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 with Jesus, for only thus shall I be able to really love God as I ought and labor effectively to make Him loved by saving souls. This, indeed, means death to my natural, my human, life, for I cannot live the divine life, the life of Jesus, unless I am willing to die to mine. Just as the food that I eat must be dead before it can be transformed into my body and live my life, be animated by my soul, so must I be wholly dead before I can be, as it were, assimilated by Jesus and animated by His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, and so live His life, for "unless the grain of wheat falling to the ground die, it remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." St. Therese, obtain for me light to understand fully this beautiful truth, and to give myself courageously to death to self, that I may live the life of God, the life of love. I also recommend to your intercession the special intentions for which I am making this Novena…. God will refuse you nothing!

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

Other Novena Prayers on page 46.



(1) —Even while on earth St. Therese tasted of the delicious fruits of her life of joyous suffering. It might all be summed up by saying that her "dream" was realized and she attained to oneness with God, was transformed into love, lived the life divine, and exercised all virtues in the highest degree, above all the virtue of love. Being one in mind and heart with her Divine Lover, she also shared in His joy, the joy of God.

In truth too happy far am I, Doing always as I will; Joyous then I well may be, Nothing ever goeth ill!"

She likewise participated in His own deep peace, a peace which the world cannot give: "Our Lord's will fills my heart to the very brim, and hence, if aught else is added, it cannot penetrate to any