On Oct. 15, 1885, only a few months before her 13th birthday and on the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, Thérèse Martin officially enrolled in the Apostleship of Prayer (now known as the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network). Each month a volunteer would hand deliver a leaflet to the Martin family, so that little Thérèse could pray for the Pope’s monthly intentions. She had, at a very young age, a heart open to the world, wanting to make a difference through her prayers.

About two years after signing up to be a member, Thérèse felt an increasing desire to save souls. She wrote in her autobiography, Story of a Soul, “My one desire was to give my Beloved to drink; I felt my-self consumed with thirst for souls.”

On account of her missionary heart, St. Thérèse of Lisieux was declared a co-patron of the Apostleship of Prayer (Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network). 

Leading up to her feast day on October 1, we will pray a Novena to St. Thérèse, posting reflections from Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.

Please join us in this novena, posted each day on the website and social media, praying for Pope Francis, the Church and for all the challenges facing humanity.

Reflection

 
“Saint Therese of Lisieux invites us to practice the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness. In the end, a world of exacerbated consumption is at the same time a world which mistreats life in all its forms.”

– Pope Francis (Laudato si’)

Novena Prayer

St. Thérèse, keep me close to the Heart of Jesus; help me to serve the needs of the Church and the world through my prayer and loving service.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s Daily Offering

Oh my God!  I offer You all my actions of this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to His infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them in the furnace of His merciful love.

Oh my God! I ask of You for myself and for those dear to me the grace to fulfill perfectly Your holy will, to accept for love of You the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in Heaven for all eternity.  Amen.

Join the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network!!