Novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception

November 29 – December 7
Solemnity: December 8
NOVENA ORDO Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
1. PRAYER TO TAKE AUTHORITY
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
2. CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL
Jesus, hear us! Jesus, Graciously hear us.
3. OPENING PRAYER
4. LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN LET US PRAY:
Lord Jesus Christ, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall
5. NOVENA PRAYER FOR EACH DAY find; knock and it shall be opened to you”; mercifully attend to our supplications,
6. DAILY ROSARY and grant us the grace of Your most divine love, that we love You with all our hearts,
and in all our words and actions, and never cease to praise You. Make us, O Lord,
7. PETITION PRAYER AND INDIVIDUAL PETITIONS to have a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name, for You never fail to govern
those whom You establish in Your love. You, Who live and reign forever and ever.
8. CLOSING PRAYER
Amen.
9. LITANY OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

PRAYER TO TAKE AUTHORITY

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, I TAKE AUTHORITY AND I BIND ALL
THE POWERS AND FORCES IN THE AIR, IN THE GROUND, IN THE
WATER, IN THE UNDERGROUND, IN THE NETHERWORLD, IN NATURE
AND IN FIRE. YOU ARE LORD OVER THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE AND I GIVE
YOU GLORY AND PRAISE FOR YOUR CREATION. IN YOUR NAME, JESUS
CHRIST, I BIND ALL DEMONIC FORCES THAT HAVE COME AGAINST US
AND OUR FAMILIES, AND I SEAL ALL OF US IN THE PROTECTION OF
YOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD THAT WAS SHED FOR US ON THE CROSS.
MARY, OUR MOTHER, WE SEEK YOUR PROTECTION AND
INTERCESSION, WITH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS, FOR US AND FOR
OUR FAMILIES. SURROUND US WITH YOUR MANTLE OF LOVE TO
DISCOURAGE THE ENEMY. ST. MICHAEL AND OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS
COME; DEFEND US AND OUR FAMILIES IN THE BATTLE AGAINST ALL
THE EVIL ONES THAT ROAM THE EARTH. IN THE NAME OF JESUS
CHRIST AND THROUGH HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD, I BIND AND COMMAND
ALL THE POWERS AND FORCES OF EVIL TO DEPART RIGHT NOW AWAY
FROM US, OUR HOMES, AND OUR LANDS. WE THANK YOU, LORD JESUS;
FOR YOU ARE A FAITHFUL AND COMPASSIONATE GOD. AMEN.
(one Hail Mary)

