Akathist hymn to St. Therese of Lisieux

Akathist to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

Kontakion 1

To thee O Little Flower of Jesus, we thy brothers and sisters in the Faith sing a hymn of praise as to one who scaled the heights of purity and piety, and we thy fellow yokemates cry out from our hearts: 

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Ekos 1

The Lord Jesus came to thee and set thy heart aflame with love for Him and His Mother, saying Rejoice, My little Flower!  And thee in reply O most pure Virgin and Saint Therese didst say, behold, I am Thine O My Jesus:

Rejoice, thou most pure Spouse of Christ!

Rejoice, beholder of the Child Jesus!

Rejoice, thou most wise Teacher of the faithful!

Rejoice, the co-Patron of the French!

Rejoice, more glorious than the darkness of the world!

Rejoice, steadfast lover of the Rock named Peter!

Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most High God!

Rejoice, beholder of things Divine!

Rejoice, proponent of the True Faith!

Rejoice, Most Chaste and Holy Flower!

Rejoice, Receptacle of the Redemption!

Rejoice, flower of France!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 2

Seeing thyself little but being large in the eyes of God, thou didst live a life of true devotion and love for thy Lord Jesus Christ, and now in return for the merits which thou didst earn through a life of true piety, the Lord has seen fit to magnify thy name upon earth, so the Church militant can cry out:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 2

Being a Doctor of the Divine even after death, thou teachest the world how to pray and rejoice in the Love of the Lord, and knowing this we thy fellow servants sing to thy Spouse with thee:

Rejoice, revealer of the reverence to God!

Rejoice, spotless saint of the Church!

Rejoice, blessed of the Lord in the vision of God!

Rejoice, reclining at the Banquet of the Lamb!

Rejoice, foe of the devils!

Rejoice, friend of the faithful!

Rejoice, bride of the Lord!

Rejoice, teacher of every virtue!

Rejoice, lover of all that is true!

Rejoice, inspiration of the Popes!

Rejoice, daughter of Mary!

Rejoice, servant of the Church!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 3

The Power of God came upon thee when thou wast but still a young and tender girl, but even still inside thou wast mature and ripe in the union of God and bearing many fruits of the Spirit and virtues of Providence, and so we magnify thy name for the Glory of God as we sing:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 3

Filled with the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, thou didst nourish the faithful with the Word of God in simplicity with the Little Way, and we in imitation of the simplicity and love which thou hast taught us sing to thee:

Rejoice, in union with the Holy Trinity!

Rejoice, in simplicity of heart!

Rejoice, most beloved bride of God!

Rejoice, worthy of veneration for thy virtues!

Rejoice, with Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Rejoice, in heaven with all the saints!

Rejoice, author of amiable works!

Rejoice, lover of life!

Rejoice, citadel of salvation!

Rejoice, blessed beauty of Peter’s Barque!

Rejoice, laborer in the fields of God!

Rejoice, good Sister in our Salvation!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 4

All thy life thou didst desire to behold the Holy Face of Our Lord, and now after a lifetime of labors in love thou hast been rewarded with an eternity to dwell on the Most Beautiful Face of Our God and His Christ, therefore it is truly meet and right to cry aloud with thee and sing:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 4

Together with the souls of the Just made perfect and the Spirits of the LORD God we sing praises with thee to the Most High God, and we give love and honor to a soul so bright, so pure, and as beloved as thee:

Rejoice, believer of the Promises of the forefathers!

Rejoice, best friend of sinners!

Rejoice, beholder of the Face of Jesus!

Rejoice, crown of the chaste!

Rejoice, always praising the Father in the Son!

Rejoice, forever blessing the Spirit of God!

Rejoice, always a help to humanity!

Rejoice, pure and chaste model of benevolence!

Rejoice, Doctor of the Catholic Faith!

Rejoice, forever feeling the love of God!

Rejoice, singing with us to the Godhead!

Rejoice, making a canticle to Our Christ!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 5

Having despaired at the death of thy loved ones, thou wast wounded in spirit, but raising thine eyes to the Lord Jesus, he comforted thee in thy sorrows and aided thee in thy afflictions; therefore we who likewise are afflicted with sorrows, seek thy intercession to the Lord that he may comfort us as well, and so we cry:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 5

Learning of the devotion of this Doctor of the Church only after her death and birth in Paradise, her Sisters and all who learned of her likewise have led us to sing out in joy:

Rejoice, devotee of the Mother of God!

Rejoice, author of many hymns of praise!

Rejoice, mother of majestic manuals!

Rejoice, for you are forever to be remembered!

Rejoice, teacher of the Way of God!

Rejoice, flood of spiritual Triumph!

Rejoice, O Wise matriarch in the Faith!

Rejoice, Saint Beloved by millions!

Rejoice, blessed little soul!

Rejoice, magnificent in the eyes of God!

Rejoice, thou who taught us worthy worship!

