Novena in Honour of the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
THE THIRD DAY – 1 December
The Ever-Virgin Mary, the Victrix of Satan
A simple short Novena DAY THREE here (which also attracts Indulgences):
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/01/immaculate-conception-novena-day-three-1-december/
NOTE on Indulgences HERE: https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/29/novena-in-honour-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-day-one-29-november/
PREPARATORY PRAYER:
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.
Indulgence. 200 days, every time. (Pius VI, 21 November
MEDITATION:
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary inaugurated the fulfilment of the Divine promise made to our first parents in Paradise, in the words addressed to the serpent: “I shall put enmities’ between thee and the woman and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head” (Gen. iii. 15).
Mary is the woman in whom Satan never had a part. Her intimate connection with God was announced by the Angel: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee!” Now was fulfilled the saying of the Psalmist, “The Most High hath sanctified His own tabernacle.
God is in the midst, thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the morning early” (Ps. xlv. 5-6).
Mary was chosen to be the glorious tabernacle of the Son of God “in the morning early,” that is, in the first moment of her existence. God, called her into being that she might assume the exalted dignity of the Mother of His Son and, therefore, granted her the singular privilege of exemption from Original Sin.
In her were fulfilled Solomon’s prophetic words of praise, “Thou art all fair, O my love and there is not a spot in thee” (Cant. iv. 7).
It was in view of her Son’s merits, applied to her beforehand that God thus produced in her, the image of the new man regenerated in the Holy Ghost.
PRACTICE:
The spirit of darkness holds mankind enslaved but one human being escapes him.
A destructive fire lays waste the whole earth but one tree remains unscathed.
A terrible tyrant conquers the whole world but one fortified city repels his assaults.
This human being retaining liberty, this tree escaping destruction, this city repelling the enemy’s attack is the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Will the Almighty and Merciful God, Who has accomplished such great things in Mary, Who has selected her for His Mother, not to listen to her prayers, when she intercedes for us?
St William of Paris exclaims: “No other created being can obtain for us, so many and so great graces from God, as His Mother. By the all-powerful might of her intercession, He honours her – not only as His handmaid but also, as His Mother.”
Therefor,e we ought not be surprised when the holy Fathers maintain that a single sigh of Mary, is more effective with God, than the combined intercession of all the Angels and Saints.
If, then, Mary’s power is so great, she will surely hear us when we invoke her help, in our combat with Satan. Having conquered him herself, she will also help us to conquer him!
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.
PRAYER:
Mary, thou mystical rose of purity,
my heart rejoices with thine
at the glorious triumph
which thou didst gain over the infernal serpent
by thy Immaculate Conception
and because thou wast conceived
without stain of Original Sin.
I thank and praise, with my whole heart,
the ever-blessed Trinity,
Who granted thee this glorious privilege
and I pray thee,
to obtain for me strength to overcome
all the wiles of the infernal foe,
and never to stain my soul with sin.
Be thou mine aid;
make me, by thy protection,
victorious over the common foe of our eternal welfare.
Hail Mary, Glory be … etc.
LITANY of LORETO:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/11/29/novena-in-honour-of-the-immaculate-conception-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-day-one-29-november/
Aspiration: O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Indulgence. 100 days, once a day. (Pope Leo XIII, 25 March 1884).
AnaStpaul 