THE CHAPLET OF ST. MICHAEL

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be...
[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations
in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]
LITANY OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS 1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the
Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. perfection. Amen.
Christ, hear us. Christ Graciously hear us. 3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord
Response: Have Mercy on us! infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.
4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the
God the Father of Heaven, Jesus, Lover of Chastity, Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions. Amen.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Jesus, our Lover, 5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord
God the Holy Spirit, Jesus, God of Peace, preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.
Holy Trinity, One God, Jesus, Author of Life, 6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord
Jesus, Son of the living God, Jesus, Model of Virtues, protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
Jesus, Splendor of the Father, Jesus, zealous for souls, 7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may
Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light, Jesus, our God, God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
Jesus, King of Glory, Jesus, our Refuge, 8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the
Jesus, Sun of Justice, Jesus, Father of the Poor, Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful, the glory of Heaven. Amen.
Jesus, most amiable, Jesus, good Shepherd, 9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord
Jesus, most admirable, Jesus, true Light, grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come
Jesus, the mighty God, Jesus, eternal Wisdom, to Heaven. Amen.
Jesus, Father of the world to come, Jesus, infinite Goodness,
Jesus, angel of great counsel, Jesus, our Way and our Life, Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael,
Jesus, most powerful, Jesus, joy of the Angels, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.
Jesus, most patient, Jesus, Light of Confessors,
Jesus, most obedient, Jesus, Purity of Virgins,
Jesus, meek and humble of heart Jesus, Crown of all Saints, Concluding prayers:
O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian
Response: Jesus, Save your People! of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our
admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver
Lord, be merciful, Through Your most divine Life,
us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious
From all evil, Through Your Labors,
protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
From all sin, Through Your Agony and Passion,
From Your wrath, Through Your cross and Dereliction, Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we
From the snares of the devil, Through your Sufferings, may be made worthy of His promises.
From the spirit of fornication, Through Your Death and Burial, Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire
From everlasting death, Through Your Resurrection, for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael
From the neglect of Your inspirations, Through Your Ascension, Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our
Through the mystery of Your Holy Through Your Institution of the Most enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be
Incarnation, Holy Eucharist, conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of
Through Your Nativity, Through Your Joys, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Through Your Infancy, Through Your Glory,
OPENING PRAYER CLOSING PRAYER:
LEADER: LEADER: We praise you, Lord, in this daughter of Israel, who sang the songs of
David, who knew the deeds of Judith, and held in her heart the burning words of
Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of Your Son. You let
Isaiah. We pray as Mary did: may your name be holy, may the hungry be filled and
her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by His death, and kept her
the rich know hunger, may the proud be scattered and the oppressed raised up, may
sinless from the first moment of her conception. You allowed no stain of Adam's sin
your love be ever with your people.
to touch the Virgin Mary. Full of grace, she was to be a worthy mother of Your Son,
Your sign of favor to the Church at its beginning, and the promise of its perfection as ALL: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
the bride of Christ, radiant in beauty. Purest of Virgins, she was to bring forth Your
LEADER: Father, the image of the Virgin is found in the Church. Mary had a faith
Son, the innocent lamb who takes away our sins. You chose her from all women to
that Your Spirit prepared and a love that never knew sin, for You kept her sinless
be our advocate with You and our pattern of holiness. Help us by her prayers to live
from the first moment of her conception.
in Your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and Trace in our actions the lines of her love, in our hearts her readiness of faith. Prepare
ever. Amen. once again a world for Your Son.
ALL: ALL: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
O Mary Immaculate, lily of purity, I salute you, because from the very first instant of LEADER: O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
your conception you were filled with grace. I thank and adore the Most Holy Trinity did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the
for having imparted to you favors so sublime. O Mary, full of grace, help me to foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too, You
share, even though just a little, in the fullness of grace so wonderfully bestowed on would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.
you in your Immaculate Conception. With firm confidence in your never failing ALL: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
intercession, we beseech you to obtain for us the intention of this novena, and also
that purity of mind, heart, and body necessary to unite us with God. LEADER: We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and
reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.
ALL: Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, never was it known that anyone who fled
to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee
do I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word
Incarnate!
Despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
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.
 NINTH DAY: DECEMBER 7 ~ The Mother of God is our Response: Pray for us

Mother Holy Virgin of virgins, Singular vessel of devotion,

Mother of Christ, Mystical rose,
PRAYER: Mother of divine grace, Tower of David,
God of mercies, your only Son, while hanging on the cross, appointed Mary, his Mother most pure, Tower of ivory,
mother, to be our mother also. Like her, and under her loving care, may your Church Mother most chaste, House of gold,
grow day by day, rejoice in the holiness of its children, and so attract to itself all the Mother inviolate, Ark of the covenant,
peoples of the earth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Mother undefiled, Gate of Heaven,
Mother most amiable, Morning star,
Mother most admirable, Health of the sick
READING: Jn 19:23-27 Mother of good counsel, Refuge of sinners,
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, Mother of our Creator, Comforter of the afflicted,
one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top Mother of our Savior, Queen of angels,
to bottom; so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see Mother of the Church, Queen of patriarchs,
whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the scripture, "They parted my garments among Virgin most prudent, Queen of prophets,
them, and for my clothing they cast lots." So the soldiers did this. But standing by the Virgin most venerable, Queen of apostles,
cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, Virgin most renowned, Queen of martyrs,
and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved Virgin most powerful, Queen of confessors,
standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the Virgin most merciful, Queen of virgins,
disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his Virgin most faithful, Queen of all saints,
own home. Mirror of justice, Queen conceived without Original Sin,
Seat of wisdom, Queen assumed into Heaven,
Cause of our joy, Queen of the holy Rosary,
CONSIDERATION:
Spiritual vessel, Queen of families,
“If John’s description of the event at Cana presents Mary’s caring motherhood at the
Vessel of honor, Queen of peace,
beginning of Christ’s messianic activity, another passage from the same Gospel
confirms this motherhood in the salvific economy of grace at its crowning moment,
namely when Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, his paschal mystery, is accomplished. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
And yet the ‘testament of Christ’s Cross’ says more. Jesus highlights a new
relationship between Mother and Son, the whole truth and reality of which he Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
solemnly confirms. One can say that if Mary’s motherhood of the human race had Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
already been outlined, now it is clearly stated and established. It emerges from the
definitive accomplishment of the Redeemer’s paschal mystery. The mother of Christ, Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
who stands at the very center of this mystery – a mystery which embraces each That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
individual and all humanity – is given as mother to every single individual and all
mankind.”
Let us pray - O God, by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, you bestowed upon the
human race the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beg you, that we may feel the
DAILY ROSARY
power of her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the
Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you forever
and ever. Amen.
 FIRST DAY: NOVEMBER 29 ~ Mary, the new Eve EIGHTH DAY: DECEMBER 6 ~ Mediatrix of All Graces
PRAYER:
PRAYER: God of heaven and earth, your Son, Jesus the Lord, while dying on the altar of the
Lord God, may our gifts be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, who formed the Blessed cross, chose Mary, his mother, to be our mother also. Grant that we, who entrust
Virgin Mary to be a new creation and sent down upon her the dew of heavenly ourselves to her maternal care, may always be protected when we call upon her
grace, so that her womb might bear the fruit of our salvation, name. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

