Day 17- Her Helmet- Confidence in God

"We can never have too much confidence in the good God.  He is so mighty, so merciful.  We shall receive from Him quite as much as we hope for." 

 ~ 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:

St. Therese ever trusted God with everything that He was doing in her life.  She says, "When in the morning we feel no courage or strength for the practice of virtue, it is really a grace; it is the time to 'lay the axe to the root of the tree,  'relying on Jesus alone... He helps us without seeming to do so."  This is a beautiful little poem she wrote:

Thy Heart which guards and giveth innocence

will ever be my trust and firm defense;

If in my heart the sudden tempest rise,

To Thee, my Jesus, I shall lift my eyes.

Even with her scary condition of tuberculosis and her impending death she said, "I have no fear of the last struggle, nor any pains- however great- which my illness may bring.  God has always been my help.  He has led me by the hand from my earliest childhood... I rely on Him.  My agony may reach its furthest limits, but I am convinced that He will never forsake me."

Prayer:

Dear St. Therese, I pray for my hope and trust in the Lord to increase with each breath that I take.  I desire to have the same confidence in God's will for my life as you did, knowing that I will be given all the graces necessary to persevere through any trial that I am given.  I love you Dear St. Therese, help me to love you more each day!

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....