but that everything – temperament, situations in which we find ourselves, our duties in life – are materials for the prayer and sacrifice the world desperately needs.  Give us generosity and courage, O Lord, to use them as You wish.  We place our own needs before You, confident that You will answer us since we pray with St. Therese through Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

(Here make your petition.)

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…

Pray for us, St. Therese of the Child Jesus,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:  O God, Who did inflame with Your Spirit of Love the soul of Your servant, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love You and make You much loved.  Amen.

Novena Daily Meditations

Click on the images below to pray the daily meditation for each day.

 Drawing of St. Therese as a young girl.

Day 1 - Prayer

St. Therese in Carmelite habit leaning against a brick column with letter in hand.

Day 2 - Following the Fragrance of Jesus

St. Therese prior to her entry into the Carmelite Sisters.

Day 3 - The Little Way

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 3

St. Therese in Carmelite Habit by a stone column.

Day 4 - Mother Mary

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 4

St. Therese in Carmelite habit, sitting with her hands clasped in her lap.

Day 5 - Trust in God

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 5

Portrait of St. Therese posed over a prayer table.

Day 6 - Holy Eucharist

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 6

St. Therese posing by a cross for her Jubilee picture.

Day 7 - Zeal for Souls

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 7

Close up of St. Therese's face.

Day 8 - Love of God

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 8

Painting of St. Therese on her death bed, looking up to rays of light shining down from a cloudy sky.

Day 9 - Heaven

Carmelite Shield as placeholder

Day 9

Novena Daily Meditations

Click on the buttons to be taken to the daily meditation for each day.

Daily Reflections

Divine Mercy

Novena Day 1 | Prayer

“I say quite simply to the good God what I want to tell Him, and He always understands me.”
– St. Therese

St. Therese, help me to come before our Heavenly Father with a simple and trusting heart

Novena Day 2 | Following the Fragrance of Jesus

“When I open the Gospels, I breathe the fragrance exalted by the life of Jesus, and I know which way to run.”
– St. Therese

St. Therese, teach me to breathe in the fragrance of the Holy Gospels. Help me to run in the way of His commands for He will expand my heart! (Psalm 119:32)

Novena Day 3 | The Little Way

“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

St. Therese, help me each day to do the smallest things with great love – all for Love, all for Jesus!

Novena Day 4 | Mother Mary

“What a joy to remember that she [Mary] is our Mother! Since she loves us and knows our weakness, what have we to fear?”
– St. Therese

St. Therese, as a child of Mary, our Blessed Mother cured your sickness with a loving smile. Mother Mary, take me, too, as your little one and guide me in the Little Way of Love and Confidence!

Novena Day 5 | Trust in God

“I wish therefore, O my God, to build all my trust upon Thee. …this virtue which I desire…to obtain it from Thy infinite mercy I will often say to Thee: Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.”
– St. Therese

St. Therese, help me to place all my trust and confidence in God’s Merciful Love!

Novena Day 6 | Holy Eucharist

“Remember that our sweet Jesus is there in the Tabernacle expressly for you and you alone. Remember that He burns with the desire to enter your heart.”
– St. Therese

St. Therese, pray for me that I may receive Jesus in Holy Communion with a heart burning of love for Him!

St. Therese of Lisieux

Novena Day 7 | Zeal for Souls

“I wish to labor for Thy love alone —with the sole aim of pleasing Thee, of consoling Thy Sacred Heart, and of saving souls who will love Thee through eternity.”
– St. Therese

St. Therese, help this little soul to follow the divine work of pleasing God, consoling His Heart, and of saving souls!

Novena Day 8 | Love of God

The souls who are detained in purgatory

“Kindness is my only guiding star. In its light, I sail a straight route, I have my motto written on my sail: ‘To live in love.”
 – St. Therese

St. Therese, pray for me that my life may follow the path of kindness so that I may constantly live in Love.

Novena Day 9 | Heaven

Her last words – looking at her crucifix: “OH!…I LOVE HIM!…MY GOD, I…LOVE…THEE!!!”

St. Therese, from heaven you remain a great missionary of love. Help me to love Jesus more and more until I reach my heavenly home.