Day 8 — Patience in suffering

Meditation

The last years of Saint Therese were of intense physical suffering: tuberculosis consumed her slowly. Yet she never complained. She endured illness with admirable patience and conformity to God's will. She teaches us to carry our crosses with faith and hope.

Prayer of the Day

Little Flower of Jesus! By the admirable patience with which you knew how to hide and endure the illnesses that placed you on the cross, grant that I too, my little saint, may carry, if not with joy, at least in conformity with God's will, the ailments of this body of clay. 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.