READING: Jn 2:1-11
READING: Gen 3:1-6, 13-15 On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus
Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine
made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, `You shall not eat of any tree of the failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her,
garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of "O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come." His mother
the garden; but God said, `You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now six stone jars were standing
midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus
the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said
be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took
saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not
tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the
gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Every man serves the
is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate." good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have
The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above kept the good wine until now." This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in
all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his
heel." CONSIDERATION:
“Mary is present at Cana in Galilee as the Mother of Jesus, and in a significant way
she contributes to that ‘beginning of the signs’ which reveal the messianic power of
CONSIDERATION: her Son. The wedding at Cana in Galilee offers us a sort of first announcement of
“Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word, is placed at the very center of that enmity, that Mary’s mediation, wholly oriented towards Christ and tending to the revelation of
struggle which accompanies the history of humanity on earth and the history of his salvific power. It is evident that it is a mediation which is maternal. The Second
salvation itself. In this central place, she who belongs to the ‘weak and poor of the Vatican Council teaching proclaims Mary became ‘a mother to us in the order of
Lord’ bears in herself, like no other member of the human race, that ‘glory of grace’ grace,’ which flows from her divine motherhood. Because she was, by the design of
which the Father ‘has bestowed on us in his beloved Son,’ and this grace determines the divine Providence, the mother who nourished the divine Redeemer, Mary became
the extraordinary greatness and beauty of her whole being. Mary thus remains ‘an associate of unique nobility, and the Lord’s humble handmaid,’ who ‘cooperated
before God, and also before the whole of humanity, as the unchangeable and by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring
inviolable sign of God’s election, spoken of in Paul’s letter: ‘in Christ. .he chose supernatural life to souls.’ And ‘this maternity of Mary in the order of grace will last
us. .before the foundation of the world, . .he destined us. .for adoption’ (Eph 1:4,5). without interruption until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect.’”
This election is more powerful than any experience of evil and sin, than all that
‘enmity’ which marks the history of man. In this history, Mary remains a sign of DAILY ROSARY
sure hope.”
DAILY ROSARY
SEVENTH DAY: DECEMBER 5 ~ First Disciple of Jesus SECOND DAY: NOVEMBER 30 ~ Mary, Full of Grace
PRAYER:
Lord our God, you sent your Son from heaven into the womb of the Blessed Virgin to PRAYER:
be your saving Word and our Bread of Life: grant that like Mary we may welcome Father, in your plan for our salvation, your Word became man, announced by an
Christ, by treasuring His words in our hearts and celebrating in faith the deep angel and born of the Virgin Mary. May we who believe that she is the Mother of
mysteries of our redemption. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God receive the help of her prayers. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

