He is Risen!!! Happy Easter Sunday, April 16 - We did it! We followed St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent!

He is Risen!!!  Happy Easter Sunday, April 16

We have arrived at Easter Sunday!  Alleluia!!  Thank you for following along with us through Lent.  St. Thérèse is such a beautiful witness of living each day simply in love of Jesus.  Let us take the hope of Easter and the grace of salvation and move forward every day to live in love!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, You have conquered death with Your Resurrection!  You have made even Satan’s greatest weapon (suffering and death) a tool for more love and goodness!  Thank you for loving us so much, Jesus!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“"I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses!”

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for our friend, St. Thérèse!  She is such a blessing of a little soul.  Please help us to continue to walk towards you using her Little Way.  Help us to love you more and more!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!  Please send us a rose from heaven!

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

Today – give your gift of a garden of flowers to Jesus!!!  How beautiful your garden must be!!!! 

Day 40 – Holy Saturday, April 15 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 40 – Holy Saturday, April 15

During Holy Week we will be focusing even more on Love.  How much Jesus loved us and learning to love Him with all our hearts!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, you rested in the tomb while you conquered death and prepared to rise again.  You gave us the grace of salvation and the hope of Easter.  You gave us a chance to truly love!  You showed us the path – that we were made for love and in love, we would become more like you!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“Let us love, since that is what our hearts were made for!”

Dear Father in heaven, you created us with a need to love!  Our hearts are restless without your love, Father, as St. Augustine reminded us.  Please let us be peaceful in the silence of the tomb.  Teach us to wait patiently in learning to love as You slowly show us the path You wish for us to follow.  We love you, God, oh how we love you!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Prepare your hearts for Easter Sunday.  Maybe you could say an extra prayer or spend time quietly with Jesus.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 39 – Good Friday of Lent, April 14 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 39 – Good Friday of Lent, April 14 

During Holy Week we will be focusing even more on Love.  How much Jesus loved us and learning to love Him with all our hearts!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, you loved your disciples.  You gave yourself as a bridegroom to his bride.  You gave us everything on the cross – vulnerable and selfless.  You asked God that perhaps this cup might pass from you, but then you chose love over the easy way.  It was your love that allowed you to give us the greatest gift of all – eternal life in heaven with You!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“Love can accomplish all things.  Things that are most impossible become easy where love is at work.”

Dear Father in heaven, we love you!  We have hard days, though.  Sometimes people are mean to us.  Sometimes we just don’t feel like being nice.  Sometimes people tell us we are stupid for believing in you.  Please help us to overcome our challenges.  Please help us to choose love rather than the easy way.  Jesus loved us so much – please help us to choose love of You and love of others over the judging and selfishness that we could easily choose.  Only in love are all things possible!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Participate in a Good Friday service or activity.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 38 – Holy Thursday, April 13 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 38 – Holy Thursday, April 13

During Holy Week we will be focusing even more on Love.  How much Jesus loved us and learning to love Him with all our hearts!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, you never stopped to decide whether or not to love us.  You loved unconditionally and without reservation.  How we wish to love as you love!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“When one loves, one does not calculate.”

Dear Father in heaven, teach us to forget the cost of love.  Please help us to see Your face in those around us and love them for their sake and not because of anything we might gain.  Thank you, Father, thank you for your love.

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Smile at someone you meet – it is the beginning of love!  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 37 – Wednesday of Holy Week, April 12 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 37 – Wednesday of Holy Week, April 12

During Holy Week we will be focusing even more on Love.  How much Jesus loved us and learning to love Him with all our hearts!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, your love is all we need.  We do not need to be super popular.  We do not need to have others think we are so important.  Instead, we seek only to love as you love, our dear Savior!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“O my God, You know I have never desired but to love You alone. I seek no other glory. Your Love has gone before me from my childhood, it has grown with my growth, and now it is an abyss the depths of which I cannot fathom.” – Story of A Soul, Chapter XI

Dear Father in heaven, as to love as you love is so out of reach for us little souls!  Please help us!  We need you every day!  We love you so.

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Help your brother or sister with a cheerful attitude today.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 36 – Tuesday of Holy Week, April 11 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 36 – Tuesday of Holy Week, April 11

During Holy Week we will be focusing even more on Love.  How much Jesus loved us and learning to love Him with all our hearts!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, your love is endless.  All we desire is to live in Your amazing love.  To walk in faith and trust you – to live in love!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“Kindness is my only guiding star.  In its light, I sail a straight route, I have my motto written on my sail: 'To live in love.”

