Novena to St Thérèse of Lisieux
Feast: 1 Oct
When to pray: Begin on 22 Sep and finish on 30 Sep, the eve of the feast, or from the 9th to the 17th of any month. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
St Thérèse, little flower, teach me to do small things with great love and to trust God like a child. Ask Jesus for this grace if it is his will. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: The little way
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:4, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you found a little way to holiness through humble trust and love. Whoever humbles himself as a little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Teach me your little way. Amen.
Day 2: Small duties done with love
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Cor 10:31, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you did small duties with great love. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. Help me to offer even the smallest tasks of my day to God with love. Amen.
Day 3: Trust like a child
If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.
Ps 130:2 [Ps 131:2], Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you trusted God like a child resting with its mother. Quiet my restless soul as a weaned child is quiet with its mother, and teach me to abandon myself into the hands of my heavenly Father. Amen.
Day 4: Offering hidden sacrifices
That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.
Matt 6:4, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you made hidden sacrifices that no one saw but God. Your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Help me to offer small sacrifices quietly, without seeking praise. Amen.
Day 5: Love in the community
A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 13:34, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, in your convent you loved even the sisters who were hard to love. Jesus commands us to love one another as he has loved us. Help me to be patient and kind with those I find difficult. Amen.
Day 6: Darkness of faith
Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.
John 20:29, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, in your last illness you passed through darkness of faith, yet you kept believing. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed. Stay with me in times of doubt and keep my faith firm. Amen.
Day 7: Missionary by prayer
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matt 9:38, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you never left your convent, yet you are patroness of the missions because you prayed and suffered for missionaries. Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers, and make me a missionary by my prayer. Amen.
Day 8: Suffering with peace
For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:18, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you suffered greatly and died young, at peace with God. The sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. Help me and all the sick to suffer with peace and trust. Amen.
Day 9: A shower of roses
For thus saith the Lord: Behold I will bring upon her as it were a river of peace, and as an overflowing torrent the glory of the Gentiles, which you shall suck; you shall be carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you.
Isa 66:12, Douay-Rheims
St Thérèse, you desired to spend your heaven doing good on earth. The Lord promises to bring peace like a river. Pour out upon me and those I love the graces I need, and bring me one day to heaven. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): 1 Cor 10:31; Isa 66:12; John 13:34; John 20:29; Matt 18:4; Matt 6:4; Matt 9:38; Ps 130:2 [Ps 131:2]; Rom 8:18. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources