# The feast of St. Therese of Lisieux
*2008-09-29*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower, and concludes the three-day chaplet to the guardian angels.

## The Little Flower

Today is October 1st, the feast of St. Therese, the Little Flower. Before we move into our prayers, I want to share some words from her autobiography, The Story of a Soul: "As a torrent sweeps along with it onto the depths of the sea whatever it encounters on its course, even so my Jesus does the soul which plunges into the boundless ocean of His love; it draws after her all her treasures. Lord, Thou knowest that for me these treasures are the souls which Thou hast placed beside mine to unite to it."

## Opening Prayers

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

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

## Chaplet to the Guardian Angel

We now pray the third and final day of the chaplet to the guardian angel: My guardian angel, I beseech you with insistence to increase your loving care of me. So that by overcoming all the obstacles to virtue that are in my way, I may free myself from all the misery which oppresses my soul. By preserving my respect for your presence, being ever fearful of your reproach, and following your holy counsel faithfully, I may desire to enter one day into eternal happiness together with you.

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.

## Closing Prayer

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, stay by my side day and night, to light, guard, rule, and guide. Amen.

*May we follow the holy counsel of our guardian angels to overcome obstacles to virtue and reach eternal happiness.*