St. Therese Novena- Day 1
As many of you may already know, St. Therese's Feast day is coming up on Oct. 1st. The idea came to me in adoration today that we could all start a novena together leading up to her feast day. St. Therese is such a powerful saint to pray to because God hears her prayers and she has promised to "Spend her Heaven in doing good upon Earth." The novena that I would love for us to pray together is from a little book titled: Joy in Suffering, by Bishop A. A. Noser. This little "pearl of great price" contains a three-part reflection for all nine days of the novena to St. Therese. I was hoping that we could spend a few minutes each day unpacking one of these little reflections. Since we will be doing only one of the three parts for each day of the novena...it will take us 27 days to complete. This means, if we start today, and not counting Sundays, we will complete our novena on the Feast Day of St. Therese. I truly believe that this novena has the power to really transform your life and put to practice the main desire of our saint- to share with all souls the joy in suffering- and thus be a great consolation to Jesus.
Please consider praying with me this next month. I promise to keep it short- a snip-it amount of information to lead you on great spiritual pondering. I won't copy the text completely, trying to summarize the main ideas, but I do plan on quoting very well-worded pieces from the book and quotes from St. Therese herself.
Will you begin this journey with me- a journey with St. Therese herself- straight to the heart of Jesus?
Day 1
Her View on God and Suffering
St. Therese viewed suffering very differently than the way the world sees it. The world would have you believe that you should always seek comfort and anything that is uncomfortable...aka- suffering, should be avoided at all cost. St. Therese, on the other hand, viewed suffering as coming from her tender Father's boundless love. When speaking of suffering, she calls it a "favor" from Jesus and "How He must love us to send us so great a sorrow! Eternity will not be long enough to bless Him for it."
St. Therese is quick to remind us though, that it does not please God to send us our sufferings, but it is necessary that we may grow in holiness. In this way, she says, "He sends it to us while, as it were, turning away His face... I assure you that it costs Him dearly to fill us with bitterness."
She also discourages us from complaining about our trials but instead encourages us to "appear not to notice it" and comfort Jesus in the process. St. Therese says: His heart is so tender that if you cry, He will dry your tears; but thereafter He will go away sad, since you did not allow Him to repose tranquilly within you. Our Lord loves the glad of heart, the children who greet Him with a smile. When will you learn to hide your troubles from Him, or tell Him gaily that you are happy to suffer for Him?"
Dear St. Therese, help me to lovingly accept all my trials and sufferings as you did, with a smile and in doing so- to console the heart of Jesus. Remind me that all my troubles are "favors" from God to make me more like Him- holy. Please, dear St. Therese, pray for my special intentions of this Novena (Specify your intentions here). God will refuse you nothing!
Our Father....Hail Mary.... Glory Be....
Please consider praying with me this next month. I promise to keep it short- a snip-it amount of information to lead you on great spiritual pondering. I won't copy the text completely, trying to summarize the main ideas, but I do plan on quoting very well-worded pieces from the book and quotes from St. Therese herself.
Will you begin this journey with me- a journey with St. Therese herself- straight to the heart of Jesus?
"Suffering itself becomes the greatest of all joys when we seek it as a precious treasure."
~St. Therese
Preparatory Prayer:
Dear St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, I thank the Most Holy Trinity for all the graces lavished upon you, and through you upon the world. I have great confidence in your intercession, both because of your power in Heaven, since you yourself said that "God would refuse you nothing," and because of your goodness and your promise that "no one would invoke you without receiving answer, since you would "spend your Heaven in doing good upon earth" and "let fall from Heaven a shower of roses." Intercede for me with the loving Hearts of Jesus and Mary, that the Holy Spirit may assist me to understand your teaching on "Joy in Suffering" and may grant me the gift of fortitude, that fired with a burning love of God and souls, I may eagerly follow you in joyous suffering and share in your glorious triumph. I promise to show my heartfelt gratitude by doing whatever I can to promote your honor and to make you ever more widely known and loved throughout the world, for the greater glory of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.Day 1
Her View on God and Suffering
St. Therese viewed suffering very differently than the way the world sees it. The world would have you believe that you should always seek comfort and anything that is uncomfortable...aka- suffering, should be avoided at all cost. St. Therese, on the other hand, viewed suffering as coming from her tender Father's boundless love. When speaking of suffering, she calls it a "favor" from Jesus and "How He must love us to send us so great a sorrow! Eternity will not be long enough to bless Him for it."
St. Therese is quick to remind us though, that it does not please God to send us our sufferings, but it is necessary that we may grow in holiness. In this way, she says, "He sends it to us while, as it were, turning away His face... I assure you that it costs Him dearly to fill us with bitterness."
She also discourages us from complaining about our trials but instead encourages us to "appear not to notice it" and comfort Jesus in the process. St. Therese says: His heart is so tender that if you cry, He will dry your tears; but thereafter He will go away sad, since you did not allow Him to repose tranquilly within you. Our Lord loves the glad of heart, the children who greet Him with a smile. When will you learn to hide your troubles from Him, or tell Him gaily that you are happy to suffer for Him?"
Prayer:
Dear St. Therese, help me to lovingly accept all my trials and sufferings as you did, with a smile and in doing so- to console the heart of Jesus. Remind me that all my troubles are "favors" from God to make me more like Him- holy. Please, dear St. Therese, pray for my special intentions of this Novena (Specify your intentions here). God will refuse you nothing!
Our Father....Hail Mary.... Glory Be....
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