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Prayer Sheets for Easter
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Final)
Preparation:
Consider the heart of Jesus. Come into His presence with
confidence that He loves you despite your shortcomings.
Reading:
Thérèse drew on her relationship with God to nourish those
He sent into her life, especially her novices and spiritual brothers. In
the last few pages of her writings, she shares her insight into a simple
means of entrusting them and their every need to the care of Him whom she
knew loved her.
"He made me understand these words of the Canticles
of Canticles: "DRAW ME, WE SHALL RUN after you in the odour of your
ointments." O Jesus, it is not even necessary to say: "When drawing
me, draw the souls whom I love!" This simple statement: "Draw
me" suffices; I understand, Lord, that when a soul allows herself
to be captivated by the odour of your ointments, she cannot run alone,
all the souls whom she loves follow in her train; this is done without
constraint, without effort, it is a natural consequence of her attraction
of You. Just as a torrent, throwing itself with impetuosity into the ocean,
drags after it everything it encounters in this passage, in the same way,
O Jesus , the soul who plunges into the shoreless ocean of your Love, draws
with her all the treasures she possesses.
Dear Mother, now I would like to tell you what I
understand by the odour of the ointments of the Beloved. Since Jesus has
reascended into heaven, I can follow Him only in the traces He has left;
but how luminous these traces are! how perfumed! I have only to cast a
glance in the Gospels and immediately I breathe in the perfumes of Jesus'
life, and I know on which side to run. I don't hasten to the first place
but to the last; rather than advance like the Pharisee, I repeat, filled
with confidence, the publican's humble prayer. Most of all I imitate the
conduct of Magdalene; her astonishing or rather her loving audacity which
charms the Heart of Jesus also attracts my own. Yes, I feel it; even though
I had on my conscience all the sins that can be committed, I would go,
my heart broken with sorrow, and throw myself into Jesus' arms, for I know
how much He loves the prodigal child who returns to Him. It is not because
God, in His anticipating Mercy, has preserved my soul from mortal sin that
I go to Him with confidence and love…."
Story of A Soul: Clarke Pg 254, 258-9 end of
Manuscript C
Scriptural Echo:
Thérèse, knowing her death was imminent, was bold enough
to pray Jesus' prayer before his own death, uniting all her treasures with
him: John 17:4-25. Due to space constraint, only some of the verses are
given below:
I have manifested your name to those whom you have given me out of this
world. They were yours, and you have given them to me, and they have kept
your word. Now they have learned that whatever you have given me is from
you; because the words you have given me, I have given to them…. I
pray for them, not for the world do I pray, but for those whom you have
given me, because they are yours; and all things that are mine are yours,
and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them….. Father, I will that
where I am, these also whom you have given me may be with me, …. And
I have made known your name to them, and will make it known, that the love
with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them. Story of A Soul:
Clarke Pg 255
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Colossians
3:16
Questions:
1. How do you feel about the people God has entrusted into your care? How
do you pray for them?
2. Where do you go to find God/Jesus?
3. Do you have the audacity of Magdalene or the boldness of Thérèse
with God/Jesus? Why or why not?
Quote for the week:
O Jesus , the soul who plunges into the shoreless ocean
of your Love, draws with her all the treasures she possesses.
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[Archived prayer sheets]
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
God, Our Father,
we thank you for the many blessings showered on us
during the visit of Thérèse to Australia.
Her presence in our midst has touched many hearts,
given hope to the young, and much joy to children.
We ask that you continue to bless us,
who have come to know you better
through our spiritual sister, Thérèse,
that we may always have the utmost confidence and trust in your love.
We make this prayer through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Preparation:
Speak plainly to God and thank Him for the gift of prayer.
Be aware of His presence and invitation to a tender intimacy with Him.
Reading:
Therese recognised that it was prayer and sacrifice which gave her all
her strength. They were the invincible weapons which Jesus had given her
and they could touch souls much better than words. She prayed from the
heart with confidence, never doubting the infinite mercy of the Lord, whom
she believed really wanted to answer the prayer of His little children.
How great is the power of Prayer! One could call it a Queen
who has at each instant free access to the King and who is able to obtain
whatever she asks. To be heard it is not necessary to read from a book
some beautiful formula composed for the occasion. If this were the case,
alas, I would have to be pitied! Outside the Divine Office which I am very
unworthy to recite, I do not have the courage to force myself to search
out beautiful prayers in books. There are so many of them it really gives
me a headache! and each prayer is more beautiful than the others. I cannot
recite them all and not knowing which to choose, I do like children who
do not know how to read, I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without
composing beautiful sentences, and He always understands me. For me, prayer
is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven,
it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy;
finally, it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and
unites me to Jesus.
