St Theresa Novena 08

novena2008

PRAYERS OF THE NOVENA 
(To be recited each day of the Novena September 23rd to October 1st 2008, preferably with the family joining together)

Prayer for Missionaries

0, St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who merited to be proclaimed Patroness of the Catholic Missions of the whole world, remember the very ardent desire you manifested here on earth “to plant the Cross of Jesus Christ in every land and to announce the Gospel even to the end of time”. We beseech you, according to your desire, to help priests, missionaries and the whole Church.

Obtain for us all an increase of missionary zeal and generosity. Protect our missionaries; help them in their labours, support them in their sufferings and poverty; teach them to love Jesus more ardently and to place all their confidence in the Tabernacle and in the intercession of our Immaculate Mother, Mary.  

Prayer for Personal Intentions

0, Little Flower of Jesus, remember your promise to do good on earth. Shower down your roses on all who invoke you and obtain for us from God the graces we seek from His infinite goodness.
(Here mention your intentions)
Our Father…
Hail Mary …
Glory be to the Father …

St. Thérèse,
Patroness of the Missions,
Pray for us.

ST THÉRÈSE’S NOVENA 2008

81 years ago, on December 14, 1927, Pope Pius XI declared St Thérèse of the Child Jesus “patroness of the missions and missionaries all around the world”.  Through this act the Pope waned to stress the tow essential traits of a missionary: action and contemplation.  In fact, a real missionary is always active in comtemplation and comtemplative in action.

St Thérèse herself said  “I would like to travel all over the earth… I would like to proclaim the Gospel even in the most remote islands.  I would go to those who have never heard about the Lord… In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I would be Love”.

Thérèse of course never left her convent not to mind travelling to far off places.  Most of you who participate in this Novena cannot leave your home for foreign shores.  But you live out your missionary commitment through the various acts of love you perform for family and neighbours every day.  And your prayer and finacial support for missionaries active in the field is another important way of living out your baptismal commitment.

Please join us again in our Novena to St Thérèse.  Please send your prayers and petitions in the envelope provided.

Through the intercession of St Thérèse, may God continue to bless and protect you.

Fr. Fachtna O’Driscoll SMA
Provincial Superior

Preachers and Music for the Novena 2008

Tuesday 23 September Fr A J Butler SMA Fr F Diamond SMA
Wednesday 24 September Fr A J Butler SMA SMA Parish Choir Wilton
Thursday 25 September Sr Patricia McMenamin OLA SMA Parish Choir Blackrock Road
Friday 26 September Sr Patricia McMenamin OLA Fr F Diamond SMA
Saturday 27 September Sr Patricia McMenamin OLA Frankfield Parish Choir
Sunday 28 September Fr Tomas Walsh SMA Fr F Diamond SMA
Monday 29 September Fr German Patiga SMA OLA Sisters Ardfoyle
Tuesday 30 September Fr Desmond Smith SMA Fr F Diamond SMA
Wednesday 1 October Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll SMA Fr F Diamond SMA

Ireland’s National Shrine – SMA Blackrock Rd., Cork
The National Shrine of St Thérèse in Ireland is located in the SMA Parish Church at Blackrock Road, Cork.


National Novena
The National Novena to St Thérèse is celebrated at the Shrine every year from 23 September to 1 October, her Feastday.  Supporters of our Missionary Work throughout Ireland and, indeed, elsewhere join in the Novena by reciting the Prayers on each of the nine days.

The Prayers of the Novena are given above .  People who join in the Prayers might like to make an offering for our SMA missions and can do so on line here or post directly to:

    The SMA Provincial
    Blackrock Road
    Cork, Ireland.

The Life of St Thérèse
October 1 is the Feast of the “Little Flower” another name for St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897). St Thérèse is a favourite saint for many people and she is especially held dear by missionaries everywhere. Her life was short, just 24 years old when she died. She is renowned for the simplicity of her life – she never did anything extraordinary, did not found a religious order, never went on the missions. Her life was a hidden life in the Carmelite convent in Liseaux. But all her yearning was to live in God’s service and everything she did was for love of God, to advance his Kingdom.

For all of her short life the work of the missions was special for her. So she has been proclaimed Patroness of the Missions.

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