Dear Father in heaven, as little souls we cannot live in love without your help.  Please grant us the grace to love a little more today.  Please help us to be a little more kind today.  Please help us to be more selfless today!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Help your dad with a cheerful attitude today.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 35 – Monday of Holy Week, April 10 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 35 – Monday of Holy Week, April 10

During Holy Week we will be focusing  even more on Love.  How much Jesus loved us and learning to love Him with all our hearts!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, thank you for loving us so much!  We ask you to give us hearts of love for you.  Let nothing stand in the way of our love for you, Jesus!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“O Jesus, I ask of You only Peace! ...Peace, and above all LOVE - love without bound or limit. Jesus, let me for Your sake die a martyr; give me martyrdom of soul or body. Ah! rather give me both the one and the other!” – Story of A Soul, Chapter VIII

Dear Father in heaven, we know that we are little souls.  We may never have an opportunity to be a martyr for you.  But we can die to ourselves every day when we love others instead of ourselves.  Thank you for continuing to help us learn to love others more.  Let us be martyrs for love – for You – every day!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Help your mom with a cheerful attitude today.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 34 – Saturday, April 8 – Weekend Message - 6th Sunday of Lent, April 9 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 34 – Saturday, April 8 & Weekend Message

                                              – 6^th Sunday of Lent, April 9

At Mass this Sunday we hear about the triumphant entry into Jerusalem of Jesus and the His sorrowful passion.  How great is the Father’s love for us!  He loves us so much – He thinks so much of us little ones – that He sent is very own Son to die for us!  His very own son to take our cross, our sins, our failings upon His innocent shoulders so that He might redeem us.  He did this so that we might be with Him one day in heaven.  How wonderful to be able to call God our Father!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, thank you for giving yourself over to death for love for us.  Thank you for loving us that much!  Thank you for reaching down when our sin prevents us from reaching up on our own.  We need your grace, dear Jesus!  Thank you sweet Father for giving us our loving Savior!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“Her prayer was continual though she was habitually plunged in aridity. One day a novice entered her cell paused, struck by the celestial expression of her countenance. She was sewing with alacrity yet seemed lost in profound contemplation.

"Of what are you thinking?" asked the young Sister. "I am meditating on the Pater," she replied. "It is so sweet to call the good God our Father." And tears shone in her eyes.” – Story of A Soul, Chapter XII

Dear Father in heaven, how great is your love for us!  Your love makes us worthy!  Your love gives us great dignity!  Please help us to be open to your love and living in grace.  Please help us to love others more and allow you to be more known and more loved in the world.

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Help a neighbor.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 33 – 6th Friday of Lent, April 7 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 33 – 6^th Friday of Lent, April 7 

Today is the 6^th Fridayof Lent!  Next Friday will be Good Friday already – we are almost to our goal!  Seeking every day to offer sacrifices for Jesus and to help make Him loved more and more in our world.  Don’t give up!  Don’t give in!  We are almost there!  We beg God to help us become little Saints!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, thank you for your love for us.  Please help us to not give up!  Help us to grow in holiness through our little flowers of love so that we might be your little Saints.  We only desire your will and to help make you loved more in the world.

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“O my God, Most Blessed Trinity, I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved, to labor for the glory of holy Church by saving souls still on earth and by delivering those who suffer in Purgatory. I desire to accomplish Thy Will perfectly, and to attain to the degree of glory which Thou hast prepared for me in Thy Kingdom; in one word, I desire to be a saint, but I know that I am powerless, and I implore Thee, O my God, to be Thyself my sanctity.”

Lord Jesus, you are so precious!  Thank you for laying your life down for us!  Thank you for loving us so incredibly! Please help us to love others as you have taught us.  We know that when we can show your love, then others will come to know you better too!  Please help us to spread your love in the world in our little daily ways.

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Make your bed without being told.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 32 – Thursday, April 6 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 32 – Thursday, April 6

Today we continue to focus on how we can love Jesus more and make Him loved in our world.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Jesus, thank you for your love for us.  Please help us to continually learn to love you more.

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“Seeing the eternal recompense so disproportionate to the trifling sacrifices of this life, I longed to love Jesus, to love Him ardently, to give him a thousand proofs of tenderness while yet I could do so...” – Story of A Soul, Chapter V

Lord Jesus, please help us be strong today and learn to see others as you see them.  Help us to remember all our parents have taught us and remember all of the good things you do for us.

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Forego a treat as a sacrifice of love.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 31 – Wednesday, April - 5 Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 31 – Wednesday, April 5

Today we hear St. Thérèse speak to us about hidden acts of virtue.  This would be doing good things for another that they may never notice and you may never get credit for, but God knows.  And you know!  And this is a beautiful act of love because you are doing it not for your own sake but only for the sake of the other.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for loving us so much!  You bless us with so many gifts and many times we don’t even realize all the blessings you are pouring on our lives.  Help us to see your love and your blessings even when times are hard.

