Day 6- Vocational Crosses

"Each one ought to behave as if the perfection of the entire Order depended on her personal conduct."  ~ 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:

In the little book "Joy in Suffering" it says, "The most important duty of every person is to fulfill faithfully the obligations of his or her state of life, and this usually involves much unsought suffering."  Isn't this so true?  We often find much unsought suffering throughout our ordinary days in our vocation.  St. Therese is said to have heroically kept her vows as a religious with much delicacy and refinement.  She was careful not to ask for dispensations for tasks that were required of her, even when she was ill.  She also allowed herself to be one "whom everyone had the right to command," and she obeyed all without distinction as if it were God Himself making these requests of her.  This sounds very familiar to family life, with the many demands of children (and spouses!) and everyone asking for help in all sorts of ways.  This must mean that the more we subject ourselves to completing every duty that is asked of us in our vocation, from paying bills, washing clothes, preparing food, helping with homework or even cleaning up after others- as if God Himself were asking this of us- the more we will be like St. Therese and in doing so, like Jesus.  When we become obedient to our vocation we become like Jesus Himself who "was obedient unto death, even death on the cross."

Prayer:

St. Therese, I desire to fulfill perfectly the duties of my state, to seek no exemption on account of personal sacrifices or inconveniences, but to do my duty "as long as I can stand on my feet" (words of St. Therese) and to live as if the perfection of the entire Church depended on my personal conduct. (taken from "Joy in Suffering")  I also recommend to you my special intentions in this Novena.  (Specify your intentions.)  God will refuse you nothing.

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