During her short 24 years of life from 1873 to 1897, a Carmelite nun from Normandy, Therese of Lisieux, expressed amazing insights into life and a simple recipe for holiness. Her meditations on being a “little one” of God and putting all her trust in God led to an abandonment of her own way and desires, an emptying process that allowed space to be filled with God’s gifts.
October 1, 2019 is the Feast Day of Carmelite Saint and Church Doctor, St. Therese of Lisieux! Saint Thérèse of Lisieux also known as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, O.C.D., was a French Catholic Carmelite nun who is widely venerated in modern times. She is popularly known as “The Little Flower of Jesus” or simply “The Little Flower”. Thérèse has been a highly influential model of sanctity for Catholics and for others because of the “simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life”. Together with Saint Francis of Assisi, she is one of the most popular saints in the history of the church. Pope Saint Pius X called her “the greatest saint of modern times”.
Prayer to St. Therese of Lisieux
St. Therese, Flower of fervor and love, please intercede for us.
Fill our hearts with your pure love of God.
As we approach and celebrate your feast day,
make us more aware of the goodness of
God and how well He tends His garden.
Instill in us your little way of doing
ordinary things with extra-ordinary love.
Give us the heart of a child who wonders
at life and embraces everything with loving enthusiasm.
Teach us your delight in God’s ways
so that divine charity may blossom in our hearts.
Little Flower of Jesus, bring our petitions
(mention in silence here)
before God, our Father.
With your confidence, we come before Jesus
as God’s children,
because you are our heavenly friend.
As we celebrate the Feast Day of your
homecoming in heaven,continue to
shower roses and grace upon us.
Amen