 Little Flower
"My mission-to make God loved-will begin
after my death.
I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.
I will send a shower of roses."
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St. Therese of
The Child Jesus
Therese
was born on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France.
She is popularly known as "The Little Flower of Jesus" or simply, "The Little Flower". St. Therese was always devoted to the Holy Face of Jesus. St. Therese wore the picture of the Holy Face of Jesus on her heart. After St. Therese took her vows she added to her name in religion
"of the Holy Face",
a title that would stay with her.
She was one of nine children. Five children
entered the cloister, four died in their infancy. Their mother and father led true, dedicated
Catholic lives. This was the foundation for Therese life, to be a follower of Jesus.
When Therese was fifteen years old she entered the Carmel of Lisieux.
She made her vows
on September 8, 1890.
Therese suffered much during her short
life. She offered all her suffering to God the Father. St. Therese offered all her
suffering for the sins of the world. She writes: "I know of one means only by which
to attain perfection: Love! Let us love since our heart is made for nothing else. I
wish to give all to Jesus, since He makes me understand that He alone is perfect
happiness."
On September 30, 1897, Therese died of
tuberculosis. Moments before her death she prayed, looking at the crucifix:
"Oh, I love
Him! My God I love You!"
St. Therese Patron Saint:
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Missionaries
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France
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Russia
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HIV/AIDS sufferers
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Radio care-a-thons
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Florists and gardeners
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Loss of parents
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The Russicum
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Tuberculosis
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Alaska
St.
Therese
attributes:
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Prayer of Saint
Theresa of The Child Jesus
to the Holy Face |
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O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become
"the most abject of men, a man of sorrows", I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon
there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead; but now it has become for me
as if it were the face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I
recognize Thy infinite Love and
I am consumed with the desire to love Thee
and make Thee loved by all men.
The tears which well up
abundantly in Thy sacred eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to
gather up, in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their infinite
value. O Jesus, whose adorable face ravishes my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep
within me Thy divine image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy
to come to the contemplation of
Thy glorious Face in Heaven.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
to Saint Theresa
St. Therese, the little
flower,
please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden and
send it to me with a message of love; ask God to grant
me the favor I thee implore and tell Him
I will love Him each day more and more. |
(The above prayer, plus 5 Our Father's, 5 Hail Mary's,
5 Glory Be's, must be said on 5 successive days, before 11a.m. On the 5th day, the 5th
set of prayers having been completed, offer one more set - 5 Our Father's, 5 Hail Mary's, 5
Glory Be's.) |
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This picture of Saint Therese by her
sister Celine,
is considered the most authentic representation
of Saint Therese ever done.The
original picture of Saint Therese is at the National Shrine of Saint Therese in Darien, Illinois. |
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Feast Day:
October 1st
Patroness of
the Missions
Devoted to the Holy Face of Jesus
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