St. Therese Novena

[HisChildForever]

I have two St. Therese of Lisieux prayer cards. The first prayer card looks a little bit old. On the back is a simple and short prayer. Beneath this prayer is instructions on how to carry out the "novena" (this is only 5 days, not 9). After saying the short prayer, one is instructed to pray 5 Our Father's, Hail Mary's, and Glory Be's. The 5 days must be successive, and the entire prayer itself must be said before 11am. On day 5, one is instructed to add an additional 5 Our Father's etc.

The second prayer card I have is set up almost like a greeting card or booklet (although not as big). The cover is her picture, the inside left side is a brief summary of Therese's life, then the inside right side is the "miraculous invocation to St. Therese." This is a prayer where the individual is making a petition for a special intention. On the BACK of this prayer card is "my novena rose prayer" (so I assume this is 9 days) which is very similar to the invocation in the sense that the individual is making a specific request.

So, I have [b]three[/b] variations here...which one is the "authentic" (for lack of a better word) novena to St. Therese? The very first one I mentioned is the one I have prayed a few times before, each time being blessed by seeing the rose(s). But the "must be said before 11am" requirement always struck me as a bit - superstitious? Kind of like the pagans saying a certain prayer only at a certain time of the day for it to "work." I'm just confused, any help would be greatly appreciated!

[StColette]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1883443' date='Jun 4 2009, 07:57 PM']So, I have [b]three[/b] variations here...which one is the "authentic" (for lack of a better word) novena to St. Therese? The very first one I mentioned is the one I have prayed a few times before, each time being blessed by seeing the rose(s). But the "must be said before 11am" requirement always struck me as a bit - superstitious? Kind of like the pagans saying a certain prayer only at a certain time of the day for it to "work." I'm just confused, any help would be greatly appreciated![/quote]

Both versions, the 9 days and the 5 days, are authentic. If I remember correctly both of the novenas have their origins to a priest around the 1920s. The 5 day Novena is often called the Rose Novena. For those who don't know the prayer it says the following:

St. Therese, the little flower, please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love. Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore and tell him I will love him each day more and more.

(The above prayer plus 5 Our Father’s, 5 Hail Mary’s, and 5 Glory Be’s must be said on 5 successive days, before 11 a.m. On the 5th day the 5th set of prayers having been completed, offer one more set, 5 Our Father’s, 5 Hail Mary’s and 5 Glory Be’s.)

Don't be afraid of the requirement to say this prayer before 11am. It doesn't mean that they are being superstitious. It probably is a requirement because it has significance to the 5 Day Novena's origins. The Church has many prayers that are said at specific times of the day. The Liturgy of the Hours is divided over the course of a day with specific prayers said during a certain time of the day. Such as you don't pray night prayer in the morning. The Divine Mercy chaplet is to be said at 3:00 because it is the hour of Our Lord's death. So don't let a time requirement put you off. Many people still pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet at different hours of the day, because many can't pray it at 3:00. That doesn't mean their prayers won't be heard. Remember, God isn't legalistic.

The Miraculous Invocation that you mentioned isn't a novena, if that's what you were asking. If I'm correct the following is the Invocation that's probably on your card:

O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you "Prodigy of Miracles... the Greatest Saint of Modern Times." Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth... of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea "to be made known everywhere" and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen.

The beginning prayer for the Nine Day Novena is very similar to the invocation, but the invocation doesn't have the other daily prayers attached to it. So it's not the same as a novena. Remember, we have special invocations to the Blessed Virgin under the name of Immaculate Conception and we have Novenas to the Immaculate Conception. They're different.

There is also a special Novena to her that begins on her Feast Day that is different than the regular 9 Day Novena. There's also the Twenty-four 'Glory Be's’ Novena to St. Therese

All are authentic

I hope some of this helps!

God Bless,
Jennie