With confidence and love

Yes, I feel it; even though I had on my conscience all the sins that can be committed, I would go, my heart broken with sorow, and throw myself into Jesus' arms, for I know how much He loves the prodigal child who returns to Him. It is not because God, in His anticipating Mercy, has preserved my soul from mortal sin that I go to Him with confidence and love.

The Holy Face

This chasuble was painted by St Therese.
The lilies represent her family
(the closed flowers representing her
brothers and sisters who died in childhood).

O adorable Face of Jesus, the only Beauty that captivates my heart, deign to imprint in me your Divine Likeness so that you may not behold the soul of your little bride without seeing Yourself in her. O my Beloved, for love of you, I accept not seeing here below the gentleness of your Look nor feeling the ineffable kiss of your mouth, but I beg you to inflame me with your love so that it may consume me rapidly and soon bring me into your presence.

A Novena

O St Theresa 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,

Make my troubles your own, speak on my behalf to Our Lady Immaculate, "who smiled on you at the dawn of life".

Beg her powerful intercession for the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment (here name your request) and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life, defend me at the hour of death, and lead me to a happy eternity. Amen.

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

Please click on this link for three more beautiful novenas

My vocation is Love

Considering the mystical body of the Church, I had not recognised myself in any of the members described by St Paul, or rather I desired to see myself in them all. Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that if the Church had a body composed of different members, the most necessary and most noble of all could not be lacking to it, and so I understood that the Church had a Heart and that this Heart was burning with Love. I understood it was Love alone that made the Church's members act, that if Love ever became extinct, apostles would not preach the Gospel and martyrs would not shed their blood. I understood that Love comprised all vocations, that Love was everything, that it embraced all times and places . . . in a word, that it was eternal!

Then in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my Love, my vocation, at last I have found it . . . my vocation is Love!

Yes, I have found my place in the Church and it is You, O my God, who have given me this place; in the heart of the Church, my Mother, I shall be Love.

Most loving Father,
you were pleased to give
St Therese of the Child Jesus
a trusting spirit of childhood
and surrender to your will
in every circumstance of life;
help us to follow in the path
of simplicity she traced for us.
May we go forward in peace,
accepting the challenge of life
with courage, and walking
faithfully along the way
of the gospel.

Help us to realise that we too
are called to live a life of love
to the glory of your name
and the spread of your Kingdom.