Immaculate Conception Novena

Lift me up bodily and in the flesh, which is fallen in Adam. Lift me up not from Sarah but from Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled but a Virgin whom grace had made inviolate, free of every stain of sin.”           — St. Ambrose

The Conception of the Virgin Mary has been celebrated as a Holy Day of Obligation since the mandate of Pope Clement XI in 1708. As such this feast is to be treated as a Sunday Sabbath without unnecessary work and purchases. Its vigil, the day before, is also traditionally a day of fasting and abstinence.

In 1954 Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception was proclaimed the 3rd dogma of Mary by Pope Pius IX in his papal bull Ineffabilis Deus. There in he announced: “We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful.”

In preparation for this commemoration on December 8th, the Immaculate Conception Novena is usually prayed the 9 days leading up to the feast, from November 29th—December 7th. However, it may be prayed anytime throughout the year.

This traditional version of the novena also includes the partially indulged Tota Pulchra Es, Maria Prayer found in the Raccolta.

The gift of your donation helps cover the needs of this apostolate. And we appreciate it more than you can know.