Novena to St Thérèse of Lisieux

Novena to St Thérèse of Lisieux

("I will come down", she said)

Pray this anytime throughout the year for nine days in a row. Traditionally, it is prayed from 22nd September through 30th September. Her Memorial Feast Day is 1st October.

SYMBOLS

[℣] Leader  [℟] Response  [Ⱥ] All together

SIGN OF THE CROSS

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

OPENING PRAYERS
COME HOLY SPIRIT

[Ⱥ] Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love. [℣] Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. [℟] And you shall renew the face of the earth. [℣] Let us pray:

[Ⱥ] O God, who has instructed the hearts of your faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may have a right judgment in all things and evermore rejoice in his consolations. Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE

O my God, I believe in you with firm faith, for you are Truth itself and cannot deceive. I hope in you with steadfast trust, for you are Mercy itself and will not abandon those who rely on you. I love you with all my heart, for you are Goodness itself and worthy of all my love. Grant that I may live and die in this faith, hope, and love, and so come to the crown of glory You have prepared for those who persevere.

ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER
PRAYER

St Thérèse, beloved Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I come before you with childlike trust and humble heart. I place my desires in your hands and implore that, through your intercession, they may be granted. Did you not promise to spend your Heaven in doing good upon earth? In accord with this promise, obtain for me the favors I now seek, if they be pleasing to God.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

O dear Little Saint, now beholding the crucified Jesus in glory, still bearing the wounds of sin, you know more clearly than ever the worth of souls and the infinite price of his Precious Blood shed for their salvation. Since I am one of those for whom he died, obtain for me the graces I need to profit from that Blood. With your great power of intercession, plead with our Divine Lord on my behalf.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

Dear Little Flower, lead me always to Heaven and to God. Whether I gaze upon the sun, the moon, the stars, or the vast heavens in which they shine, or whether I behold the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, and the beauties of the earth, may they all remind me of God’s love and power, and sing his praises to my heart. Like you, may I grow each day in love for him in gratitude for his gifts. Teach me to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer Jesus many little sacrifices.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

Dear Little Flower of Carmel, who bore with patience the disappointments and delays permitted by God, and who kept within your soul an unchanging peace because you sought only his will, obtain for me complete conformity to that adorable Will in all the trials of life. If the favors I ask in this novena are pleasing to him, secure them for me; if not, though I may feel the refusal intensely, I too desire only his will, and I pray with you that his will may be perfectly fulfilled in me.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

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.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

St Thérèse, Patroness of the Missions, be a missionary throughout the world until the end of time. Remind our Divine Master of His words: ‘The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.’ Your zeal for souls was immense; obtain for those now laboring in the vineyard a like zeal, and beg God to increase their number, that the countless millions who do not yet know Jesus may come to know, love, and follow Him.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

O Little Martyr of Love, now you see more clearly than in your earthly pilgrimage that love embraces every vocation, that love alone unites us perfectly to God and conforms our will to his. On earth you sought only to love Jesus as he had never yet been loved; now in Heaven, use your power to make us love him. If we truly love him, we shall long to make him loved by others, we shall pray fervently for souls, and we shall no longer fear death, for it will unite us to him forever. Obtain for us the grace to do all for love of God, to give him joy, and to love him so well that he may be pleased with us, as he was with you.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

Dear St Thérèse, Little Flower of Jesus, like you I too must one day pass from this life. I beg you, by the memory of your own precious death, obtain for me from God the grace of a holy death—strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, fully resigned to his most holy Will, and burning with love for him. May my last words on earth be: ‘My God, I love You.’

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

PRAYER

Dear Little St Thérèse, by your love and suffering on earth you gained the power with God which you now enjoy in Heaven. Since entering eternal life, you have showered countless blessings upon the world, becoming the chosen instrument of your Divine Spouse to work many miracles. Remember all my needs, I beg you. Sufferings must come to me also; may I use them to love God more deeply and to follow Jesus more faithfully. You are especially the little missionary of love — make me love Jesus more and love all others for his sake. With all my heart I thank the Most Holy Trinity for the wonderful graces bestowed upon you, and through you upon the world.

(Tell her your Personal Intentions)

CONCLUDING PRAYERS
INTERCESSION

[Ⱥ] Intercede for us all the days of our life, O Little Flower, but specially during this novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

CLOSING

[Ⱥ] O Lord Jesus, you said that unless we become like little children, we cannot enter your kingdom. Help us to follow St Thérèse in her little way with courage and humility, so that we may share in the reward of eternal life. Amen.

[℣] May the divine assistance remain always with us, [℟] and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. [Ⱥ] Amen.

