Day 15- The "Book" of Jesus Crucified

"My heaven lieth hid in the little white host..."  ~ 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:

For St. Therese, the crucifix was like unto a "book" in which she studied and read often to learn everything she could from it.  She was overcome with the idea that her God would suffer such a death for her and was consumed with His Passion and thus had a great devotion to the Way of the Cross.  St. Therese was particularly attracted to the Holy Face of Jesus and took great consolation and was ever "discovering new beauties that entranced her soul."  She also took great delight in the true presence of Jesus Crucified in the Eucharist- calling it her "Heaven" on Earth and source of all her strength.  Even at the end of her life, while being taken over by her painful illness, she would quite literally drag herself to receive Jesus in the Eucharist because she did not want to miss even a single chance.  She desired to be a living tabernacle and was quoted saying, "Abide in me, as thou dost in the tabernacle, never forsake Thy little victim."  

Prayer:

Dear St. Therese, I truly desire to learn from the "book" of Christ Crucified.  I long to learn the beauty of my God suffering for me, the secrets hidden in His Sacred Face and to have your burning love for Jesus in the Eucharist.  Help me not to waste a sing opportunity to meditate on the Passion of Christ or a chance to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist.  May I have the opportunity to prove my love for our Dear Jesus by my love in all my sacrifices so that I may console the heart of 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....