Story of A Soul: Clarke Pg 242
Scriptural Echo:
And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according
to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we
ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him. 1
John 5:14-15
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for
your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when
you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search
for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let
you find me… Jeremiah 29:11-14
Questions:
1. Where do you draw your strength from?
2. What is your definition of prayer? How do you pray?
3. In what ways have you experienced the power of prayer?
Quote for the week:
Prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to
heaven,
it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy;
finally, it is something great, supernatural,
which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Preparation:
God is love. Believe He loves you and cannot stop loving
you as you come into His presence during this time of reflection.
Reading:
Near the end of her life, Therese, who had made love her vocation, realised
she had not grasped fully the meaning of love. God was to grant her the
grace to a clearer insight into the mysteries of love.
I had never fathomed the meaning of these words of Jesus:
"The second commandment is LIKE the first: You
shall love your neighbour as yourself." I applied myself especially
to loving God, and it is in loving him that I understood my love was not
to be expressed only in words, for: "It is not those who say: 'Lord,
Lord!' who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but those who do the will
of my Father in heaven." …. at the Last Supper, when He knew
the hearts of His disciples were burning with a more ardent love for Him
who had just given Himself to them in the unspeakable mystery of His Eucharist,
this sweet Saviour wished to give them a new commandment. He said to them
with inexpressible tenderness: "A new commandment I give you that
you love one another: THAT AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another." ……
….. when meditating upon these words of Jesus,
I understood how imperfect was my love for my Sisters. I saw I didn't love
them as God loves them. Ah! I understood now that charity consists in bearing
with the faults of others, in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue
we see them practice. But I understood above all that charity must not
remain hidden in the bottom of the heart. Jesus has said: "No one
lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel basket, but upon the lamp stand,
so as to give light to ALL in the house." It seems to me that this
lamp represents charity which must enlighten and rejoice not only those
who are dearest to us but "ALL who are in the house" without
distinction.
Story of A Soul: Clarke Pg 219 & 220
Scriptural Echo:
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - and we ought
to lay down our lives for one another. How does God's love abide in anyone
who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet
refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but
in truth and action…. Beloved, let us love one another, because love
is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does
not love does not know God, for God is love…. and those who abide
in love abide in God, and God abides in them…. We love because he
first loved us. Those who say "I love God," and hate their brothers
or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom
they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment
we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and
sisters also.
1John 3:16-18, 4:7-8, 16, 19-21 NRSV
Questions:
1. Consider your daily actions. Are they done out of self-love, love of
neighbour or love of God?
2. How do you view the faults and virtues of others?
3. What do you need to do to be a channel of God's love to all people without
distinction?
Quote for the week:
Charity consists in bearing with the faults of others,
in being edified by the smallest acts of virtue we see them practice.
Third Sunday of Easter
Preparation:
Sit with God. Speak to Him and ask Him to deepen your
faith especially during times of trial.
Reading:
In the 18 months of her life Therese was plunged into the "dark night
of faith". This state is not brought on by any infidelity on the part
of the person involved. It is a trial given by God to purify the soul completely
so as to prepare it for union with himself in love.
"At this time I was enjoying such a living faith, such a clear faith,
that the thought of heaven made up all my happiness, and I was unable to
believe there were really impious people who had no faith. …. During
those very joyful days of the Easter season, Jesus made me feel that there
were really souls who have no faith…. He permitted my soul to be invaded
by the thickest darkness, and that the thought of heaven, up until then
so sweet to me, be no longer anything but the cause of struggle and torment…..
Just as the genius of Christopher Columbus gave him a presentiment of a
new world when nobody had even thought of such a thing; so also I felt
that another land would one day serve me as a permanent dwelling place.
Then suddenly the fog that surrounds me becomes more dense; it penetrates
my soul and envelops it in such a way that it is impossible to discover
within it the sweet image of my Fatherland; everything has disappeared!
When I want to rest my heart fatigued by the darkness that surrounds it
by the memory of the luminous country after which I aspire, my torment
redoubles; it seems to me that the darkness, borrowing the voice of sinners,
says mockingly to me: "You are dreaming about the light, about a fatherland
embalmed in the sweetest perfumes; you are dreaming about the eternal possession
of the Creator of all these marvels; you believe that one day you will
walk out of this fog that surrounds you! Advance, advance; rejoice in death
which will give you not what you hope for but a night still more profound,
the night of nothingness."
Story of A Soul: Clarke Pg 211 & 213
Scriptural Echo:
I am the one who has seen affliction
under the rod of God's wrath;
he has driven me and brought me
into darkness without any light;
He has besieged and enveloped me
with bitterness and tribulation;
he has made me sit in darkness
like the dead of long ago.
My soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten what happiness is;
so I say, "Gone is my glory,
and all that I had hoped for from the Lord."
The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion, " says my soul,
therefore I will hope in him."
Lamentations 3:1-2, 5-6, 17-24 NRSV
Questions:
1. Heaven: what does it mean to you?
2. Have you ever entertained doubts about life after death, the existence
of heaven and/or the goodness of God? How do you maintain your faith in
God under such circumstances?