SIGN OF THE CROSS

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONTEMPLATION FOR THE DAY

For a deeper spiritual participation in this novena read and contemplate on the words of St Thérèse of Lisieux, throughout the day. These quotes have been taken from her various writings specially from her autography STORY OF A SOUL. Comments are added to aid reflection on the thoughts of little Thérèse.

“We can never have too much confidence in the good God who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for. If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him.“

Comment

Confidence in God is the very heart of St Thérèse’s little way. For her, it was not optimism but a childlike trust that rests entirely in the Father’s mercy. She proclaims that sanctity does not depend on our strength or achievements, but on surrender—abandoning self-reliance and allowing God to carry us. Confidence means believing that his love is greater than our weakness, that his mercy is inexhaustible, and that his providence guides even the smallest details of life.

This trust frees the soul from fear and anxiety, opening it to love. When we are confident in God, we no longer hesitate to approach him, even in our poverty, because we know he delights in our dependence. Confidence becomes the fuel of love: the more we trust him, the more we desire to make him loved by others, to pray for souls, and to embrace suffering as a path to union with him. In Thérèse’s vision, confidence is victory over fear, the key to peace, and the sure road to holiness. It is the child’s cry of love that draws down the Father’s tenderness.

Sin

“The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend You. By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least fault. Yes, even if I have on my conscience every possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow, I should go and throw myself into the arms of my Savior. The remembrance of my faults humbles me and makes me afraid to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness.“

Comment

Sin is the wounding of love. To offend Jesus is to turn away from the One who has given everything, even his life, for us and our salvation. Yet the soul that truly loves does not avoid sin out of fear of punishment, but out of reverence for the Beloved Lord. Love makes even the smallest fault unbearable, for it is seen as a shadow cast upon the brightness of our union with God. Thus, the prayer of the heart becomes: “The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend you.”

But even when sin has stained the conscience, the soul must not despair. To despair would be a greater wound than the sin itself, for it denies the infinite mercy of Christ. No matter how heavy the burden of guilt, the path of return is always open. With sorrow that breaks the heart, the sinner can run into the arms of the Savior, who waits not with reproach but with forgiveness. In this way, sin becomes the occasion for deeper humility and greater trust, for the soul learns that it is not fear but love that restores, heals, and keeps it faithful.

Using God’s Gifts

“How much benefit have I received from the beauties of nature, bestowed in such abundance. How they raise me to Him who placed such wonders in this land of exile which is only to last a day. O sparkling nature, if I did not see God in you, you would be naught but a great tomb. With your little hand which caresses Mary, You sustain the Universe and bestow life; and You think of me, O Jesus my little King. I do not wish creatures to have one atom of my love. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness.“

Comment

The gifts of God are scattered across creation like jewels in a vast treasury. The beauty of nature, the harmony of the stars, the fragrance of flowers, the gentle rhythm of the seasons—all are signs of his love, given to lift the soul beyond the fleeting shadows of this earthly exile. Each wonder of creation is reminds of the power and majesty the Creator, and yet he bends low to think of soul, his little child. To see God in his gifts is to find life; to ignore him in them is to turn them into a tomb.

Therefore, we should desire that no created thing steals even the smallest portion of our love. For creatures, however beautiful, are but reflections; they cannot satisfy the heart. Only Jesus, our King, is perfect happiness. To him alone we should give all, for he has shown that his love transforms every gift into a pathway leading back to himself. In this way, the soul uses creation rightly—not as an end, but as a ladder to climb toward the eternal embrace of God.

Holy Abandonment

“I fear only one thing—to keep my own will; take it, my God, for I choose all that You choose. The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us. I can demand nothing with fervor, except the perfect accomplishment of God’s will in my soul. O my Beloved, I offer myself to You, that You may perfectly accomplish in me Your holy designs, and I will not allow anything created to be an obstacle in their path.“

Comment

To abandon oneself to God is to completely surrender the last fortress of self—the will. The soul fears only one danger: to cling to its own desires. But when it yields them into the hands of the Father, it discovers freedom. To choose all that God chooses means to rest in his providence, knowing that every circumstance, whether joy or trial, is a gift from Jesus. The only true happiness on earth is to be content with whatever he gives, for his gifts are always directed toward eternal life.

In this surrender, prayer becomes simple: not a demand for particular favors, but a fervent cry for the perfect accomplishment of God’s will within the soul. The heart says: “O my Beloved, I offer myself to You, that You may perfectly accomplish in me Your holy designs.” Nothing created must be allowed to obstruct this divine work. Thus, surrender is not resignation but love’s highest act of trust—an offering of the whole self into the hands of the One who knows, who loves, and who saves.

