Novena in Honor of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception

(Beginning November 29)
from the 1910 Raccolta.


[At any time of the year, with any form of prayer approved by competent ecclesiastical authority.
i. 300 Days each day.
ii. Plenary on the Feast or during the Octave. I, II, IV.
(See Instructions, p. 1.)]


Veni Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.

Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of thy love.
℣. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur.

℣. Send forth thy spirit and they shall be created;
℟. Et renovabis faciem terræ.

℟. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Oremus.

Let us pray.
Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti, da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de ejus semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant us by the same Spirit to relish what is right, and evermore to rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord.
℟. Amen.

℟. Amen.

Preparatory Prayer to be said each day.

Virgin most pure, conceived without sin, all fair and stainless in thy Conception; glorious Mary, full of grace, Mother of my God, Queen of Angels and of men, —I humbly venerate thee as Mother of my Savior, who, though He was God, taught me by His own veneration, reverence, and obedience to thee, the honour and homage that are due to thee. Vouchsafe, I pray thee, to accept this Novena which I dedicate to thee. Thou art the safe refuge of the penitent sinner; it is very fitting, then, that I should have recourse to thee. Thou art the Mother of Compassion; then wilt thou surely be moved with pity for my many miseries. Thou art my best hope after Jesus; thou canst not but accept the loving confidence that I have in thee. Make me worthy to be called thy son, that so I may dare to cry unto thee: Show thyself a mother.

Ave Maria nine times, and Gloria Patri once.

Prayer for the First Day, November 29.

Behold me at thy sacred feet, O Immaculate Virgin. I rejoice with thee, because from all eternity thou wast elected to be the Mother of the Eternal Word, and wast preserved stainless from the taint of original sin. I praise and bless the Most Holy Trinity, who poured out upon thy soul in thy Conception the treasure of that privilege. I humbly pray thee to obtain for me grace effectually to overcome the sad effects produced in my soul by original sin; make me wholly victorious over them, that I may never cease to love my God.

Then say or sing the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, or else:

℣. Tota pulchra es Maria.

℣. All fair art thou, O Mary.
℟. Tota pulchra es Maria.

℟. All fair art thou, O Mary.
℣. Et macula originalis non est in te.
℣. The original stain is not in thee.
℟. Et macula originalis non est in te.
℟. The original stain is not in thee.
℣. Tu gloria Ierusalem.
℣. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.
℟. Tu lætitia Israel.
℟. Thou art the joy of Israel.
℣. Tu honorificentia populi nostri.
℣. Thou art the honour of our people.
℟. To advocata peccatorum.
℟. Thou art the advocate of sinners.
℣. O Maria.
℣. O Mary.
℟. O Maria.

℟. O Mary.
℣. Virgo prudentissima.
℣. Virgin most prudent.
℟. Mater clementissima.
℟. Mother most clement.
℣. Ora pro nobis.
℣. Pray for us.
℟. Intercede pro nobis ad Dominum Jesu Christum.

℟. Intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ.

After the Litany or Hymn as above, say,

℣. In Conceptione tua, O Virgo, immaculata fuisti.
℣. In thy conception, O Virgin, thou wast immaculate.
℟. Ora pro nobis Patrem, cuius Filium peperisti.
℟. Pray for us to the Father, whose Son was born of thee.
Oremus.
Let us pray.

Deus, qui per Immaculatam Virginis Conceptionem dignum Filio tuo habitaculum præprarasti: quæsumus, ut qui ex morte eiusdem Filii tui prævisa eam ab omni labe præservasti, nos quoque mundos, eius intercessionene, ad te pervenire concedas. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.


O God, who through the Immaculate Conception of a Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for thy Son, we beseech Thee, who by the death of that Son, forseen by Thee, didst preserve her from all stain of sin, to grant that by her intercession we also may be purified, and so may come to Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Deus, omnium fidelium pastor et rector, famulum tuum N., quem pastorem Ecclesiæ tuæ præesse voluisti, propitius respice; da ei quæsumus, verbo et exemplo, quibus præest, proficere: ut ad vitam una cum grege sibi credito, preveniat sempiternam.


O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, graciously look down upon thy servant N., whom Thou hast chosen to be the Pastor of thy Church; and grant him, we beseech Thee, both by word and example, so to direct those over whom Thou hast placed him, that together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may attain eternal life.

