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.
