Day Four of St. Therese's 9-Day Novena

Dear readers:

We are off to a great start with our nine-day novena to St. Therese to prepare for her feast day on October 1. Keep up the good work! Especially if this is your first novena, you should be very proud of yourselves.

Start with:

O St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands. Make my troubles your own, speak a word for me to Our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were—to that Queen of Heaven "who smiled on you at the dawn of life." Beg her powerful intercession the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen.

O God, who did inflame with the Spirit of Love, the soul of your servant Therese of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love you and make you much loved. Amen.

DAY FOUR

O Little Flower of Jesus, who at an early age had your heart set on Carmel and in your brief earthly life did become the mirror of angelic purity, of courageous love and of whole-hearted surrender to Almighty God, turn your eyes of mercy on me who trusts in you. Obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena (your request here) and the grace to keep my heart and mind pure and clean. O dear saint, grant me to feel in every need the power of your intercession; help to comfort me in all the bitterness of this life and especially at its end, that I may be worthy to share eternal happiness with you in Heaven. Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.