Deus, refugium nostrum et virtus, adesto piis Ecclesiæ tuæ precibus, auctor ipse pietatis; et præsta; ut quod fideliter petimus efficaciter consequamur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.


O God, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all holiness, listen to the pious prayers of thy Church, and grant that what we ask in faith we may effectually obtain, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The same order is to be observed on the other days of the Novena, the prayer for the day alone being changed.

Prayer for the Second Day, November 30.

Mary, unsullied lily of purity, I rejoice with thee, because from the first moment of thy Conception thou wast filled with grace, and hadst given unto thee the perfect use of reason. I thank and adore the ever blessed Trinity, who gave thee those high gifts. Behold me at thy feet overwhelmed with shame to see myself so poor in grace. O Thou who wast filled full of heavenly grace, grant me a portion of that same grace, and make me a partaker in the treasures of thy Immaculate Conception.

Prayer for the Third Day, December 1.

Mary, mystic rose of purity, I rejoice with thee at the glorious triumph thou didst gain over the serpent by thy Immaculate Conception, in that thou wast conceived without original sin. I thank and praise with my whole heart the ever blessed Trinity, who granted thee that glorious privilege; and I pray thee to obtain for me courage to overcome every snare of the great enemy, and never to stain my soul with mortal sin. Be thou always mine aid, and enable me with thy protection to obtain the victory over all the enemies of man's eternal welfare.

Prayer for the Fourth Day, December 2.

Mary Immaculate Virgin, mirror of holy purity, I rejoice exceedingly to see how from thy Immaculate Conception there were infused into thy soul the most sublime and perfect virtues with all the gifts of the most Holy Spirit. I thank and praise the ever blessed Trinity who bestowed upon thee these high privileges, and I beseech thee, gracious Mother, obtain for me grace to practise every Christian virtue, and so to become worthy to receive the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost.

Prayer for the Fifth Day, December 3.

Mary, bright moon of purity, I congratulate thee in that the mystery of thy Immaculate Conception was the beginning of salvation to the human race, and was the joy of the whole world. I thank and bless the ever blessed Trinity who did so magnify and glorify thy person. I entreat thee to obtain for me the grace so to profit by the death and passion of thy dear Son, that his Precious Blood may not have been shed upon the Cross for me in vain, but that after a holy life I may be saved.

Prayer for the Sixth Day, December 4.

Mary Immaculate, brilliant start of purity, I rejoice with thee, because thy Immaculate Conception brought exceeding joy to all the angels of Paradise. I thank and bless the ever blessed Trinity, who enriched thee with this privilege. Enable me also one day to take part in this heavenly joy, praising and blessing thee in the company of angels, world without end. Amen.

Prayer for Seventh Day, December 5.

Mary, Immaculate, rising morn of purity, I rejoice with thee, and I am filled with admiration at beholding thee confirmed in grace and considered sinless from the first moment of thy Conception. I thank and praise the ever blessed Trinity, who elected thee alone from all mankind for this special privilege. Holiest Virgin, obtain for me so entire and lasting a hatred of sin, the worst of all evils, that I may rather die than ever again commit a mortal sin.

Prayer for the Eighth Day, December 6.

Mary, Virgin, sun without stain, I congratulate thee and I rejoice with thee, because God gave thee in thy Conception a greater and more abundant grace than He gave to all his angels and his saints together, even when their merits were most exalted. I thank and admire the immense beneficence of the ever blessed Trinity, who hath dispensed to thee alone this privilege. Oh, enable me too to correspond with the grace of God, and never more to receive it in vain; change my heart, and help me to begin in earnest a new life.

Prayer for the Ninth Day, December 7.

Immaculate Mary, living light of holiness, model of purity, Virgin and Mother, as soon as thou wast conceived, thou didst profoundly adore thy God, giving him thanks, because by means of thee the ancient curse was blotted out, and blessing was again come upon the sinful sons of Adam. Let this blessing kindle in my heart love towards God; and do thou inflame my heart still more and more, that I may ever love Him constantly on earth, and afterwards eternally enjoy Him in heaven, there to thank and praise Him more and more fervently for all the wondrous privileges conferred on thee, and to rejoice with thee for thy high crown of glory.