Day 12- Refined Joy

"There are people who make the worst of everything.  As for me, I do the contrary.  I always see the good side of things, and even if my portion be suffering without a glimmer of solace, well, I make that my joy." ~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.

Reflection:

When St. Therese spoke of having joy in the midst of suffering, she wasn't speaking of feeling happiness.  She says that if we were to seek suffering for a feeling of joy, then we would be doing it out of love for ourselves.  St. Therese was rather referring to a joy that we don't feel, but the peace of aligning our wills with the will of God.  She says, "Here I find but one joy, that of suffering; and this joy, which is not one of sense, is above all joy."  She knows that we can suffer greatly, like Jesus did in the Garden of Olives the night before His passion, "even while enjoying the delights of the Trinity."  This means that we can be like Jesus in our suffering and even while we are in great physical or mental pain, we can be united to Jesus spiritually and this will give us much peace and joy.

Prayer:

Dear St. Therese, I desire to have a pure and refined joy as you did- completely unselfish and only rooted in the peace of being united to Jesus in the will of God the Father.  Help me to be truly thankful for "all things" as St. Paul tells us to "give thanks in all things," most especially my crosses- for I now know how much consolation they bring to our Dear Jesus.  I also recommend to you my special intentions in this Novena (Specify your intentions.)  To one who has suffered so much for Him, God will refuse nothing.

Our Father....  Hail Mary....  Glory Be....