Patience in Suffering

“I do not fear trials sent by Jesus, for even in the most bitter suffering we can see that it is His loving hand which causes it. When we are expecting nothing but suffering, we are quite surprised at the least joy; but then suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a precious treasure. Far from resembling those beautiful saints who practiced all sorts of austerities from childhood, my penance consisted in breaking my self-will, in keeping back a sharp reply, in doing little kindnesses to those about me, but considering these deeds as nothing.”

Comment

Suffering, when received from the hand of Jesus, is not a curse and contains a hidden blessing. The soul that trusts him sees even in the most bitter trial the touch of his love. To expect nothing but suffering is to be prepared for joy, for then even the smallest consolation surprises us as a gift. Yet deeper still, suffering itself becomes joy when sought as a treasure, for it unites us more closely to the Crucified Lord.

True penance is not found in extraordinary austerities, but in the quiet victories of daily life: breaking one’s self-will, silencing a sharp reply, offering small kindnesses without seeking recognition. These hidden sacrifices, though seemingly nothing, are the purest acts of love. Patience in sufferings, whether great or small, is the soul’s way of saying: “I accept all from You, O Jesus, for in Your will alone is my peace.”

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 those who are carrying on the warfare. My deeds, my little sufferings, can make God loved all over the world.“

Comment

Zeal for souls is the flame of love that refuses to rest while even one heart remains far from God. The soul knows that this brief day of earthly life is given not for self alone, but to labor for the salvation of others, to present them to the Lord as proofs of love. It is natural to desire Heaven, but greater still is the joy of surrendering its vision so that unbelievers may one day see it forever—this is the generosity of true zeal.

Not all are called to preach, to shed blood, or to perform works that shine before the world. Yet even the smallest soul, hidden and childlike, can remain close to the royal throne, loving for those who fight in the field. Every deed, every little suffering, offered in union with Christ, becomes a seed of grace scattered across the world. This is the way, zeal for souls transforms ordinary acts into instruments of salvation, making God loved where he is not yet known.

Only Love God

“I will love God alone and will not have the misfortune of attaching myself to creatures, now that my heart perceives 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.“

Comment

Love alone is the soul’s true vocation. To love God without reserve, without the misfortune of attachment to creatures, is to live already in the freedom of Heaven. The heart, once awakened to what he has prepared for those who love him, sees clearly that no earthly bond can satisfy. What draws the soul upward is not the beauty of the reward, but the call of the Lord himself—the hope of loving him perfectly and of making him loved by countless souls who will bless him forever.

Christ thirsts not for water, but for love. When he said, “Give Me a drink,” (John 4:9-12) it was the love of his poor creatures that he desired—the Creator longing for the affection of his own. In the tabernacle, he waits, consumed with desire to enter the heart, to be received and cherished. To remember this is to live in the awareness that Jesus is there for me, for me alone, and that my response must be love without measure. Only love can quench his thirst, and only love can transform my life into a gift worthy of him.

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.“

Comment

Death is not the end, but the passage into eternal union with God. The catechism calls it the separation of soul and body, yet for the soul that loves, this separation is no cause for fear. It is the doorway through which exile ceases and true life begins. To die in Christ is to be forever united with him, and this certainty transforms death into joy.

The soul rejoices in death, not only for its own union with God, but because it can then help those it loves more powerfully than ever before. Life here below is not sad—it is a gift, filled with joy when seen as preparation for Heaven. What is sad is exile, the fleeting shadow we mistakenly call “life.” True life belongs to Heaven alone, where love is perfected and never ends. Thus, death is not loss, but gain; not darkness, but the dawn of eternal day.

Eternal Mission

“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 You, O Jesus, to cast Your divine glance on a great number of little souls. I beg of You to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Your Love.“

Comment

Heaven is not inactivity, but the fullness of love poured out without end. The soul that burns with charity cannot be content even in eternal rest, for love seeks always to give. Thus, the Little Flower desires to spend her Heaven doing good upon earth, interceding for the Church and for souls. Just as the angels, though beholding the face of God, watch over us, so too the saints continue their mission of love beyond the veil.

This mission is not grand in the eyes of the world, but hidden and childlike: to beg Jesus to cast his divine glance upon little souls, to raise up a legion of humble victims, worthy of his love. The Little Flower’s mission is to make God loved where he is forgotten, to scatter roses of grace upon the earth until the end of time. In this way, Heaven and earth are joined in one continuous act of love, and the soul discovers that even eternity is too short to love Jesus enough.