NOVENA PRAYERS AND TEXTS

Transcription

1 AVE MARIA! THE SOLEMN NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY DAY l: Ave Maria! DAY ONE NOVENA PRAYERS AND TEXTS The Solemn Novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Novena honoring the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin is one of the most popular devotions among the Catholic Faithful, but particularly The Sons of Saint Francis. The Franciscan order has had a special role to play in seeing this doctrine proclaimed a Dogma of the Faith. According to Dom Gueranger, the Catholic Church, and all Her faithful, owe a particular debt to the Franciscans. It was this "seraphic order that propagated and defended the teaching that the Blessed Mother of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception. But this ministry of theirs started with their founder, St. Francis of Assisi, himself as we shall see in this first day of the novena. Saint Francis of Assisi was a very Marian saint and the birthplace of his order, the Friars Minor, was a little chapel under the patronage of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels. Although the saint always wanted his sons to be poor and own nothing of this world he admonished his brothers with regards to this little chapel, See to it my sons that you never abandon this place. If you are driven out from one side, go back in at the other. For this place is truly holy and is the dwelling place of God. The readings for this first day are a sample of the Marian heart of Our Holy Father Saint Francis. St Francis in one of the prayers he composed to Our Lady prayed, In Whom there was and is all the fullness of grace and every good. Fullness of grace, echoing the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation, implies no room for sin and has always been seen as positive proof of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception. This solemn novena consists of the singing of the ancient Marian antiphon the Tota Pulchra es, the praying of the Little Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception, The sung Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a reading from one of the Franciscan Saints or Blesseds who has championed the dogma, and concludes with the Novena Prayer. You are all beautiful Oh Mary! You are all beautiful Oh Mary! and the original stain is not in you, and the original stain is not in you. You are the Glory of Jerusalem. You are the joy of Israel. Your are the honor of our people. You are the Advocate of sinners. Oh Mary! Oh Mary! Virgin Most Prudent. Mother Most Merciful. Pray for us. Intercede for us to the Lord Jesus Christ. 1

2 Tota Pulchra V. Tota pulchra es, Maria. R. Tota puichra es, Maria. V. Et macula originalis non est in te. R. Et macula originalis non est in te. V. Tu gloria Jerusalem. R. Tu laetitia Israel. V. Tu honorificentia populi nostri. R. Tu advocata peccatorum. V. O Maria! R. O Maria! V. Virgo prudentissima. R. Mater clementissima. V. Ora pro nobis. R. Intercede pro nobis ad Dominum, Jesum Christum. V. You are all beautiful Oh Mary! R. You are all beautiful Oh Mary! V. and the original stain is not in you, R. and the original stain is not in you. V. You are the Glory of Jerusalem. R, You are the joy of Israel. V. Your are the honor of our people. R. You are the Advocate of sinners. V. Oh Mary! R. Oh Mary! V. Virgin Most Prudent. R. Mother Most Merciful. V. Pray for us. R. Intercede for us to the Lord Jesus Christ.. LITTLE CHAPLET IN HONOR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Pope Pius IX., June 22, 1855) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. First set: Blessed be the holy and immaculate conception of the most blessed Virgin Mary. Then say the Our Father once, the Hail Mary four times, and the Glory be to the Father once. By your Immaculate Conception, O Mary, make our bodies pure and our spirits holy! Second set: Blessed be the holy... etc. one Our Father, etc. as before. Third set: Blessed be the holy... etc. one Our Father, etc. as before. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 2

3 LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Lord, have mercy on us. (Christ have mercy on us.) Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. (Christ graciously hear us.) God, the Father of heaven, (have mercy on us.) God the Son, Redeemer of the world, (have mercy on us.) God the Holy Ghost, (have mercy on us.) Holy Trinity, one God, (have mercy on us.) Holy Mary, (pray for us) Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, Mother undefiled, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Savior, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renouned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, Vessel of honor, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning star, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Queen of Virgins, Queen of all Saints, Queen conceived without original sin, Queen assumed into heaven, Queen of the most holy Rosary, Queen of the Franciscan Order, Queen of the family, Queen of Peace, Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.) Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us O Lord.) Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.) Kyrie, eleison (Christe, eleison.) Kyrie, eleison. Christe, audi nos.(christe, exaudi nos.) Pater de caelis, Deus, (miserere nobis.) Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, (miserere nobis.) Spiritus Sancte Deus, (miserere nobis.) Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, (miserere nobis.) Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis Sancta Dei Genetrix, Sancta Virgo virginum, Mater Christi, Mater Ecclesiae, Mater Divinae gratiae, Mater purissima, Mater castissima, Mater inviolata, Mater intemerata, Mater amabilis, Mater admirabilis, Mater boni Consilii, Mater Creatoris, Mater Salvatoris, Virgo prudentissima, Virgo veneranda, Virgo praedicanda, Virgo potens, Virgo clemens, Virgo fidelis, Speculum iustitiae, Sedes sapientiae, Causa nostrae laetitiae, Vas spirituale, Vas honorabile, Vas insigne devotionis, Rosa mystica, Turris Davidica, Turris eburnea, Domus aurea, Foederis arca, Ianua caeli, Stella matutina, Salus infirmorum, Refugium peccatorum, Consolatrix afflictorum, Auxilium Christianorum, Regina Angelorum, Regina Patriarcharum, Regina Prophetarum, Regina Apostolorum, Regina Martyrum, Regina Confessorum, Regina Virginum, Regina Sanctorum omnium, Regina sine labe originali concepta, Regina in caelum assumpta, Regina Sanctissimi Rosarii, Regina Ordinis Minorum, Regina familiae, Regina pacis, Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, (parce nobis, Domine.) Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, (exaudi nobis, Domine.) Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, (miserere nobis.) 3

