Feast Day: 8 December
Novena Dates: 29 November – 7 December
INTRODUCTION
The Immaculate Conception is one of the most beautiful mysteries in the Catholic faith. This novena, consisting of nine days of prayer, is traditionally prayed from November 29th to December 7th, culminating in the liturgical feast on December 8th. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception declares that the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from the stain of original sin from the very moment of her conception.
This novena provides a structured journey of prayer and reflection, drawing the faithful closer to Mary’s maternal intercession while deepening devotion to her Immaculate Heart.
HOW TO PRAY THIS NOVENA
- Choose a quiet time and place for prayer.
- Begin each day by making the Sign of the Cross.
- Pray the Opening Prayer (same for all nine days).
- Pray the Day-Specific Prayer for that particular day.
- Present your personal intentions to Mary.
- Conclude with at least one Hail Mary or the Rosary.
- Close with the Sign of the Cross.
OPENING PRAYER FOR ALL NINE DAYS
(Pray this at the beginning of each day’s novena)
O God, who prepared a pure and spotless dwelling for Your Son in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pour into our hearts the grace You gave her, that through her loving intercession we may be freed from sin and brought closer to Your holiness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 1 – MARY, CHOSEN FROM ALL ETERNITY
Theme: Divine Election and Eternal Love
Heavenly Father, from all eternity You chose Mary to be the Mother of Your Son and adorned her with every grace. Looking to her as the masterpiece of Your love, grant that these nine days of prayer may deepen our wonder and gratitude for the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. Through her motherly care, purify the thoughts and desires of our hearts, so that, like her, we may say a generous “yes” to Your holy will in all things. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 2 – PRESERVED FROM ORIGINAL SIN
Theme: Redemption and Divine Mercy
Lord God, in view of the saving death and resurrection of Christ, You preserved the Virgin Mary from every stain of original sin. In Your mercy, wash away the sins that burden us and heal the wounds caused by our past choices. May the radiant purity of Mary strengthen us in the struggle against temptation and awaken in us a deep desire for repentance, confession, and a renewed life of grace. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 3 – FULL OF GRACE
Theme: Sanctifying Grace and Divine Favor
Lord Jesus, You greeted Your Mother through the angel as “full of grace,” revealing the beauty of a heart completely open to God. Teach us, through her example, to treasure the gift of grace received in Baptism and to cooperate with it each day. May the Immaculate Virgin lead us to a more fervent participation in the sacraments, so that Your grace may shape our thoughts, words, and deeds. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 4 – MODEL OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE
Theme: Trust and Surrender to God’s Will
Holy Spirit, You formed in the Immaculate Heart of Mary a faith that never wavered and an obedience that never refused You. In a world marked by doubt and self-reliance, strengthen our trust in Your word and give us courage to obey Your inspirations promptly and joyfully. May Mary’s “Let it be done to me according to Your word” become the pattern of our daily choices, especially when the cost of fidelity feels heavy. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 5 – MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
Theme: Maternal Intercession and Ecclesial Unity
Loving Father, from the Cross Your Son gave Mary to be Mother of the beloved disciple and of the whole Church. Under her Immaculate protection, guard the Pope, the bishops, priests, deacons, and all consecrated and lay faithful, that they may be steadfast in truth and charity. May every Christian community be purified of scandal and division, and become a living icon of Mary’s purity, humility, and maternal concern for the poor and the lost. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 6 – REFUGE OF SINNERS
Theme: Reconciliation and Hope for the Fallen
Merciful Lord, You offer Mary, conceived without sin, as a sign of hope for every sinner who turns back to You. When we are discouraged by our weakness, let her gentle presence remind us that Your mercy is more powerful than our sins. Through her intercession, free those trapped in habitual sin, heal families wounded by infidelity and conflict, and bring home those who feel far from the Church and the sacraments. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 7 – QUEEN AND MIGHTY INTERCESSOR
Theme: Queenship and Intercessory Power
King of heaven and earth, You have crowned the Immaculate Virgin as Queen of Angels and of all the saints. From her throne beside Your Son, she ceaselessly intercedes for the needs of the world. Through her powerful prayer, grant peace to nations torn by war, justice to the oppressed, protection to the unborn and the vulnerable, and consolation to those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially those we now commend to her care. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 8 – WOMAN OF THE EUCHARIST
Theme: Marian Devotion and Eucharistic Love
Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, You whom Mary bore in her Immaculate womb, remain with Your Church in the most Holy Eucharist. As she adored You in silence at Nazareth and on Calvary, teach us through her to approach Holy Communion with purity of heart, reverence, and burning love. May devotion to her Immaculate Heart lead us to a more ardent love for Your Sacred Heart present in the tabernacle and on every altar. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray at least one Hail Mary.
DAY 9 – CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART
Theme: Total Consecration and Final Perseverance
O Mary, Immaculate Mother of God and our Mother, on this ninth day of our novena we entrust ourselves entirely to your Immaculate Heart. Receive our lives, our families, our parish, and the whole Church, and present us to Jesus, that He may reign in every heart. Guard us from sin, protect us in every danger, and obtain for us the grace of final perseverance, so that, purified by God’s mercy, we may share with you the joy of heaven forever. Amen.
Closing: Mention your intentions, then pray three Hail Marys, conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
TRADITIONAL CONCLUDING PRAYER
(Pray this after completing the ninth day)
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
INDULGENCES
The Church grants indulgences for those who devoutly pray this novena. A plenary indulgence (removal of all temporal punishment due to sin) may be obtained by those in a state of grace who:
- Pray the complete novena
- Receive Holy Communion during the novena period
- Confess their sins
- Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
REFLECTION: THE DOGMA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was solemnly defined by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854, in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. This teaching affirms that Mary, from the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Christ Jesus, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.
This is not to be confused with the Virgin Birth of Jesus. Rather, it declares that Mary herself was born without the burden of original sin that all other humans inherit. She was filled with sanctifying grace from the moment of her conception, making her the perfect vessel for God’s Son.
May the Immaculate Virgin Mary guide and protect us, and lead us ever closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Nelson MCBS 
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