READING: Lk 11:27-28 READING: Lk 1: 26-33

A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin
bore you, and the breasts that you nursed!” But He said, “Blessed, rather, are those betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's
who hear the word of God and keep it!” name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with
you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what
sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for
CONSIDERATION: you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and
“The Gospel of Luke records the moment when ‘a woman in the crowd raised her bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the
voice’ and said to Jesus: ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father
nursed!’ These words were an expression of praise of Mary as Jesus’ mother David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there
according to the flesh. But to the blessing uttered by that woman upon her who was will be no end."
his mother according to the flesh, Jesus replies in a significant way: ‘Blessed, rather,
are those who hear the word of God and keep it.’ He wishes to divert attention from CONSIDERATION:
motherhood understood only as a fleshly bond, in order to direct it towards those “When we read that the angel messenger addresses Mary as ‘full of grace,’ the
mysterious bonds of the spirit which develop from hearing and keeping God’s word. Gospel context , which mingles revelations and ancient promises, enables us to
Without any doubt, Mary is worthy of blessing by the very fact that she became the understand that among all the ‘spiritual blessings in Christ’ this is a special
mother of Jesus according to the flesh, but also and especially because already at the ‘blessing.’ In the mystery of Christ, she is present even ‘before the creation of the
Annunciation she accepted the word of God, because she believed it, because she world,’ as the one whom the Father ‘has chosen’ as Mother of His Son in the
was obedient to God, and because she ‘kept’ the word and ‘pondered it in her heart,’ Incarnation. And, what is more, together with the Father, the Son has chosen her,
and by means of her whole life accomplished it. Thus we can say that the blessing entrusting her eternally to the Spirit of holiness. In an entirely special and
proclaimed by Jesus is not in opposition, despite appearances, to the blessing uttered exceptional way Mary is united to Christ, and similarly she is eternally loved in this
by the unknown woman, but rather coincides with that blessing in the person of this ‘beloved Son,’ this Son who is of one being with the Father, in whom is concentrated
Virgin Mother, who called herself only ‘the handmaid of the Lord.’ If through faith all the ‘glory of grace.’ At the same time she is and remains perfectly open to this
Mary became the bearer of the Son given to her by the Father through the power of ‘gift from above.’ As the Council teaches, Mary ‘stands out among the poor and
the Holy Spirit, while preserving her virginity intact, in that same faith she humble of the Lord, who confidently await and receive salvation from Him.’”
discovered and accepted the other dimension of motherhood revealed by Jesus
during his messianic mission. One can say that this dimension of motherhood
belonged to Mary from the beginning, that is to say from the moment of the DAILY ROSARY
conception and birth of her Son. From that time she was ‘the one who believed.’
Thus in a sense Mary as mother became the first disciple of her Son, the first to
whom he seemed to say ‘Follow me,’ even before he addressed this call to the
apostles or to anyone else.
DAILY ROSARY
THIRD DAY: DECEMBER 1 ~ Mary, Handmaid of the Lord accomplish his mission, namely in misunderstanding and sorrow. While this
announcement confirms her faith in the accomplishment of the divine promises of
salvation, it also reveals to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in
PRAYER: suffering, at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be
Lord God, when your Son came down from heaven, Mary had conceived him in her mysterious and sorrowful.”
heart before she conceived him in her womb: grant that by holy and just deeds we DAILY ROSARY
may show forth in our lives the Christ whom we have received by faith, and who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

READING: Lk 1:34-38
And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the
angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son
of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a
son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God
nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the
Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

CONSIDERATION:
“Indeed, at the Annunciation Mary entrusted herself to God completely, with the
‘full submission of intellect and will,’ manifesting ‘the obedience of faith’ to him
who spoke to her through his messenger. She responded, therefore, with all her
human and feminine ‘I,’ and this response of faith included both perfect cooperation
with ‘the grace of God that precedes and assists’ and perfect openness to the action
of the Holy Spirit, who ‘constantly brings faith to completion by his gifts.’ The word
of the living God, announced to Mary by the angel, referred to her: ‘And behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son.’ By accepting this announcement, Mary
was to become the ‘Mother of the Lord,’ and the divine mystery of the Incarnation
was to be accomplished in her: ‘The Father of mercies willed that the consent of the
predestined Mother should precede the Incarnation.’ And Mary gives this consent,
after she has heard everything the messenger has to say. . .The mystery of the
Incarnation was accomplished when Mary uttered her fiat: ‘Let it be done to me
according to your word,’ which made possible, as far as it depended upon her in the
divine plan, the granting of her Son’s desire.”

DAILY ROSARY
SIXTH DAY: DECEMBER 4 ~ Mary, our Sorrowful Mother FOURTH DAY: DECEMBER 2 ~ Blessed Among Women
PRAYER: PRAYER:
Lord our God, in your eternal wisdom you fill out the passion of Christ through the Lord, our God, Savior of the human family, you brought salvation and joy to the
suffering that his members endure in the many trials of this life. As you gave his house of Elizabeth through the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Ark of the new
mother strength in her agony to stand by the cross of your Son, grant that we too may Covenant. We ask that, in obedience to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we too may
bring loving comfort to others in their distress of mind or body. We ask this through bring Christ to others and magnify your name by the praise of our lips and the
Christ our Lord. Amen. holiness of our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

