October 3
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin
Saturday after the 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Today, according to the traditional (1962) Roman calendar, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, also known as St. Thérèse of Lisieux or "The Little Flower." Born in 1873 in Alençon, France and entering the Carmelite convent of Lisieux at a young age, she became widely known for her simple yet profound spiritual doctrine of the "Little Way": a path of holiness marked by humility, trust, and performing ordinary duties with extraordinary love for God. Though her earthly life was brief—she died of tuberculosis at age 24 in 1897—her autobiography, "Story of a Soul," quickly spread her message of childlike confidence in God’s merciful love throughout the world. St. Thérèse is honored for her deep spiritual wisdom, her intense love for Christ and the Church, and her offering of prayer and sacrifice for the salvation of souls and priests, all while living hidden in the cloister.
Her feast was introduced into the Roman calendar in the early 20th century and, by the 1962 Missal, is kept on October 3rd. This feast's assignment reflects the affection and profound impact Thérèse’s sanctity has made in modern times, as well as the swift and widespread devotion to her shortly after her canonization. In the traditional calendar, her feast is of III class, marked by white vestments and celebrated with particular joy, recognizing Thérèse as one of the greatest modern saints whose spiritual simplicity and love of the Child Jesus are accessible and inspiring to all the faithful.
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Questions about St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin (Vetus Ordo Missae)
The liturgical day
IntroitCant 4:8-9
Latin
Cant 4:8-9.
Veni de Líbano, sponsa mea, veni de Líbano, veni: vulnerásti cor meum, soror mea sponsa, vulnerásti cor meum.
Ps 112:1
Laudáte, púeri, Dóminum: laudáte nomen Dómini.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Veni de Líbano, sponsa mea, veni de Líbano, veni: vulnerásti cor meum, soror mea sponsa, vulnerásti cor meum.
English
Song 4:8-9
Come from Lebanon, My bride, come from Lebanon, come! You have ravished My Heart, My sister, My bride; you have ravished My Heart.
Ps 112:1
Praise the Lord, you children, praise the name of the Lord.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Come from Lebanon, My bride, come from Lebanon, come! You have ravished My Heart, My sister, My bride; you have ravished My Heart.
Collect
Latin
Dómine, qui dixísti: Nisi efficiámini sicut párvuli, non intrábitis in regnum cœlórum: da nobis, quǽsumus: ita sanctæ Teresiæ Vírginis in humilitáte et simplicitáte cordis vestígia sectári, ut præmia consequámur ætérna.
Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
O Lord, Who said: Unless you become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, grant us, we beseech You, so to follow the footsteps of blessed Theresa, the Virgin, in humility and simplicity of heart that we may obtain everlasting rewards.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
LessonIs 66:12-14
Latin
Léctio Isaíæ Prophétæ
Is 66:12-14
Hæc dicit Dóminus: Ecce, ego declinábo super eam quasi flúvium pacis, et quasi torréntem inundántem glóriam géntium, quam sugétis: ad úbera portabímini, et super génua blandiéntur vobis. Quómodo si cui mater blandiátur, ita ego consolábor vos, et in Ierúsalem consolabímini. Vidébitis, et gaudébit cor vestrum, et ossa vestra quasi herba germinábunt, et cognoscétur manus Dómini servis eius.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the book of Isaias
Isa 66:12-14
Thus says the Lord: Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing torrent. As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you; in Jerusalem you shall find your comfort. When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bodies flourish like the grass; the Lord’s power shall be known to His servants.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualMatt 11:25
Latin
Matt 11:25
Confíteor tibi, Pater, Dómine cœli et terræ, quia abscondísti hæc a sapiéntibus, et prudéntibus, et revelásti ea párvulis.
Ps 70:5
Dómine, spes mea a iuventúte mea.
Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 39:17-19
Quasi rosa plantáta super rivos aquárum fructificate: quasi Libanus odórem suavitátis habete: florete, flores, quasi lílium, et date odórem, et frondete in grátiam, et collaudate cánticum, et benedicite Dóminum in opéribus suis. Allelúia.
English
Matt 11:25
I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You did hide these things from the wise and prudent, and did reveal them to little ones.
Ps 70:5
℣. My trust, O Lord, from my youth. Alleluia, alleluia.
Sir 39:17-19
℣. Open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; send up a sweet odor like Lebanon. Break forth in blossoms like the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in His works. Alleluia.
GospelMatt 18:1-4
Latin
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Matt 18:1-4
In illo témpore: Accessérunt discípuli ad Iesum, dicéntes: Quis, putas, maior est in regno cœlórum? Et advocans Iesus párvulum, státuit eum in médio eórum, et dixit; Amen, dico vobis, nisi convérsi fuéritis, et efficiámini sicut párvuli, non intrábitis in regnum cœlorum. Quicúmque ergo humiliáverit se sicut párvulus iste, hic est maior in regno cœlórum.
English
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Matt 18:1-4
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who then is greater in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in their midst, and said, Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever, therefore, humbles himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
OffertoryLuc 1:46-49
Latin
Luc 1:46-49
Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum: et exsultávit spíritus meus in Deo salutári meo: quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllæ suæ: fecit mihi magna qui potens est.
English
Luke 1:46; 1:48-49.
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid. He Who is mighty has done great things for me.
Secret
Latin
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionDeut 32:10-12
Latin
Deut 32:10-12
Circumdúxit eam, et dócuit: et custodívit quasi pupíllam óculi sui. Sicut aquila expándit alas suas, et assúmpsit eam, atque portávit in húmeris suis. Dóminus solus dux eius fuit.
English
Deut 32:10-12
He led her about and taught her, and He guarded her as the apple of His eye. As an eagle He spread His wings to receive her and bore her up on His pinions. The Lord alone was her leader.
Post Communion
Latin
Illo nos, Dómine amóris igne cœléste mystérium inflámmet: quo sancta Teresia Virgo tua se tibi pro homínibus caritátis víctimam devóvit.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
May the heavenly sacrament, O Lord, enkindle in us that fire of love which urged blessed Theresa, Your Virgin, to offer herself to You as a victim of charity for mankind.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium