Novena in preparation for the centenary of the canonization

Let us prepare for the centenary of her canonization with a novena to ask her to renew our spiritual lives! From May 8 to 16, with the help of a short excerpt from the writings of Saint Therese and a passage from the Bible, we will meditate on some of the essential points of her life of faith and will be invited to pray or act to put them into practice in our lives.

Find the contents of the novena every day on this page!

“Therese is more alive than ever in the heart of the Church on the journey, in the heart of the People of God. She is on pilgrimage with us, doing good on earth, as she so desired. The countless “roses” that Therese scatters are the most beautiful sign of her spiritual vitality." wrote Pope Francis in 2023 at the end of his apostolic exhortation It's confidence.

Day 1 - May 8, 2025

Anniversary of Saint Therese's First Communion, May 8, 1884
Word of God

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh, which is given for the life of the world.” John 6:51

Words of Thérèse

Ah! How sweet was the first kiss of Jesus to my soul!… It was a kiss of love, I felt loved, and I also said: “I love you, I give myself to you forever.”

Manuscript A, 35
Today…

Today, on the anniversary of Saint Therese's First Communion, I think of this powerful mystery of Jesus truly present in the sacrament of the Eucharist. If I have the opportunity, I go to Mass, or simply enter a church to adore Jesus present in the tabernacle and ask him to spread the fire of his Love in my heart and in the hearts of those around me. I entrust to him our Church and the Pope who will be elected to guide it, as well as our world so that it may welcome his mercy.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 2 - May 9, 2025

Prayer, a simple glance cast towards Heaven
Word of God

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4,6:XNUMX.

“I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; to him who knocks, it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13

Words of Thérèse

How great is the power of Prayer! It is like a queen having free access to the king at all times and being able to obtain everything she asks for. […] I simply say to the Good Lord what I want to say to Him, without using fine phrases, and He always understands me… For me, prayer is an outpouring of the heart, it is a simple glance cast towards Heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy; finally it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus. […] Sometimes when my spirit is in such great dryness that it is impossible for me to draw from it a thought to unite myself with the Good Lord, I recite very slowly an “Our Father” and then the angelic salutation; then these prayers delight me, they nourish my soul much more than if I had recited them hastily a hundred times…

Manuscript C, 25
Today…

Today, I turn to God very simply throughout my day, to thank him, to entrust intentions to him, to offer him my work, to share with him everything that lives in my heart. Like Saint Therese, if I feel unable to have a thought to unite myself with God, then I say very slowly an Our Father and a Hail Mary to let myself be inhabited by these prayers.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 3 - May 10, 2025

Perfect charity
Word of God

“This is my commandment: Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13

Words of Thérèse

There is no greater love than to give one's life for those one loves. Beloved Mother, in meditating on these words of Jesus, I understood how imperfect my love for my sisters was, I saw that I did not love them as the Good Lord loves them? Ah! I understand now that perfect charity consists in bearing the faults of others, in not being surprised by their weaknesses, in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue that we see them practice, but above all I understood that charity must not remain locked away in the depths of the heart: No one, said Jesus, lights a torch and puts it under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand so that it gives light to all those in the house. It seems to me that this torch represents the charity that must enlighten, rejoice, not only those who are dearest to me, but all those in the house, without excluding anyone.

Manuscript C, 12
Today…

Today, I thank the Lord for the qualities of each person, I ask him to help me see the good in everyone and to love those who annoy me or make me unbearable. If I can, I do them a favor; if I am tempted to be unpleasant, I just smile and change the subject or leave, to avoid saying hurtful words.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 4 - May 11, 2025

God's tenderness for his children
Word of God

« Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the compassionate Father, the God of all comfort. In all our troubles he comforts us, so that we can comfort all those who are in any trouble, just as we ourselves also comfort ourselves from God. Corinthians 2:3-4

Words of Thérèse

Seeing a little hen with her chicks under her wings, some of which were showing their little heads, Saint Teresa was moved to tears and later said:

I wept thinking that the good Lord used this comparison to make us believe in his tenderness. All my life, this is what he has done for me! He has completely hidden me under his wings! […] My heart overflowed with love and gratitude.

Yellow Book, June 7, 1897
Today…

Today, I remember the moments when the protection and love with which God surrounds me became more tangible, and I thank him for his infinite tenderness towards me. Very often, I do not realize that he is always present and watching over me, so I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the immensity of his love. I can reconnect with someone I have lost touch with, or bring together family or friends, in order to show them my affection and spend time together for free.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 5 - May 12, 2025

Trust us
Word of God

Jesus called a little child to him and placed him in the midst of them. He said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. But whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.” Matthew 18:1-5

Words of Thérèse

I can therefore, despite my smallness, aspire to holiness; to grow taller is impossible, I must bear myself as I am with all my imperfections; but I want to seek the means of going to Heaven by a small, straight, short way, a small, completely new way.