READING: Lk 2:25-35 READING: Lk 1:39-44

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth
upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled
death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among
the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the
to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘mother of my Lord’ should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your
"Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.”
seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for
revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." And his father and his
mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to CONSIDERATION:
Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, “Immediately after the narration of the Annunciation, the evangelist Luke guides us
and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul in the footsteps of the Virgin of Nazareth towards ‘a city of Judah.’ According to
also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." scholars, this city would be the modern Ain Karim, situated in the mountains, not far
from Jerusalem. Moved by charity, therefore, Mary goes to the house of her
kinswoman and arrived there ‘in haste’ to visit Elizabeth. When Mary enters,
CONSIDERATION: Elizabeth replies to her greeting and feels the child leap in her womb, and, being
“A just and God-fearing man, called Simeon, appears at this beginning of Mary’s ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ she greets Mary with a loud cry: ‘Blessed are you among
‘journey’ of faith. His words, suggested by the Holy Spirit, confirm the truth of the women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’ Elizabeth’s exclamation or
Annunciation. He took up in his arms the child to whom in accordance with the acclamation was subsequently to become part of the Hail Mary, as a continuation of
angel’s command, the name Jesus was given. Simeon’s words match the meaning of the angel’s greeting, thus becoming one of the Church’s most frequently used
this name, which is Savior: ‘God is salvation.’ Turning to the Lord, he says, ‘For my prayers. But still more significant are the words of Elizabeth in the question which
eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all follows: ‘And why is this granted me, that the ‘mother of my Lord’ should come to
peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.’ me?’ Elizabeth bears witness to Mary: she recognizes and proclaims that before her
Simeon addresses Mary, ‘Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in stands the mother of the Lord, the mother of the Messiah. The son whom Elizabeth is
Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, that thoughts out of many hearts may be carrying in her womb also shares in this witness: ‘The babe in my womb leaped for
revealed’; and he adds with direct reference to her: ‘and a sword will pierce through joy!’ This child is John the Baptist, who at the Jordan will point out Jesus as the
your own soul also.’ Simeon’s words cast new light on the announcement which Messiah.”
Mary had heard from the angel: Jesus is the Savior, he is ‘a light for revelation’ to
mankind. Is not this what was manifested in a way on Christmas night, when the
shepherds came to the stable? Is not this what was to be manifested even more DAILY ROSARY
clearly in the coming of the Magi? Simeon’s words seem like a second Annunciation
to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to
FIFTH DAY: DECEMBER 3 ~ Mary, Model of Faith the same time, in a discreet yet direct and effective way she made present to
humanity the mystery of Christ. And she still continues to do so. Through the
PRAYER: mystery of Christ, she too is present within mankind. Thus, through the mystery of
All-holy Father, eternal God, in your goodness you prepared a royal throne for your the Son, the mystery of the Mother is also made clear.”
Wisdom in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; bathe your Church in the radiance
of your life-giving Word, that it may press forward on its pilgrim way in the light of DAILY ROSARY
your truth, and so come to the joy of a perfect knowledge of your love. God of
wisdom, in your desire to restore us to your friendship after we had lost it by sin, you
chose the Blessed Virgin Mary as the seat of your Wisdom. Grant through her
intercession that we may seek not the folly of the wise but the loving service that
marks out the poor in spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

READING: Lk 1:45-56
[And Elizabeth exclaimed:] ‘Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to
you by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ And Mary said, ‘My soul proclaims the
greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked
with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. He has mercy on
those who fear Him in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm, He
has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their
thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and
the rich He has sent empty away. He has come to the help of His servant Israel, for
He has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to
Abraham and to His descendants forever.’ Mary remained with her about three
months, and then returned to her home.

CONSIDERATION:
“Elizabeth’s words ‘blessed are you who believed’ do not apply only to that
particular moment of the Annunciation. Certainly the Annunciation is the
culminating moment of Mary’s faith in her awaiting of Christ, but it is also the point
of departure from which her whole ‘journey towards God’ begins, her whole
pilgrimage of faith. And on this road, in an eminent and truly heroic manner, the
obedience which she professes to the word of divine revelation will be fulfilled.
Mary’s ‘obedience of faith’ during the whole of her pilgrimage will show surprising
similarities to the faith of Abraham. Just like the patriarch of the People of God, so
too Mary, during the pilgrimage of her filial and maternal fiat, ‘in hope believed
against hope.’ In the expression ‘Blessed are you who believed,’ we can therefore
rightly find a kind of key which unlocks for us the innermost reality of Mary, whom
the angel hailed as ‘full of grace.’ If as ‘full of grace’ she has been eternally present
in the mystery of Christ, through faith she became a sharer in that mystery in every
extension of her earthly journey. She ‘advanced in her pilgrimage of faith,’ and at