NOVENA TO ST.

TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE Immediately before, and for a good while after, NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING
CROSS my religious conversion, I was of the opinion PRAYER
that to lead a religious life meant one had to Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words:
DAILY OPENING PRAYER give up all that was secular and to live totally God is there in these moments of rest and can
immersed in thoughts of the Divine. But give us in a single instant exactly what we
Lord, God of our fathers, you brought St gradually I realized that something else is need. Then the rest of the day can take its
Teresa Benedicta the fullness of the science of the asked of us in this world and that, even in course, under the same effort and strain,
Cross at the hour of her martyrdom. Fill us with the contemplative life, one may not sever the perhaps, but in peace. And when night looks
same knowledge; and, through her intercession, allow connection with the world. I even believe that back and you see how fragmentary everything
us always to seek after you, the supreme truth, to the deeper one is drawn into God, the more has been, and how much you planned that has
remain faithful until death to the covenant of love one must “go out of oneself”, that is, one must gone undone, and all the reasons you have to
ratified in the blood of your Son for the salvation of go out to the world in order to carry the divine be embarrassed and ashamed: just take
all men and women. We ask this through Jesus Christ life into it. everything exactly as it is, put it in God’s hands
our Lord and Savior. Amen. (state your prayer intentions here_____). and leave it to Him – really rest – and start the
next day as a new life.
– Day 1 NOVENA PRAYER Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be (state your prayer intentions here_____).
then the Concluding Prayer (See Back Page)
NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be
PRAYER – Day 3 NOVENA PRAYER then the Concluding Prayer (See Back Page)
Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words : NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING -Day 5 NOVENA PRAYER
All authentic prayer is prayer of the church. PRAYER
Through every sincere prayer something Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words: NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING
happens in the church, and it is the church The soul may take dryness and darkness as PRAYER
itself that is praying therein, for it is the Holy fortunate symptoms: symptoms that God is Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words:
Spirit living in the church that intercedes for freeing her from herself. He is disentangling her Whatever did not fit in with my plan did lie
every individual soul “with sighs too deep for from the activity of her faculties. Probably she within the plan of God. I have an even deeper
words.” This is exactly what “authentic” prayer would have been able to acquire much through and firmer belief that nothing is merely an
is, for “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord!’ except this, her own activity, but never as completely, accident when seen in the light of God, that my
by the Holy Spirit.” What could the prayer of the perfectly, and securely as she does now since whole life down to the smallest details has
church be, if not great lovers giving themselves God takes her by the hand. He is leading her in been marked out for me in the plan of Divine
to God who is love! the darkness… by ways that she herself, in the Providence and has a completely coherent
(state your prayer intentions here_____). happiest of wanderings while using her own meaning in God’s all-seeing eyes. And so I am
eyes and feet, would never have succeeded in beginning to rejoice in the light of glory wherein
Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be finding. this meaning will be unveiled to me.
then the Concluding Prayer (See Back Page) (state your prayer intentions here_____). (state your prayer intentions here_____).

-Day 2 NOVENA PRAYER Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be
then the Concluding Prayer (See Back Page) then the Concluding Prayer (See Back Page)
NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING
PRAYER -Day 4 NOVENA PRAYER – Day 6 NOVENA PRAYER
Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words:
NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING – Day 8 NOVENA PRAYE All-powerful, ever-living God, you gave
PRAYER Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross the
Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words: NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING
courage to witness to the gospel of Christ even
PRAYER
to the point of giving her life for it. By her
In the Passion and death of Christ our sins Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words: Novenas are an ancient tradition that goes
prayers, help us to endure all suffering for love
were consumed by fire. If we accept that in
faith, and if we accept the whole Christ in faith- To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to ofback
you to
andthe
to days
seek of
youthe Apostles.
with Jesusfor
all our hearts, told
filled surrender, which means, however, that we have one’s feet on the earth, to walk on the you His disciples
alone are thetosource
pray together after His
of life. Grant this
choose and walk the path of the imitation of dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
enthroned with Christ at the Father’s right
ascension into heaven, so they went to an
Christ, then he will lead us “through his Passion lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy
and cross to the glory of his Resurrection.” This hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this upper
Spirit, room
God, along
for ever andwith
ever.the Blessed Virgin
Amen.
is exactly what is experienced in contemplation: world and ceaselessly to sing the praises of Mary, (Acts 1:14) and joined constantly in
passing through the expiatory flames to the God with the choirs of angels this is the life of NOVENA TO ST. TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE
the Christian until the morning of eternity prayer for nine days.
CROSS
bliss of the union of love. This explains its
twofold character. It is death and resurrection. breaks forth.
(state your prayer intentions here_____). (state your prayer intentions here_____). Also Known as Saint Edith Stein-Martyr
Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be
then the Concluding Prayer then the Concluding Prayer

– Day 7 NOVENA PRAYER -Day 9 NOVENA PRAYER

NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING NOTE: Begin with the DAILY OPENING
PRAYER PRAYER
Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words: Meditation of St. Teresa Benedicta’s words:
The soul may take dryness and darkness as The title of Mary as our mother is not merely
fortunate symptoms: symptoms that God is symbolic. Mary is our mother in the most real
freeing her from herself. He is disentangling her and lofty sense, a sense which surpasses that
from the activity of her faculties. Probably she of earthly maternity. She begot our life of grace
would have been able to acquire much through for us because she offered up her entire being,
this, her own activity, but never as completely, body and soul, as the Mother of God. That is
perfectly, and securely as she does now since why an intimate bond exists between Mary and
God takes her by the hand. He is leading her in ourselves. She loves us, she knows us, she
the darkness… by ways that she herself, in the exerts herself to bring each one of us into the
happiest of wanderings while using her own closest possible relationship with the Lord –
eyes and feet, would never have succeeded in that which we are above all supposed to be.
finding. state your prayer intentions here_____).
(state your prayer intentions here_____). Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be
Offer 1 Our Father, 7 Hail Mary and 1 Glory Be then the Concluding Prayer
then the Concluding Prayer CONCLUDING PRAYER