MIRACULOUS INVOCATION TO ST. THERESE

Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you "Prodigy of Miracles… the Greatest Saint of Modern Times."

Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth… of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses.

Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea "to be made known everywhere" and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you.   Amen.



NOVENA PRAYER

Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, during your short life on earth you became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God. Now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtue, turn your eyes of mercy upon me, for I put all my confidence in you.Obtain for me the grace to keep my heart and mind pure and cleanlike your own, and to abhor sincerely whatever may in any way tarnish the glorious virtue of purity, so dear to our Lord.

Most gracious Little Rose Queen, remember your promises of never letting any request made to you go unanswered, of sending down a shower of roses, and of coming down to earth to do good. Full of confidence in your power with the Sacred Heart, I implore your intercession in my behalf and beg of you to obtain the request I so ardently desire: (Mention your request).

Holy "Little Theresa," remember you promise "to do good upon earth" and shower down your "roses" on those who invoke you. Obtain for me from God the graces I hope for from His infinite goodness. Let me feel the power of your prayers in every need. Give me consolation in all the bitterness of this life, and especially at the hour of death, that I may be worthy to share eternal happiness with you in heaven.*    Amen.



PRAYER

Father in heaven, through Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, You desire to remind the world of the merciful love that fills Your Heart and the childlike trust we should have in You. Humbly we thank You for having crowned with such great glory Your ever-faithful child and for giving her wondrous power to bring to You, day by day, innumerable souls who will praise You eternally.

Lord, You said, "Unless you… become like little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3); grant us, we beg of You, to walk in the footsteps of Your virgin, Saint Theresa, with humility and purity of intention so that we may obtain eternal rewards. You live and reign forever.* Amen.


Courtesy of: Favorite Novenas to the Saints, A St. Joseph Prayer book



WITHOUT THE WORD

Without the word that keeps lifting us up as God's chosen people, we remain, or become, small people, stuck in the complaints that emerge from our daily struggle to survive.

Without the word that makes our hearts burn, we can't do much more than walk home, resigned to the sad fact that there is nothing new under the sun.

Without the word, our life has little meaning, little vitality, and little energy. Without the word we remain little people with little concerns who live little lives and die little lives.

Without the word our isolated pains and sorrows may extinguish the Spirit within and make us victims of bitterness and resentment.

We need the word spoken and explained by one who joins us on the road and makes her presence known to us - a presence first discerned in our burning hearts. It is this presence that encourages us to let go of our hardened hearts and become grateful. As grateful people we can invite into the intimacy of our home the one who has made our hearts burn.


Adapted from: With Burning Hearts A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life, by Henri J.M. Nouwen