Rejoice, guide of those seeking simplicity!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 6

We give thanks to the Most High God for having granted thee to the world, for even though thy life lasted a mere twenty four years, thy memory and legacy will carry on for all eternity because of the mighty Deeds of God which thou worked in thy lifetime and continue to work thereafter, and so we thank God always with voices lifted in praise: Alleluiah!

Ekos 6

We give Honor, Praise and Adoration to the Adorable Trinity in the memory of the blessed Saint of Lisieux named Therese, and we always sing faithfully and triumphantly for every one of the Saints because they have gained the Victory over death through the death of the one who destroyed death by death, the Resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ, therefore we rejoice in the Light of the Saints and say:

Rejoice, thou who livest forever with God!

Rejoice, with our Eternal Shepherd!

Rejoice, ever making merry in Paradise!

Rejoice, forever with thy beloved Jesus!

Rejoice, for death has been swallowed up in Life!

Rejoice, because Christ has set us free!

Rejoice, for thou hast attained Salvation!

Rejoice, fruit of the Resurrection!

Rejoice, daughter of Our Father!

Rejoice, ever praising the Almighty God!

Rejoice, forever and ever!

Rejoice, thou that prayed without ceasing!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 7

Beloved bride of Jesus, thou lived a life of purity and dedication to thy Lord, and now thou hast reaped the benefits of the seeds of sanctity which thou sowed in thy lifetime, and knowing that thy fruit is as lovely as the seeds which thou hast sown, we sing with thee:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 7

Saint Therese of Lisieux, thy entire family was a model of the Holy Family, a blessing to the world and a true sign of the God of All to the entire world, we love you and we thank you and we thank your beautiful Mother and your pious Father, as well as your beautiful mother and your pious father, and in thanksgiving for the blessing we have received in thee we cry aloud:

Rejoice, blessed little Flower!

Rejoice, lover of the Lord!

Rejoice, great and holy Saint of God!

Rejoice, most pious pilgrim!

Rejoice, forgiver of thy enemies!

Rejoice, thou who wast most fervent in prayer!

Rejoice, giving thanks to God on high!

Rejoice, ever fruitful and multiplying in alms deeds!

Rejoice, never wavering in thy convictions for Christ!

Rejoice, still believing during thy darkest night!

Rejoice, ever faithful friend of Our Lord!

Rejoice, beloved mother of many spiritual children!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 8

If ever there was a bride of Jesus who imitated the Virgin Mother of Jesus in a most perfect way, it was thee O most beloved Therese, therefore we cry out together with thee in singing hymns of praise to He Who Is Worthy of Worship:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 8

Filled with the energy of God and ever meditating what the Essence of God must be, thou attained great spiritual heights whilst still inhabiting the flesh, and thou wast untethered to reach unspeakable heights when thy soul departed the flesh to stand before its Maker, and now being lifted on high we sing with thee:

Rejoice, sojourner on the summits of Shaddai!

Rejoice, reveler in the rotundas of El Roi!

Rejoice, Blessed Therese of the Child Jesus!

Rejoice, ever thankful saint of the Lord!

Rejoice, perfect example of piety!

Rejoice, blessed by the Pope!

Rejoice, blessed with St. Joan of Arc!

Rejoice, filled with the faith of France!

Rejoice, most dear devotion of Notre Dame!

Rejoice, ever filled with Life!

Rejoice, together with all the Church Triumphant!

Rejoice, thou as sweet as a flower!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 9

All of Lisieux can marvel at the mysteries which one who was brought up in this small village has revealed to the world, and at the mighty power of God which exalts the lowly and humbles the exalted, the One who keeps faith to a thousand generations of those that love Him, and has blessed so much this Little Flower of His, and causes us to cry unceasingly:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 9

Never seeing the Lord yet always rejoicing, thou art a true example of what faith is to be, lived in sincere devotion, in simplicity of heart, becoming as a little child, being as wise as a serpent yet harmless as a dove, always keeping and holding the death and resurrection of Our Sweetest Jesus in our hearts and meditating on His Mysteries, and being filled with the riches of devotion which cause us to break out in song saying:

Rejoice, ever filled with the Holy Spirit!

Rejoice, never ending songs of praise!

Rejoice, wisdom of God inhabiting thy soul!

Rejoice, plunderer of the powers of death!

Rejoice, surrounded by the angels!

Rejoice, always making merry!

Rejoice, remember us in thy prayers!

Rejoice, together with Christ in God!

Rejoice, forever at home in the hearts of sinners!

Rejoice, rebelling against sin and death!

Rejoice, reveling in virtue and life!

Rejoice, at home in Heaven!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 10

With a desire to love all against all odds, thou didst fulfill thy mission assigned to thee by thy adorable Spouse, and in great admiration of this most arduous task that thou hast accomplished, we thy brethren sing aloud with thee:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 10

As with so much charity and patience thou hast been brought into the Temple of God, we who are in the war against the flesh here on earth seek thy intercession, for thou hast boldness before the Mighty God and say always:

Rejoice, receptacle of the reverence of God!

Rejoice, loved by both God and men!

Rejoice, thou that overcame the world!

