Novena to the Immaculate Conception
(November 29 to December 8)
Prayers to be said every day
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit have instructed the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O immaculate Virgin, conceived without original sin, glorious, all beautiful and free from every stain from the first moment of your existence, Mother of God full of grace, Queen of angels and of men: I venerate you with all reverence, because you are the Mother of my Saviour. He, though he is God, taught me by the honour, esteem and obedience he showed you to honour and respect you. So I ask you to accept kindly all the homage I offer you during these nine days. Because you are the refuge of repentant sinners, I may rightly turn to you; because you are the Mother of mercy, it is fitting that you look upon my misery with compassion; and because you are my greatest hope after Jesus, receive the trust with which I rely on you. Make me worthy to be called your child, so that I may say to you: “Show yourself a Mother to me.” Amen.
Hail Mary (nine times) and Glory Be.
These prayers are said every day of the novena. Then say the prayer for the day, the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and end with the following prayers:
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son, grant, we pray, that, as you preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we too may come to you cleansed and pure.
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look mercifully upon your servant N., our Pope, whom you have chosen to be the shepherd of your Church. Grant that by word and example he may benefit those in his charge, so that, together with the flock entrusted to him, he may reach eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, our refuge and our strength, source of all holiness, hear the devout prayers of your Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Day
O most pure Virgin, here I am, kneeling at your blessed feet. With all my heart I congratulate you on being chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the eternal Word and on being preserved from original sin. Thanks and blessing to the Most Holy Trinity, who favoured you with these gifts in your Immaculate Conception. I ask you to obtain for me the grace to overcome and master the effects of original sin that surround me, and to love the Lord my God for ever. Amen.
(Here say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus Christ, hear us.
Lord Jesus 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 Spirit, 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 our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, 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 honour, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Cedar of Lebanon, 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 of heaven and earth, pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
V. In your conception, O Virgin Mary, you were immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father, whose Son you brought forth.
Second Day
O Mary, spotless lily of purity, I congratulate you on receiving abundant graces from the first moment of your Immaculate Conception, and on being wise and prudent. Thanks and adoration to the Most Holy Trinity, who gave you these virtues. When I consider my own nothingness and lowliness, I am overcome with shame and confusion. Grant my soul the heavenly gifts you received, and let me benefit from the treasures of your Immaculate Conception. Amen.
(Here say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Third Day
O Mary, mystical rose of purity, I congratulate you on triumphing over the infernal serpent through your Immaculate Conception, since you were conceived free from original sin. Thanks and praise to the Most Holy Trinity, who favoured you with this grace. I ask you to obtain for me the grace to overcome all the snares of the devil and never to stain my soul with sin. Be my refuge always, O Mary, and protect me, so that I may always triumph over all the enemies of my salvation. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Fourth Day
O Mary, mirror of purity, most pure Virgin, I congratulate you because your Creator adorned you from your Immaculate Conception with the highest and most perfect virtues, and filled you with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thanks and praise to the Most Holy Trinity, who favoured you with these graces. I ask you, most tender Mother, to obtain for me the grace to practise the virtues and to be worthy to receive the gifts and blessings of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Fifth Day
O Mary, shining moon of purity, I congratulate you because the mystery of your Immaculate Conception was the beginning of the salvation of the human race and brought joy to the whole world. Thanks and praise to the Most Holy Trinity, who exalted and glorified you. I ask you to obtain for me the grace to benefit from the Passion and death of your Son Jesus, so that I may not lose the price of the precious Blood he shed for me on the cross, but may live a pure life and work for my salvation. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Sixth Day
O Mary, bright and radiant star of purity, I congratulate you because your Immaculate Conception filled the angels of heaven with joy and delight. Thanks and praise to the Most Holy Trinity, who granted you this favour. Give me a share in this heavenly joy at the end of my life, so that I may come to praise and bless you with the angels for ever. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Seventh Day
O Mary, glory of purity and fountain of clearness, I congratulate you with wonder because God confirmed you in grace at the very moment of your Immaculate Conception, and you never lost it. Thanks and honour to the Most Holy Trinity, who bestowed this grace on you. Obtain for me the grace to hate sin with all my heart throughout my life, more than any other evil, and let me die rather than commit the smallest sin. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Eighth Day
O Mary, sun of purity, I congratulate you on the abundant graces God poured out on you in your Immaculate Conception, graces that all the angels and saints together have never received. Thanks and praise to the Most Holy Trinity, who gave you these graces. Make me docile to divine grace, and let me never again take it for granted. Renew my heart, and let this hour be the beginning of my conversion. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
Ninth Day
O Mary, my Mother, all-pure Virgin, lamp shining with holiness, woman radiant with purity: from the moment your holy mother Anne conceived you, you bowed down deeply before the Lord and thanked him that through you the curse that had struck the children of Adam was taken away and replaced by an abundant blessing. Let this blessing set my heart on fire with the love of God; kindle it yourself, so that I may never stop loving him and may possess him in the Kingdom. There I will give him new and fervent thanks for the graces with which he favoured you, and I will rejoice with you, beholding you crowned with the crown of glory. Amen.
(Say the Litany of the Blessed Virgin and the closing prayers.)
