Novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception
Mary’s
Immaculate Conception
In thy conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast immaculate; pray for us
to the Father, whose Son Jesus, conceived in thy womb by the Holy Ghost, thou
didst bring forth.
MEDITATION
Early in the Christian era the feast of Mary’s Immaculate
Conception was observed in several countries. St. Anselm, Bishop of Canterbury,
introduced it in England. A great number of Popes favored the doctrine of
Mary’s absolute sinlessness, and the adversaries of the Immaculate Conception
were bidden to be silent and not publicly assert or defend their view. In 1477,
Pope Sixtus IV prescribed the feast of the Immaculate Conception to be observed
in the whole Church, and made it obligatory on priests to recite the special
canonical office and to use the Mass formula published for the purpose. In
1846, the bishops of the United States assembled in plenary council in
Baltimore elected the Blessed Virgin under the title of her immaculate
conception Patroness of the Church in their country.
Finally, Pope Pius IX, after consulting with the bishops
throughout the world, and having implored the Holy Ghost for His guidance in
prayer and fasting, promulgated, on December 8, 1854, the dogma which teaches
that the Blessed Virgin Mary was in her conception, by a special grace and
through the merits of her divine Son, preserved from the stain of original sin.
This doctrine was received throughout the world with ineffable joy; and,
indeed, no one who loves the Blessed Virgin can help rejoicing at this her most
glorious privilege.
The invocation, “Queen conceived without the stain of
original sin,” was added to the Litany of Loreto. In 1866, at the Second
Plenary Council in Baltimore, the feast of the Immaculate Conception was raised
to the rank of a Holy day of obligation for the Church of the United States.
PRACTICE
In the inscrutable designs of His providence God ordained
that the mystery of the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary should
be proclaimed an article of faith as late as the middle of the nineteenth century.
But, then, its proclamation was attended by circumstances that undeniably
proved that the Holy Father in pronouncing the dogma had been inspired and
guided by the Holy Ghost.
Let us praise God and thank Him for bestowing this glorious
privilege on our beloved Mother, and let us often invoke her under her favorite
title, the Immaculate Conception. St. Alphonsus Liguori tells us that the
devotion to this mystery is especially efficacious in overcoming the
temptations of impurity. Therefore he was accustomed to recommend to his
penitents thus tempted to recite three times every day the Hail Mary in honor
of Mary immaculate. And the Venerable John of Avila assures us that he never
found any one who practiced a true devotion to the Immaculate Conception of Mary,
who did not in a short time obtain the gift of that virtue which renders us so
dear to her immaculate heart.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O God, who through the immaculate conception of the Virgin
didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for Thy divine Son; grant that, as in
view of Thy Son Thou didst preserve her from all taint, so Thou wouldst
vouchsafe unto us that cleansed from all sin by her intercession we too may
arrive at Thine eternal glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Vessel of honor, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of prophets, pray for us.
Queen of apostles, pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors, pray for us.
Queen of virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy rosary, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare
us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world:
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have
mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God:
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our
hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by
the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory
of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer
O living light of holiness, model of purity, Mary
immaculate, virgin and mother! As soon as thou wast conceived thou didst
profoundly adore thy God, giving Him thanks that in thee the ancient curse was
revoked, and blessing came again upon the sinful sons of Adam. O make this
blessing kindle in my heart love for God; and do thou fan this flame of love
within me, that I may love Him constantly and one day in heaven eternally enjoy
Him, there to thank Him more and more fervently for all the wondrous privileges
conferred on thee, and to rejoice with thee for thy high crown of glory.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have
recourse to thee!
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