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“I applied myself above all to practice quite hidden little acts of virtue; thus I liked to fold the mantles forgotten by the Sisters, and sought a thousand opportunities of rendering them service.” – Story of A Soul, Chapter VII

Lord Jesus, please help us to persevere in acts of love.  Help us to be motivated to love others not to show how great we are, but to love them for their sake.  Help us find the little hidden acts of love we can do for others.  We love you, Jesus, please be with us today!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Do a hidden act of love for someone.  Don’t tell that person, but you can tell your mom or dad.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 30 – Tuesday, April 4 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 30 – Tuesday, April 4

Love, love, love!  To love someone means you think of their needs before your own.  It means you give of yourself to another.  St. Thérèse tells us that love is enough for us!  That’s easy enough!  So simple and yet, yes, it is sometimes hard to do. Let us stay strong in perseverance as we only have 10 days left of Lent!  We are nearing our finish line – nearing the beauty of Jesus’ glorious Resurrection!  Let’s love with all our hears in every little thing.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for loving us so much!  You are the source of our Love and its ending point.  Please cover us with your love every day!

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“I desire no sensible consolation in loving; provided Jesus feel my love that is enough for me. Oh! to love Him and to make Him loved...how sweet it is...” – V letter to Mother Agnes of Jesus

Lord Jesus, please help us to love others more.  Help us to persevere when it is hard to love.  Help us to suffer well – to offer each challenge as a flower of love to you, sweet Jesus.  We love you!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Speak a kind word to someone who would not expect it.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 29 – Monday, April 3 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 29 – Monday, April 3

Today we refocus on the heart of St. Thérèse’ Little Way to holiness: Love.  She said in her Story of a Soul, that if each of us are members of the body of Christ, then she would be the heart.  She wanted to burn with love and give all of herself over to Jesus in love.  Her little way shows that you only need to do each little thing in love to give your heart to Jesus.  It does not require great things, but to do all our little daily tasks out of love of Jesus – always loving others for when we do something to the least of His people, we do it to Jesus.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Lord, you love us with an infinite love.  We cannot even comprehend the beginning of the greatness of your love for us.  Please forgive us when we doubt your love and don’t understand why You allow certain things to happen.  Thank you for loving us every moment of our life.

St. Thérèse teaches us:

“I know of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile the word which begins and ends (St. Augustine) is quite incapable of rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to this simple and only word: TO LOVE.” – V letter to Mother Agnes of Jesus

Lord Jesus, please help us to love you more and more!  Help us to see you in the people around us.  Help us to see your face even in our annoying brother or sister.  Help us to love them even when they are not being nice, because this is how we love you, dear Jesus!  And we want to burn with love for you!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Tell someone you love them!  Get an extra flower if you are able to not get angry when someone is mean, but tell them you love them instead and walk away.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)

Day 28 – Saturday, April 1 and 5th Sunday of Lent, April 2 - Following St. Thérèse’ Little Way through Lent

Day 28 – Saturday, April 1 and 5^th Sunday of Lent, April 2 

We are late in getting this out – thank you for your patience! It has been a crazy weekend.  We will conclude the rest of St. Thérèse’s poem.  It is a reminder to call on the help of our Guardian Angels and seek Jesus every day!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Thank you, dear Jesus, for giving us guardian angels!  Thank you for their assistance and care.  You always are looking out for us.  Help us to believe in your words a little more today!

St. Thérèse teaches us through her poem ‘My Song for Today’ cont’d (stanzas 12-14):

“My Holy Guardian Angel, cover me with your wing,

With your fire light the road that I’m taking.

Come direct my steps … help me. I call upon you

Just for today.

Lord, I want to see you without veils, without clouds,

But still exiled, far from you, I languish,

May your lovable face not be hidden from me.

Just for today.

Soon I’ll fly away o speak your praises

When the day without sunset will dawn on my soul.

Then I’ll sing on the Angels; lyre

The Eternal Today!” –  The Poetry of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Lord Jesus, please help us to remember our guardian angels.  Help us remember they are here to aid us and be our guide.  Lead us on your path of righteousness so that one day we may see you face to face in heaven!

Our Father …

Hail Mary …

Glory Be …

Merciful Father, in the name of Your sweet Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, I pray that I be fired with Your spirit of love, and that You will grant me the grace to make You greatly loved.  (The daily prayer that St. Thérèse taught us to say, adapted for our little lives.)

St. Thérèse, pray for us!

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

Today’s Little Flower activity:  Do a favor for your mom today.  (Color in a flower for Jesus when your mom or dad has seen that it is completed!)