Who is St. Therese of Lisieux?
St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the 'Little Flower,' was a French Carmelite nun who lived in the late 19th century and is one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church. She is known for her 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood, which emphasizes doing small acts of love and service with great love, rather than seeking grand spiritual achievements. St. Therese taught that holiness is accessible to everyone through simple, everyday acts of love and trust in God. She is the patron saint of missionaries, florists, and those who are ill, and her spiritual writings, particularly 'Story of a Soul,' have inspired millions of people around the world to grow closer to God through simple acts of love and trust.
The Catholic Church recognizes St. Therese as a Doctor of the Church, a title given to saints whose writings have significantly contributed to the understanding of Christian doctrine. Her feast day is celebrated on October 1st, and she is often invoked by those who are seeking to grow in holiness and to develop a deeper relationship with God. The Church teaches that St. Therese's intercession is particularly powerful for those who are seeking spiritual growth and who want to learn how to love God more deeply in their daily lives.
Why Pray to St. Therese for Spiritual Growth?
Praying to St. Therese for spiritual growth is particularly powerful for several reasons. First, St. Therese is known for her 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood, which teaches us that holiness is accessible to everyone through simple acts of love and trust. When we pray to her for spiritual growth, we're asking for her help in learning how to grow closer to God through the ordinary events of daily life. Second, St. Therese experienced many spiritual struggles and challenges in her own life, and she understands the difficulties that people face in their spiritual journey. She can help us overcome obstacles and grow in holiness even when we feel inadequate or discouraged.
Third, St. Therese's intercession has been associated with many spiritual breakthroughs and conversions, giving hope to those who are seeking to grow in their relationship with God. Fourth, praying to St. Therese helps us remember that spiritual growth is not about achieving great spiritual feats, but about learning to love God more deeply in our daily lives. Her example shows us that even the smallest acts of love and service can lead to great spiritual growth when done with love for God.
How to Pray This Novena
To pray this novena to St. Therese for spiritual growth effectively, begin by creating a sacred space where you can pray without distractions. You might want to have an image or statue of St. Therese nearby, or light a candle as a symbol of your prayer. Take a few moments to quiet your mind and focus on St. Therese's presence and her desire to help you grow spiritually.
Start each day of the novena with the opening prayer, then pray the specific prayer for that day. Take time to reflect on the Scripture passage and how it relates to your spiritual growth. Be specific about the areas where you want to grow spiritually, such as developing greater trust in God, learning to love others more deeply, or overcoming spiritual obstacles. Ask St. Therese to intercede for you and to help you grow in holiness. End each prayer session with a few moments of silence, allowing St. Therese to speak to your heart.
What to Pray For
During this novena, pray for all aspects of your spiritual growth. Pray for greater trust in God, asking St. Therese to help you develop the childlike trust in God that characterized her own spiritual life. Pray for the ability to love God more deeply, asking her to help you grow in your love for God and to express that love through your daily actions. Pray for the grace to practice the 'Little Way,' asking St. Therese to help you find ways to serve God and others through small acts of love and kindness.
Pray for the courage to overcome spiritual obstacles, asking St. Therese to help you face the challenges and difficulties that may be preventing your spiritual growth. Pray for the wisdom to recognize God's presence in your daily life, asking her to help you see how God is working in your life and to respond to His love with gratitude and trust. Remember to also pray for others who may be seeking spiritual growth, asking St. Therese to help them as well.
Frequency of Prayer
This novena is designed to be prayed for nine consecutive days, as the word 'novena' comes from the Latin word for 'nine.' The nine-day format allows for a focused period of prayer that can bring about significant spiritual breakthroughs. Many people find it helpful to pray the novena at the same time each day, creating a consistent routine that can help maintain focus and commitment to spiritual growth.
It's important to be consistent with the novena, but don't be discouraged if you miss a day. Simply continue where you left off, or start over if you feel called to do so. The key is to maintain a spirit of prayer and openness to St. Therese's intercession for your spiritual growth. You may also want to journal your experiences during the novena, noting any insights or spiritual growth you experience.
Overcoming Spiritual Growth Challenges
Many people face challenges in their spiritual growth, such as feeling stuck in their spiritual life, believing that they're not making progress, or feeling that they're not holy enough to grow spiritually. These challenges are normal and don't mean that you can't grow spiritually or that you're a bad person. St. Therese's intercession can help you overcome these obstacles and continue growing in holiness.
When you're facing challenges in your spiritual growth, bring these challenges to St. Therese in prayer. Ask her to help you understand what might be preventing your growth and to give you the wisdom and courage you need to overcome these obstacles. Remember that St. Therese faced many challenges in her own spiritual life and that she can help you navigate the difficulties you're experiencing.
The Power of the Little Way
One of the most powerful aspects of this novena is that it introduces you to St. Therese's 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood, which teaches us that holiness is accessible to everyone through simple acts of love and trust. When you pray to St. Therese for spiritual growth, you're not just asking for help - you're also learning a method of spiritual growth that can transform your relationship with God.
St. Therese's Little Way is particularly powerful because it shows us that we don't need to perform great spiritual feats to grow in holiness. Instead, we can grow closer to God through simple, everyday acts of love and service, done with great love and trust in God's mercy. Trust that St. Therese wants to help you grow spiritually and that she will guide you in practicing the Little Way if you ask her.