Rejoice, thee that attained Divinization!

Rejoice, little flower of the Branch of David!

Rejoice, blessed and beatific beauty!

Rejoice, ever against all evil!

Rejoice, standing up for what is right!

Rejoice, Nun who dost love the Son!

Rejoice, loyal daughter of the Theotokos!

Rejoice, habitation of the Holy One!

Rejoice, reputation of a spotless Spouse!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 11

A stalwart supporter of the Spirit of God, thou didst disdain the world as to never offend thy God and Savior, and this has become the sweetest fruit for thee who now art ever blessed and glorified in the glorious Lord, looking up to thee as a Holy mother of the Faith, we cry out together with thee:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 11

A sinner such as me needs as much as prayer as is possible, therefore I sing this hymn in remembrance of a saint such as thyself, in the hope that thou mayst pray to God for me and that after a lifetime of imitating the lives of many saints such as thee I might praise God and contemplate His Holy Face together with thee, and so I sing:

Rejoice, sweet mother who was filled with wisdom!

Rejoice, thou that didst love Our Lord!

Rejoice, together with all of Heaven!

Rejoice, never forget those who invoke thee!

Rejoice, beautiful bride of Jesus!

Rejoice, with thy whole family of Saints!

Rejoice, ever glorious great mother of the Church!

Rejoice, thou that didst teach the faithful!

Rejoice, forever faithful!

Rejoice, virgin amongst virgins!

Rejoice, seed that fell on good ground!

Rejoice, most wise virgin who filled her lamp!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 12

O Glorious St. Therese of the Child Jesus, thou never gave up the good fight even in the face of adversity, thou who art full of faith and love, therefore we sing thy praises as we call to mind all that thou taught us to say and do in thy short life on earth, and we sing:  Alleluiah!

Ekos 12

Thou who beholdest the Holy Face of Jesus at all times, intercede for us always and never cease to pray for the people of God who cry to thee:

Rejoice, holy woman of God!

Rejoice, righteous child of God!

Rejoice, ever pure spouse of Jesus!

Rejoice, aroma of the flowers of faith!

Rejoice, sweetness of the Spirit!

Rejoice, oil of compunction and praise!

Rejoice, most pure spiritual mother!

Rejoice, lovely and adorable friend!

Rejoice, simple and charitable daughter!

Rejoice, devout and holy one!

Rejoice, ever blessed saint!

Rejoice, sweet smell of sanctity!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 13

O all-laudable and ever blessed Flower of Jesus, the Little Flower of simplicity, the Flower of purity, the Flower of Virginity, the Flower of righteousness, the Flower of gladness, the Flower of Love, the Flower of the spirit, the Flower of purity, the Flower of humility, the Flower of grace, never cease to praise the Mighty and Wondrous God, Father, Son and Spirit:  Alleluiah!  (Repeat this Kontakion three times)  Then:

Ekos 1

The Lord Jesus came to thee and set thy heart aflame with love for Him and His Mother, saying Rejoice, My little Flower!  And thee in reply O most pure Virgin and Saint Therese didst say, behold, I am Thine O My Jesus:

Rejoice, thou most pure Spouse of Christ!

Rejoice, beholder of the Child Jesus!

Rejoice, thou most wise Teacher of the faithful!

Rejoice, the co-Patron of the French!

Rejoice, more glorious than the darkness of the world!

Rejoice, steadfast lover of the Rock named Peter!

Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most High God!

Rejoice, beholder of things Divine!

Rejoice, proponent of the True Faith!

Rejoice, Most Chaste and Holy Flower!

Rejoice, Receptacle of the Redemption!

Rejoice, flower of France!

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Kontakion 1

To thee O Little Flower of Jesus, we thy brothers and sisters in the Faith sing a hymn of praise as to one who scaled the heights of purity and piety, and we thy fellow yokemates cry out from our hearts: 

Rejoice, thou Fragrant Flower of Jesus!

Concluding prayer to St. Therese of the Child Jesus:

O Holy and Pure St. Therese of Lisieux, you lived a life of exemplary purity and holiness; therefore we call always on thy name and on Our God to help us always.  O God, forgive us our sins and bless us always through the powerful intercessions of the Most Pure Virgin Saint Therese, always remember her when Thou rememberst us O Lord our God, help us to grow in charity and chastity until we become perfect in charity and chastity as the glorious St. Therese did become perfect, for whoever sins does not know thee.  Therefore, we seek always the intercessions of all the virgins, the Glorious Virgin Mary, the ever blessed St. Therese, the wonderful St. Gemma Galgani and all the Virgin-Martyrs of thine, and we seek always to do Thy Will O God.  St. Therese, pray for us to always practice thy little way, and for us to become little in the world so we may become big with God, pray for us to be wise as serpents yet gentle as doves, pray for the Lord to forgive us our iniquities and overlook our transgressions, so we may always ascribe glory, honor, and praise to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, and that through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the angels and saints, and especially St. Therese of the Child Jesus, we may be granted great mercy by our Lord,

Amen.