Quote for the week:
The Lord is my portion, therefore I will hope in him.
Second Sunday of Easter
Preparation:
Becoming aware of your littleness, place yourself in the strong presence
of God
Reading:
Thérèse, now in the final months of her life shares with
us "her way" It is not built on her strength but on her littleness.
You know, Mother, I have always wanted to be a saint.
Alas! I have always noticed that when I compared myself to the saints,
there is between them and me the same difference that exists between a
mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and the obscure grain of sand
trampled underfoot by passers-by. Instead of becoming discouraged, I said
to myself: God cannot inspire unrealisable desires. I can, then, in spite
of my littleness, aspire to holiness. It is impossible for me to grow up,
and so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections.
But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way
that is very straight, very short and totally new.
We are living now in an age of inventions, and we no longer have to take
the trouble of climbing stairs, for, in the homes of the rich, and elevator
has replaced these very successfully. I wanted to find and elevator, which
would raise me to Jesus for I am too small to climb the rough stairway
of perfection. I searched, then, in the Scriptures for some sign of this
elevator, the object of my desires, and I read these words coming from
the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: "Whoever is a LITTLE ONE, let him come
to me." And so I succeeded. I felt I had found what I was looking
for. But wanting to know, O my God, what You would do to the very little
one who answered Your call, I continued my search and this is what I discovered:
"As one whom a mother caresses, so will I comfort you; you shall be
carried at the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you. Ah! never
did words more tender and more melodious come to give joy to my soul. The
elevator, which must raise me to heaven is you arms, O Jesus! And for this
I had no need to grow up, but rather I had to remain little and become
this more and more.
Scriptural Echo:
1.O Lord, my heart is not proud
Nor haughty my eyes.
I have not gone after things too great
Nor marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul
In silence and peace.
As a child has rest in its mother's arms
Even so my soul.
O Israel hope in the Lord
Both now and forever. Ps 130 (131)
2. He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
made perfect in weakness." So I will boast all the more gladly of
my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I
am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities
for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (1
Corinthians 12.8-10)
Questions:
1. How do I normally come before God in prayer?
2. What do I want from God?
3. Do I really want to be holy, to be a saint?
Quote for the week:
The elevator, which must raise me to heaven is you
arms, O Jesus!
Easter Sunday
Preparation:
Alleluia! Christ is Risen - let that be your prayer as you
begin this reflection. Be conscious of Christ abiding presence.
Reading:
Thérèse wanted the immensity of God's love to be appreciated.
By allowing his love to cleanse and renew her totally, she hoped to love
him completely in return and to bring his love to others.
O my dear Mother! After so many graces can I not sing with the Psalmist:
"How GOOD is the Lord, his MERCY endures forever!" It seems to
me that if all creatures had received the same graces I received, God would
be feared by none but would be loved to the point of folly; and through
love, not through fear, no one would ever consent to cause Him any pain.
I understand, however, that all souls cannot be the same, that it is necessary
there be different types in order to honour each of God's perfections in
a particular way. To me He has granted His infinite mercy, and through
it I contemplate and adore the other divine perfections! All of these perfections
appear to be resplendent with love; even His Justice (and perhaps this
even more so that the others) seems to me clothed in love. What a sweet
joy it is to think that God is Just, i.e., that He takes into account our
weakness, that He is perfectly aware of our fragile nature. What should
I fear then? Ah! Must not the infinitely just God, who deigns to pardon
the faults of the prodigal son with so much kindness, be just also toward
me who "am with Him always"?
….From the depths of my heart, I cried out:
"O my God! Will Your Justice alone find souls willing to immolate
themselves as victims? Does not Your Merciful Love need them too?….If
your Justice loves to release itself, this Justice which extends only over
the earth, how much more does Your Merciful Love desire to set souls on
fire since Your Mercy reaches to the heavens. O my Jesus, let me be this
happy victim; consume Your holocaust with the fire of Your Divine Love!"
(Story of A Soul: Clarke Pg 180-1)
Scriptural Echo:
But God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy:
when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ -
it is through grace that you have been saved - and raised us up with him
and gave us a place with him in heaven, in Christ Jesus. Eph
2:4-5 JB
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness
to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like
the great deep;
You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge
in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from
the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm
36: 5-9 NRSV
Questions:
1. Do you fear God's justice? Why or why not?
2. What motivates you to keep God's commandments?
3. Are you prepared to abandon yourself to God's infinite mercy, to love
God unto folly?
Quote for the week:
How GOOD is the Lord, his MERCY endures forever!
[Prayer reflections for Lent 2002]
[Prayer reflections for Jan-Feb 2002]
[Prayer reflections for Advent-Christmas 2001]
[Prayer reflections for October-November 2001]
[Background information on these prayer sheets]
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