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.

–> Click here for previous days

Reflection

“With Mary beside the Cross of Jesus, Thérèse then lived the most heroic faith, as a light in the darkness that invaded her soul. The Carmelite was aware that she was living this great trial for the salvation of all the atheists of the modern world, whom she called ‘brothers’.

She then lived fraternal love even more intensely (8r-33v): for the sisters of her community, for her two spiritual missionary brothers, for the priests and for all people, especially the most distant. She truly became a ‘universal sister’! Her lovable, smiling charity was the expression of the profound joy whose secret she reveals: ‘Jesus, my joy is loving you’ (P 45/7). In this context of suffering, living the greatest love in the smallest things of daily life, the Saint brought to fulfillment her vocation to be Love in the heart of the Church (cf. Ms B, 3v).”

– Pope Benedict XVI (General Audience, April 6, 2011)

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!!