Novena to St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower)

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Tradition: Carmelite; the Little Flower novena is one of the most beloved Catholic novenas, traditionally associated with the promise of St. Therese to 'spend her heaven doing good upon earth' and with the sign of a rose as a token of answered prayer.

Associated feast: Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (October 1)

When to pray: This novena may be prayed at any time, beginning nine days before October 1 (feast day) or at any moment of special need. The Twenty-Four Glory Be's version is traditionally begun on the 9th through the 17th of any month.

About this devotion

St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), known as the Little Flower, entered the Carmelite convent in Normandy, France, at the age of fifteen and died of tuberculosis at twenty-four. In those brief years she discovered what she called the 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood: the path of total confidence in God's merciful love, pursued not through great penances but through humble fidelity in small things. Her autobiography, Story of a Soul, has been read by millions, and Pope St. Pius X is said to have called her 'the greatest saint of modern times.'

Before her death, Therese promised: 'I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.' This promise became the foundation of her worldwide intercession, and countless faithful have reported the sign of a rose, received unexpectedly, as a token of her answered prayer. In 1927 Pope Pius XI declared her Co-Patroness of the Missions alongside St. Francis Xavier; in 1997 Pope John Paul II proclaimed her a Doctor of the Church, the youngest person ever to receive that title.

The Little Flower Novena is prayed over nine consecutive days, each day opening with the 'Come Holy Spirit' prayer and the traditional Acts of Faith, Hope, Love, and Contrition, followed by a petition rooted in one of the virtues or mysteries St. Therese lived. Every day concludes with the same collect, beginning 'O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven,' grounding the entire novena in her spirituality of holy simplicity.

The Nine Days

1. Day 1: Trust in God's grace

   Scripture: Matthew 18:3

2. Day 2: Contrition and love as the motive for avoiding sin

   Scripture: 1 John 4:18

3. Day 3: Gratitude for God's gifts and use of natural blessings

   Scripture: James 1:17

4. Day 4: Abandonment to God's holy will

   Scripture: Luke 22:42

5. Day 5: Patience in suffering and daily self-denial

   Scripture: Romans 8:18

6. Day 6: Zeal for souls and the missions

   Scripture: Matthew 9:37-38

7. Day 7: Love of God above all things

   Scripture: John 19:28

8. Day 8: A holy death and the grace of final perseverance

   Scripture: Psalm 23:4

9. Day 9: Perseverance and the fulfillment of the novena's intentions

   Scripture: Revelation 22:12

Daily Novena Prayer

Closing Prayer

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Therese, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower) →