2020 Novena for Vocations

2020 Novena for Vocations through the intercession of Saint Therese of Lisieux 

22 May 2020 – 30 May 2020 

Every year we, as Church, join with our Holy Mother, Mary to pray for 9 days from Ascension Thursday for the Holy Spirit to descend at Pentecost – the first Novena of the Church. This year we will be asking for the intercession of St Therese of Lisieux as we pray these 9 days for vocations. Throughout her time in the convent, she prayed fervently for vocations, especially in the missions. St Therese teaches us that even behind closed doors, we are still a missionary Church and that through charity and prayer we can reach out to the whole world. 

St Therese of Lisieux (b. 02.01.1873 – d. 30.09.1897) was a cloistered Carmelite religious sister, whose great love for Jesus and simple daily acts of charity and sacrifice has reached out far beyond her convent’s walls and beyond her mortal life. Her beautiful wisdom is recorded in her autobiography “Story of a Soul”, letters and other recollections. She was canonized on 17.05.1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church on 19.10.1997. Her feast day is 1 October. 

To read more about St Therese – 

http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19101997_stherese_en.html 

https://www.littleflower.org/therese/life-story/ 

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=105 

DAY 1 “MISSION” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: “The Church by its very nature is mission.” Through baptism, we share in this mission. God sent His only Son to free us from our sin. As “missionaries”, we participate in God’s plan of salvation. He sends us into the world to draw others into the saving work that has been accomplished through Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: St. Therese, patroness of the missions, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may joyfully follow the mission Our Lord has laid before me, in order that I may lead others to Him. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully follow His will without reservation. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 2 “PRAYER” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: Without a daily retreat into the quiet recesses of the heart which pulses with the presence of Christ, we will achieve nothing; indeed, we will become nothing. Prayer is a vital component of the spiritual life. Although many of our actions can be classified as “prayer,” they can never replace a personal encounter with God. We must learn to contemplate Him in the silence of our hearts. 

Prayer: St. Therese, you who understood the richness and necessity of daily prayer, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may learn to spend time in quiet prayer at the feet of the Master. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully make my work my prayer. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 3 “DESIRE” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: “May I never boast of anything but the cross of Christ.” Our words and actions must flow from the burning desire within us to share in the sufferings of the cross. This desire is quenched by the blood and the water that flowed from the side of Christ. His death brought life to the world. We must long to be united with Him forever in the Heavenly Kingdom. 

Prayer: St. Therese, you whose desire was magnified in death, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may burn with a deep desire to serve God alone. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully serve the Church with zeal. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 4 “SIMPLICITY” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: Simplicity is the key to living an ordered life. The challenge is to perform ordinary tasks with extraordinary love. Tying our shoes, washing the dishes or picking up after others, are simple tasks that can testify to our love for God. Everything we do in simplicity of heart becomes great in His eyes. 

Prayer: St. Therese, you who lived a simple life in submission to the Child Jesus, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may grasp the significance of living a simple life so that every action may be done out of love for Jesus. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully be a tabernacle of His love. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 5 “CHARITY” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: “The greatest of these is love.” Perfect love begets charity. All of our actions must be motivated by our love of God and His people. Charity springs forth from a heart which places the needs of others ahead of its own. 

Prayer: St. Therese, through hidden works of charity you touched the lives of your fellow Carmelite sisters, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may develop a heart of charity so that all of my actions will testify to the intense love I have for God. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully practice charity in thought, word and deed. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 6 “PURITY” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: Jesus welcomed the little children. Children possess an unblemished purity of heart. With child-like faith, we must strive to imitate the virtue of purity by guarding our thoughts, examining our intentions, and sanctifying our actions. 

Prayer: St. Therese, daughter of purity, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may practice the virtue of purity. Beg Our Lord for the grace to always see the dignity in every person and in myself, as we were all made in our Lord’s image. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 7 “OBEDIENCE” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: “Father, not my will but yours be done.” In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus surrendered His will to the Father. Obedience requires that we surrender our will to those who God has chosen to unravel the mystery of His divine plan for us in this life. 

Prayer: St. Therese, you who obediently accepted the will of the Father as it was revealed to you by the superiors of you community, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may always remain obedient to Holy Mother Church and those who have been called to speak the truth in Her name. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully surrender my will. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 8 “DISCIPLINE” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: Discipline is an essential element of being a disciple. We must order our daily lives according to God’s plan. Balance is important. An honest evaluation of our routine may pinpoint obstacles that prevent us from loving God with all of heart, mind and soul. Discipline will help us overcome these obstacles. 

Prayer: St. Therese, you who lived the disciplined life of a cloistered Carmelite, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may have the courage to confront my weaknesses. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully practice discipline so that I may grow in holiness. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

DAY 9 “PERSEVERANCE” 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. 

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, 

And you shall renew the face of the earth 

Let us Pray: O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Meditation: We cannot hope to ever become a true witness of the faith if we do not persevere. Perseverance manifests itself through fidelity to God’s will. Perseverance flourishes when we endure the trials of living a Christ-centred life with joy in our hearts. Through perseverance, we receive the gift of peace that abides in our hearts. 

Prayer: St. Therese, you persevered in your love for Jesus even when your life was filled with physical pain and spiritual darkness, through your gracious intercession, grant that I may persevere in fulfilling God’s plan so that I may rejoice with you in heaven. Beg Our Lord for the grace I need to joyfully follow Him through all of life’s trials and difficulties. 

NOVENA PRAYER 

St. Therese, you answered the Lord’s call to become love in heart of the Church by entering Carmel, and living the hidden life of contemplative prayer, fasting, and self-offering for the mission of the Church and the salvation of souls. Through your gracious intercession, grant our prayers for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life in our diocese. Beg our Lord to send us labourers who will be true disciples of the Lord faithful to the service of His Church, the pursuit of holiness, and always eager to place the needs of others before their own. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, pray for us. 

For the intentions of our Pope, Francis, especially for healing in this time of pandemic, 

Our Father… 

Hail Mary… 

Glory Be… 

A MORNING OFFERING BY ST. THERESE 

O my God! I offer Thee all my actions of this day 

for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred 

Heart of Jesus. I desire to sanctify every beat of my 

heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by 

uniting them to Its infinite merits; and I wish to 

make reparation for my sins by casting them into 

the furnace of Its Merciful Love. O my God! I ask 

of Thee for myself and for those whom I hold dear, 

the grace to fulfil perfectly Thy Holy Will, to accept 

for love of Thee the joys and sorrows of this passing 

life, so that we may one day be united together in 

Heaven for all Eternity. Amen 

 

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