“In spite of my littleness, I would like to enlighten souls as did the Prophets and the Doctors. I have the vocation of the Apostles. I would like to travel over the whole earth to preach your Name and to plant your glorious cross around the world. But…one mission alone would not be sufficient for me, I would want to preach the Gospel on all the five continents simultaneously and even to the most remote isles. I would be a missionary, not for a few years only, but from the beginning of creation until the consummation of the ages.”
Today marks the Feast Day of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Patroness of all Missionaries.
While she never served as a missionary herself, St. Thérèse’s love and passion for sharing the word of God motivate and inspire Catholic missionaries, including our own Mission Doctors.
In fact, in her death, Father Dwight Longenecker pointed out in his book “St. Thérèse: Little Flower, Little Warrior.”
“Her relics have been taken to every continent in the world; and wherever they appear, thousands flock to venerate them. Souls are saved. Confessions are heard. Sins are forgiven…Hearts are melted. Her wish to be a missionary was fulfilled after her death.”
On this feast day, we’d like to share a prayer and ask you to pray for doctors, dentists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants discerning a call to mission.
Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese
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 in silence here)
and to carry out your promises of
spending heaven doing good on 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.