Tell Out My Soul

O my God!  I offer You all my actions this day for the intentions and for the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart, my every thought, my simplest works, by uniting them to His infinite merits; and I wish to make reparation for my sins by casting them into the furnace of His merciful love. O my God! I ask You for myself and for those whom I hold dear, the grace to fulfill perfectly Your holy will, to accept for love of You the joys and sorrows of this passing life, so that we may one day be united together in heaven for all eternity.  Amen.

The message of St Therese is a simple yet powerful one which is still treasured by a great many people today. Although she died at the age of 24, every minute was dedicated to serving God in humility, love and devotion. Her message was simple, that we can worship God in the little things of life, every day, in every way, and this she did all her life. Therese promised to spend her time in heaven doing good on earth and many prayers said in her name have been answered; her sweetness and care can be felt today by all those who call upon her.

Starting our day with prayer is so very important because it connects us to God before all the distracting and interfering activities have time to take hold. Our first thoughts are of God and when our hearts are open to him, his love can be felt throughout our day; his presence fills each waking moment, giving meaning to all the things we do. St Therese’s morning offering really covers all the bases. It is an offering up of our activity and work, it seeks forgiveness, it draws in our loved ones, it expresses acceptance and a deep intention to do God’s holy will, and finally, it looks forward to an eternity in God’s presence.

It isn’t difficult to imagine this slight and gracious saint, dressed in the folds of the rough brown Carmelite habit, in the early morning light, kneeling to pray before the crucifix, and pronouncing this simple yet beautifully composed offering to her Lord. What more perfect way to commence the day.