Manuscript C, 2

The elevator that will lift me up to Heaven is your arms, O Jesus! For this I do not need to grow, on the contrary I must remain small, I must become more and more so.

Manuscript C, 3, 13
Today…

Today, I realize that my weakness and fragility should not be an obstacle to opening myself to God's love. I resolve to "bear with myself as I am" instead of becoming exasperated by my imperfections and to place myself entirely in God's hands, like a little child who expects everything from his Father.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 6 - May 13, 2025

Healing by the Virgin of the Smile
Word of God

“Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. His fame spread throughout all Syria. They brought to him all those who were sick with various diseases and torments, those who were possessed by demons, those who were epileptic, and those who were paralyzed. And he healed them. Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan.” Matthew 4:23-25

Words of Thérèse

Suddenly the Blessed Virgin appeared beautiful to me, so beautiful that I had never seen anything so beautiful, her face exuded ineffable goodness and tenderness, but what penetrated to the depths of my soul was the “enchanting smile of the Blessed Virgin.” Then all my sorrows vanished, two large tears gushed from my eyelids and silently flowed down my cheeks, but they were tears of unmixed joy… Ah! I thought, the Blessed Virgin has smiled at me, how happy I am… 

Manuscript A, 30
Today…

Today, instead of being absorbed in my thoughts or glued to my phone, I make myself present to others. I entrust the people I meet to the maternal tenderness of the Virgin Mary and I give them a genuine smile to show them my attention and give them joy. I pray for sick people so that they may find consolation and comfort in their ordeal.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 7 - May 14, 2025

Pray for sinners
Word of God

“I tell you, likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15, 7

Words of Thérèse

O my God! Blessed Trinity, I desire to Love You and to make You Loved, to work for the glorification of the Holy Church by saving the souls who are on earth and by delivering those who suffer in purgatory. I desire to perfectly accomplish Your will and to arrive at the degree of glory that You have prepared for me in Your kingdom; in a word, I desire to be Holy, but I feel my impotence and I ask You, O my God! to be My Holiness Yourself.

Prayer 6, Offering to the Merciful Love of the Good Lord
Today…

Today, like Saint Teresa praying with all her heart for the conversion of the criminal Pranzini, I pray for men locked in their sins so that their hearts may open to the infinite mercy of God and they may convert. I pray especially for those who are in prison.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 8 - May 15, 2025

pray for priests
Word of God

« Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38

Words of Thérèse

Ah! I understood my vocation en Italy, it was not going too far to seek such useful knowledge… For a month I lived with a lot of holy priests and I saw that, if their sublime dignity raises them above the angels, they are nonetheless weak and fragile men... If holy priests that Jesus calls in his Gospel " Le sel de la terre " show in their conduct that they have an extreme need of prayer, what should be said of those who are lukewarm? Did not Jesus also say: " If the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? ? " O my Mother! How beautiful is the vocation whose goal is to keep le salt destined for souls! This vocation is that of Carmel, since the sole purpose of our prayers and our sacrifices is to be theapostle several apostles, praying for them while they evangelize souls by their word and especially by their examples…  

Manuscript A, 56r
Today…

Today, I pray for priests, I entrust to the Lord these "weak and fragile men" so that their words and actions may evangelize those to whom they are sent. With Saint Therese and the Virgin Mary, I ask the Lord with confidence for the priests the Church needs: may they be sanctified, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.

Day 9 - May 16, 2025

throw flowers
Word of God

“Love is patient; love is helpful; love does not envy; it does not boast or become arrogant; it does not behave improperly; it does not seek its own; it is not angry; it does not harbor a grudge; it does not rejoice in unrighteousness but delights in truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Words of Thérèse

Yes, my Beloved, this is how my life will be consumed... I have no other way to prove my love to you than to throw flowers, that is to say, to not let any small sacrifice, any look, any word escape, to take advantage of all the smallest things and to do them out of love...

Manuscript B, 4
Today…

Today, I decide to take advantage of each day to show my love to Jesus through small sacrifices (bearing setbacks, doing a service, holding back a hurtful word, taking time for someone, etc.) and to often raise my soul to God to tell Him that I love Him.

Pray

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face,

in this jubilee year, you celebrate the 100theanniversary of your canonization.

Throughout this century, you have kept your promise to to make a shower of roses fall.

Thank you for giving the Church this little path of childhood.

It allows everyone, whatever their state of life and their history,

to walk in confidence towards holiness.

Today, I entrust my prayer to you… (intention)

Please also continue to pray for the Church.

Help me to remain in Hope a missionary disciple

to announce like you to our world the mercies of the Lord.

Amen.