4 V. In Conceptione tua, Virgo, Immaculata fuisti. R. Ora pro nobis Pattern, cuius Filium peperisti V. In Your Conception, O Virgin, You were Immaculate. R. Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son you bore. Let us pray. O God, Who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling for Your Son: we beseech You that, as in view of the death of that Son You preserved Her from all stain of sin, so You would enable us, being made pure by her intercession, to come unto You. We ask this through the same. Christ our Lord. Amen. 4

5 Reading from the Saint or Blessed of the Day. DAY 1. MEDITATION : From the writings of St. Francis of Assisi ( ) A. Therefore, O sons of men, how long will you be hard of heart? Why do you not recognize the truth and believe in the Son of God? See, daily He humbles Himself as when He came from the royal throne into the womb of the Virgin; daily He comes to us in a humble form; daily He comes down from the bosom of the Father upon the altar in the hands of the priest. (Admonition, 1) B. Holy Virgin Mary, among women there is no one like you born into the world. You are the daughter and the servant of the most high and supreme King and Father of Heaven, You are the mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ, You are the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us with St. Michael the Archangel and all the powers of the heavens and all the saints to your most holy and beloved Son, the Lord and Master. (Antiphon Magnificat, Office of the Passion) C. Hail, O Lady, holy Queen, Mary, holy Mother of God: you are the Virgin made Church and the one chosen by the most holy Father in heaven whom he consecrated with His most holy beloved Son and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, In whom there was and is all the fullness of grace and every good. (2) Hail, His Palace! His Tabernacle! Hail, His Home! Hail, His Robe! ` Hail, His Servant! Hail, His Mother! (Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) D. Listen, my brothers. If the Blessed Virgin is so honored, as it is right, since she carried Him in her most holy womb; if the blessed Baptist trembled and did not dare to touch the holy heart of God; if the tomb in which He lay for some time is so venerated, how holy, just and worthy must be the person who touches Him with his hands, receive Him in his heart and mouth and offers Him to others to be received. This is He e who is now not about to die, but who is eternally victorious and glorified, upon whom the angels desire to gaze. 5

6 (Letter to the Order) E. Through His angel, St. Gabriel, the most high Father in heaven announced this Word of the Father, so worthy, so holy and glorious in the womb of the holy and glorious Virgin Mary, from which He received the flesh of humanity and our frailty. Though He was rich beyond all other things, in this world He, together with the most Blessed Virgin, His Mother, willed to choose poverty.(letter to the Faithful) F. I, brother Francis, the little one, wish to follow the life and poverty of our most high Lord Jesus Christ and of His most holy Mother and to persevere in this until the end. (Last Will for St. Clare) DAY 2: We begin day two of the novena with a quote from Blessed Pope John Paul II on The Importance of the Immaculate Conception as a perfect doctrinal synthesis of the Christian Faith. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception may be said to be a marvelous doctrinal synthesis of Christian Faith. It includes, in fact, the basic truths of revelation: from the formation of our first parents in the state of original justice to that sin whereby they compromised their own situation and that of their descendants; from the initial promise to Adam and Eve in the Protoevangelium to its wonderful realization through the Incarnation of the Word in the most pure womb of Mary; from the desperate condition of a mankind destined to eternal damnation to the prospect of final salvation with participation in the very beatitude of God. Today s novena reading is from the writings of the great Franciscan Saint and doctor of the Church Saint Anthony of Padua. Saint Anthony, who is more popularly known as the patron saint to help you find lost articles, was also a learned and wise theologian. I warn you that he may shock you in this reading as he refers to Our Lady as Lucifer. But Lucifer in Latin means light bearer and no one is bearer of light more than Jesus, who is Light itself, and after Jesus, Mary, who as His mother, conceives and brings forth the Light. Angels only enjoy this name to the degree they serve Jesus and Mary. The fallen angels, by their refusal to serve, lose the right to this name and become instead bearers of darkness, the shadow of eternal death. It is interesting that when Our Lord refers to the fallen angel, who once was Lucifer that he calls him rather, Satan, the seducer and a murderer from the beginning. Our Lady is most deserving of the title of Lucifer, the true bearer of Light, because by the grace of her Immaculate Conception the light of God s holiness shined through her most brilliantly, and even more so at the Incarnation, when she conceived Christ, the Light of the World in her Immaculate womb did she became the true bearer of Light, Lucifer. I ask you to please listen closely to this great doctor of the Church. MEDITATION : From the writings of St. Anthony of Padua ( ) A. As sweet smelling incense in summertime, and as a bright fire and frankincense burning in the fire. (Eccl. 50, 8-9) It is said in Genesis: the Lord God planted a paradise from the beginning, in which he planted man to dress and keep it (2,8. 15.). But he dressed and kept it badly. Thus it was necessary that the Lord God plant another and far better paradise, that of the 6

