December 8, 2014, is a day of celebration, because it marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The day, which is designated by the Catholic Church as a holy day of obligation celebrates Mary’s creation without sin. The feast was first solemnized as a holy day of obligation in December of 1708 by Pope Clement XI, meaning that on this day the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. In addition the Code of Canon Law states that they are to abstain from “those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.” And while in 1708 it may have been simple to solely dedicate your entire day to honoring and celebrating the Virgin Mary and God acting upon her soul to keep her “immaculate” at the time of her conception, it is a little bit harder in 2014. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t participate in worship by yourself or with your family, simply by joining in prayer can honor the immaculate conception of Mary without losing your job in the process! Normally, the faithful prepare for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with prayer, or rather nine full days of prayer, better known as novenas. Special prayers and hymns begin nine days before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and are offered to the Virgin Mary. Again, despite traditions worship is a personal process, so even if you missed the novenas you can still offer up prayers to the Virgin Mary. That’s why we have collected 9 prayers and hymns for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal
Let us pray, that through the prayers of the sinless Virgin Mary, God will free us from our sins. Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation. Christ would bring by his death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception #2
New Saint Joseph Sunday Missal
Let us pray, on this feast of Mary, who experienced the perfection of God's saving power. Father, the image of the Virgin is found in the Church. Mary had a faith that your Spirit prepared and a love that never knew sin, for you kept her sinless from the moment of her conception. Trace in our actions the lines of her love, in our hearts her readiness of faith. Prepare once again a world for your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever.
A Collect for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Benedictine Monastic Diurnal
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst make her a worthy habitation for Thy Son and didst by his foreseen death preserve her from all stain of sin, grant, we beseech Thee, that through her intercession we may be cleansed from sin and come with pure hearts to Thee.
In Praise of Mary Immaculate
New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book
You are all fair, O Mary; the original stain is not in you. You are the glory of Jerusalem, the joy of Israel, the honor of our people, and the great advocate of sinners. O Mary, Virgin most prudent, Mother most merciful, pray for us; intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Immaculate Conception Morning Prayer
The Liturgy of the Hours
Father, you prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by his death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Immaculata Mater Dei
St. Vincent Pallotti (1798-1850)
Immaculate Mother of God, Queen of heaven, Mother of mercy, Advocate and Refuge of sinners, behold, I, enlightened and inspired by the graces obtained for me abundantly from the divine treasury through thy maternal affection, resolve this day and always to place my heart into thy hands to be consecrated to Jesus. To thee, therefore, most Blessed Virgin, in the presence of nine choirs of Angels and all the Saints, I now give it. Do thou, in my name, consecrate it to Jesus; and out of the filial confidence which I hereby make profession of, I am certain that now and always thou wilt do all thou canst to bring it to pass that my heart may ever wholly belong to Jesus, and may imitate perfectly the example of the Saints, and in particular that of Saint Joseph, thy most pure Spouse. Amen.
O Pure and Immaculate
Ephrem the Syrian (306-373)
O pure and immaculate and likewise blessed Virgin, who art the sinless Mother of thy Son, the mighty Lord of the universe, thou who art inviolate and altogether holy, the hope of the hopeless and sinful, we sing thy praises. We bless thee, as full of every grace, thou who didst bear the God-Man: we bow low before thee; we invoke thee and implore thine aid. Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin, from every necessity that presses upon us and from all the temptations of the devil. Be our intercessor and advocate at the hour of death and judgment; deliver us from the fire that is not extinguished and from the outer darkness; make us worthy of the glory of thy Son, O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother. Thou indeed art our only hope most sure and sacred in God's sight, to whom be honor and glory and majesty and dominion for ever and ever world without end. Amen.
Invocation in Honor of Mary Immaculate
Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you
Immaculate Mary
Lourdes Hymn
Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing. You reign now in Heaven with Jesus our King. Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim; on earth we your children invoke your sweet name. Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth, And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth. Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! We pray you, O Mother, may God's will be done We pray for His glory, may his Kingdom come. Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!
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