Novena St. Teresa of Avila (October 6th-14th)

 Novena St. Teresa of Avila (October 6th-14th)

“The prioress should see to it that good books are available, especially The Life of Christ by the Carthusian, the Flos Sanctorum, The Imitation of Christ, The Oratory of Religious, and those books written by Fray Luis de Granada and by Father Fray Pedro de Alcantara. This sustenance for the soul is in some way as necessary as is food for the body.”
—Constitutions 8


In chapter 4 of her autobiography, Teresa recounts the story of a particular visit to her uncle, Pedro Sánchez de Cepeda, wherein he gave her a copy of Francisco de Osuna, OFM’s book, the Third Spiritual Alphabet. It provided the foundations for her spiritual life, and remained an important reference for many years. In time, Teresa added other works to her list of spiritual influences, including those listed in her Constitutions. It was essential to her spiritual growth and to that of her sisters to be educated by knowledgeable people in the realm of the interior life.
Through her example and counsel, we are also invited to enrich our faith and our interior lives by reading and studying the writings of the many holy authors whom the Church recommends to us. Of course, among these, Teresa is one who is especially recommended. Perhaps one way of preparing for the feast during these nine days of novena would be to prayerful read and reflect on one of her writings.
May she and all of the saintly authors continue to inspire us through their teachings and experience.
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.
V. St. Teresa, pray for us:
R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Novena in Honor of St. Teresa of Avila.
O God, Thy crowning glory is the glory of Thy saints.
Help us to follow the example of Thy loyal spouse Teresa and grant unto us,
we beseech Thee, the same gifts which Thou so deemed to lavish upon her.
Grant us Wisdom! Grant us Perseverance! Grant us Knowledge! Grant us Piety!
Grant us Joy in Prayer! Grant us Love!
O Holy Spirit, just as it pleased Thee to set her being ablaze in Zeal for Thee,
so too, let Thy burning fire fall upon us and confirm us in our Faith.

Mention your intentions…….

O St. Teresa thou art our sister and our mother.
Just as thou reformed the Order of Carmel, so too,
reform our secularized, modernized, paganized culture and society.
And just as thou led thy sisters through this life and into the Beatific Vision;
so too, guide us – the Church Militant – in our Battle on earth and into Eternal Glory.
O St. Teresa, help us to truly grasp the meaning of and live the words:
“God Alone Sufficeth.” Amen.