Day 7 — Martyrdom of self-denial

Meditation

In Carmel, Saint Therese suffered a continuous spiritual martyrdom: denial of nature, spiritual dryness, discomfort, misunderstanding. But she offered everything with love and a heroic smile. She teaches us to deny our whims and to repay slights with love.

Prayer of the Day

Little Flower of Jesus! By that continuous martyrdom your spirit suffered in the unceasing denial of nature, grant that I may learn to deny my whims and fancies and to repay, like you, the contempt of others with a heroic and heavenly smile. Amen.

Prayer for all days

Saint Therese! I come to your feet full of confidence to ask for favors. The cross of life weighs heavily upon me, and I find nothing but thorns among its branches. Little Flower of Jesus! Send upon my soul a shower of flowers of grace and virtue so that I may climb the Calvary of life intoxicated by your perfumes. Send me a smile from your heavenly lips and a glance from your beautiful eyes. My God! Through the intercession of Saint Therese, give me strength to fulfill my duty exactly and grant me the grace I ask in this novena. Amen.

Final Prayer

O unique little saint! Teach us the «little way» of your spiritual childhood. My glorious little saint! I confidently hope that you will obtain from God the special grace I ask in this novena. I, in turn, promise to imitate, with all my strength, your heroic examples. Meanwhile, like you, O Little Flower of Jesus, I wish to scatter on earth the flowers of my affection at the feet of the Love of Loves.