From Blessed Be God (1925) · a prayer for each day

Novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Nine days of prayer to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, printed word for word from an old Catholic book (the source is given below). Pray the daily prayer every day, then the day's own prayer.

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The daily prayer (every day)

Prayer for Each Day O glorious Teresa of the Infant Jesus, through whose unshaken confidence God was so glorified, obtain for me the same filial trust and love which animated thy innocent heart and soul. Grant that I may practice self-abnegation, patience and confidence, and that my confidence may be a fountain of blessings which God pours out upon me. As confidence was for thee the key to the greatest treasures of God, so it may induce me to throw myself into my Saviour's arms and say with David: "In Thee, O my God, I put my trust, let me not be confounded." Amen.

The nine days

Day 1

O Almighty God and Creator of all things, Who to banish from human hearts lukewarmness in Thy service and inflame souls in divine love, hast enriched the soul of Thy Little Flower with such unshaken faith that she desired most ardently to give her life for Thee: I beseech Thee, by the merits of the lively faith of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, to infuse into my soul such an ardent faith that I may firmly believe all the truths taught by the Holy Catholic Church, and practice all the virtues until death. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Gloria.

Day 2

O Almighty God, Who art admirable in Thy saints, grant me the gift of hope with which Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus was endowed, that I may believe firmly Thy words, "Whatsoever you shall ask in My Name, it shall be given to you," and as Saint Teresa abandoned all the vanities of the world and consecrated herself to Thee with unshaken faith and confidence, may I also despise all that the world appreciates, and seek Thee alone Who art my love and my all. Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 3

O my Jesus, grant that I may love Thee, as much as Saint Teresa, Thy Little Flower, loved Thee, and that I may say with her: "O my Jesus, I beg Thee only for Thy love without limits and without bounds. Grant, O my Jesus, that for love of Thee I may be a martyr. I wish to love Thee as Thou hast never been loved." And thou, O little Saint, succor and assist me that I may never show myself ungrateful to Him who loved me so much. Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 4

O my God and my Lord, Thou givest me what is best for me, and as Thy Little Flower consecrated herself to Thee as a sacrificial victim to endure for love of Thee all sufferings and pains, so also may I accept whatever hardships and contradictions Thou hast destined for my sanctification with perfect submission and even with cheerful mind, that I may be able to say as Thy cherished spouse, "O Jesus, I am a victim of Thy love." Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 5

O my Lord, Innocence itself, Thou hast endured all manner of opprobrious treatment for love of me. Give me the grace of humility, self-abnegation, and patience that I may imitate Thy spouse, Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, and say with all my heart, O my despised Jesus, grant me the merits of Thy humility and patience to bear in tranquil spirit all the sufferings of this life, and then to enjoy Thy company with Thy spouse, the Little Flower. Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 6

O my sweet Jesus, give me the charity and simplicity of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, whose mission in heaven is to make others love the good God as she loved Him, to teach souls her little way. Give me such longings that I may not rest until my heart loves God with all my strength, until I arrive at the spiritual childhood of the Little Flower of Jesus. Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 7

O my dear Jesus, give me grace to practise little virtues. It is sometimes difficult, but I trust in Thy goodness and love for little souls. I am too little and weak to climb the steep ladder of perfection, but I know that as much as I hope I shall obtain from Thee. I join then Thy Little Flower and implore Thee with her to make me one of the many little, humble victims, worthy of Thy love. Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 8

O my God and my love, give me on this earth the same mission Thou gavest to Thy Little Flower in heaven, of passing life in doing good to my neighbor. O Jesus, help me to console little souls and encourage them to love Thee; let them love Thee as much as Thy Immaculate Mother, Thy foster-father St. Joseph, Thy holy angels and Thy cherished Little Teresa loved Thee. Allow me to pray with her: "Let Thy divine glance rest upon a vast number of little souls, worthy victims of Thy love." Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Day 9

O my dear Lord, grant me as much filial veneration and love for Thy faithful foster-father and Thy most holy and immaculate Mother, as Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus cherished in her simple and child-like heart. And thou, O my little Saint, address thyself to my great protector and father St. Joseph, and my most holy Mother Mary, and entreat them to obtain for me the grace of dying in the arms of Jesus and uttering thy own words: "O, I love Him . . . My God . . . I . . . love Thee." Amen. Our Father, etc., and the Act of Oblation.

Closing prayer

Act of Oblation of Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus My Lord and my God! O Most Blessed Trinity! I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved by mankind. Since Thou hast loved me so much as to give me Thy only begotten Son for my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine. These merits I offer to Thee with joy, beseeching Thee to behold me only as in the Face of Jesus, and in His Sacred Heart burning with love. Moreover, I offer Thee all the merits of the saints — in heaven and on earth — together with their acts of love, and those of the holy Angels. Lastly, I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and merits of the Blessed Virgin, my dearest Mother. To her I entrust this oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. Amen.

Holy Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Victories, pray for us. Saint Teresa of the Infant Jesus, pray for us. Little Flower of Jesus, pray for us. Amen.

Source: Callan & McHugh, Blessed Be God: A Complete Catholic Prayer Book (New York: P. J. Kenedy & Sons, 1925), pp. 304–309 · view the page scan

When to pray it

Next: Wednesday, September 22 to Thursday, September 30, 2027, ending on the eve of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (October 1).

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Frequently asked

What is a novena?

A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer for a particular intention, after the pattern of the apostles who prayed for nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost.

How do I pray the Novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux?

Pray the prayers given here on nine days in a row, as the source book directs; the text is printed exactly as it appears there.

Can I pray a novena for any intention?

Yes. Bring whatever intention is on your heart and entrust it to the prayers of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower.

Other novenas

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