The Grain of Wheat

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

O God, you draw near to the lowly and reveal to little ones what you hide from the proud. As I begin this novena, give me the trusting heart of a child, like your servant Therese. Through her intercession, teach me to love you not in great deeds but in small things done with great love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pause in silence, and bring to mind the intention you are praying for.

In the app, your own saved intention rests here during the silence. The narration stays the same for everyone.

Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

A seed must fall into the ground and seemingly be lost before it can bear fruit. Therese understood her many small sacrifices this way - little deaths to self that God would multiply into a harvest she would never see on earth. Nothing surrendered to God in love is wasted.

Lord, you taught that the grain of wheat must die to bear much fruit. Give me courage for the small surrenders you ask of me, the dying to self that I would rather avoid. Through the intercession of St. Therese, take my little sacrifices and make them fruitful for souls, in ways I may never see. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

St. Therese, little flower of Jesus, you promised to spend your heaven doing good upon the earth. Take my intention into your gentle care and lay it before God. Teach me your little way of trust and surrender, that I may serve the Lord with confidence and love, and find him in the small moments of every day. Amen.

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