Day 7- Martyrdom of the Body

"We must go to the end of our strength before we complain."  ~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 prayed to be a martyr, and even though she did not die defending the faith, she did have a martyrdom- of her body.  When she was young, she suffered greatly from the death of her mother at the age of four and she also had a very serious fever as a child that plagued her with hallucinations and headaches that confined her to her bed for many months- until she was healed by the Blessed Mother's Smile.  Bodily suffering only increased for St. Therese as she was older, and her final years while battling tuberculosis were the most grave of sufferings with constant attacks of suffocation and violent hemorrhages.  Of all sufferings though, St. Therese said, "My greatest physical suffering was from the cold; I have suffered so much from the cold that I thought I should die of it."  With all this said, it is very clear that St. Therese knew what suffering was because she suffered tremendously in her short life.  In our own sufferings, let us remember to turn to St. Therese for inspiration and intercession.  She knew well of the pains of this life, but she also knew the great power in this martyrdom of the body.

Prayer:

Dear St. Therese, you knew great suffering in your life to the point in which you said, "I did not think it was possible to suffer so much."  Please encourage me throughout my own trials.  Pray that I too may have the courage to suffer a bodily martyrdom.  Please pray for me to be showered with the same Heavenly graces that you were to gain this great merit.  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....