7 Blessed Mary, unto which the exiles of the first might return. In this paradise was placed the second Adam, who dressed and kept it. He worked great things, as she herself says: He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name (Lk. 1, 49).. What we term holy (sanctum) the Greeks term "hagion", etymologically without land, because those consecrated to his name must hold their conversation not on earth but in heaven. He kept her, preserving her integrity; He dressed her making her fecund; He kept her not violating her virginity. Cursed in the work of Adam, the earth first produced thorns and thistles on being cultivated. Our earth, that is, the Blessed Virgin, without the labor of man, brought forth that blessed fruit, whom today she offered to the God and Father in the Temple. Hence it is written: As sweet smelling incense in the summertime,... (On the purification of Our Lady, 1) B. Like the morning star in the midst of the cloud and as the moon at its full she shines. (Eccl..50, 6) The morning star is named Lucifer - Lightbearer, because among all the stars it shines more brightly, and so is rightly described as splendid. Lucifer, preceding the sun and announcing the morning, dispels the darkness of night with the light of its splendor. The morning star, viz. Lucifer, is the Blessed Mary, who born in the midst of the cloud, announces the morning of grace, the Sun of justice, to those sitting in darkness. Hence, of her the Lord speaks to job (38,32): Can you bring forth the daystar in its time? When the time of mercy came, the time for building the house of the Lord, the acceptable time and day of salvation (Ps. 101, 14; Agg. 1,2; II Cor. 6.2), then the Lord made Lucifer, that is the Blessed Mary, as a light unto the people. They must say of her what they said of Judith, as recorded in that book (13, ): The Lord has blessed you by His power, because by you He has brought our enemies to naught. Blessed are you, Daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women on earth. Blessed be the Lord who created heaven and earth, who has directed you to the beheading of the prince of our enemies; because lie has so magnified your name today, that your praise shall never depart out of the mouths of men. The Blessed Mary was therefore like the morning star in her birth. About this Isaiah says (11,1): There shall come forth a. rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise out of his root. And as the moon at its full she shines. The Blessed Mary is said to be the full moon, because in every way perfect. The moon is imperfect when a half-moon, because it is stained or horned. But the glorious Virgin neither in her birth had any stain, because sanctified in her mother's womb, guarded by angels, nor in her days had she the horns of pride. Hence she shone fully and perfectly. She is said to be light because she dispels the darkness. We beseech you, our Lady, that you who are the morning star, cast out the cloud of diabolical suggestion shrouding the land of our minds; that you who are the full moon fill our emptiness, dispel the darkness of our sins, that we might merit to come to the fullness of eternal life, to the light of unending glory. May He grant this who made you our light, who to be born of you made you be born today. To Him be the. glory and honor forever. Amen. (On the Nativity of Mary, 2.4) DAY 3: On this Day three of the Novena we hear from another Franciscan Doctor of the Church, the great Saint Bonaventure. Saint Bonaventure hints at the grace of Our Lady s Immaculate Conception when he states Whoever wishes to be holy must follow the Glorious Virgin in the holiness of inviolate chastity, prompt obedience and total generosity. Total generosity. Does this not remind us of Our Lord s teaching on which is the greatest of the commandments? Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbour as thyself. MEDITATION 7

8 From the writings of Saint Bonaventure ( ) Who shall find a valiant woman? Far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her(prov.31,10). This is the price of which the Apostle says: "You have been bought at a great price; glorify and bear God in your body"(i Cor. 6,20)... This price had to great to redeem. the whole world and the entire human race. Hence, it was necessary that "the price" have a divine and a human nature. Where is that price found? Nowhere but in the womb of the glorious Virgin. Thus it is read in Isaiah: Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel (7,14). Emmanuel is translated: God with us. It was not fitting that a Virgin should have anyone as son but God, nor for God to have as a Mother but a. Virgin. That price then could only be found in the Virgin. Far and from the uttermost coasts: because in Him is united highest and lowest, first with last. That price is from afar whereby the entire human race is redeemed. Because the lowest is redeemed, it is the highest price; because the last is redeemed, it is the first. Man was the last of the creatures to be made. Whose is this price? This price by which we are able to reach the kingdom of heaven belongs to this Woman, the Blessed Virgin. It is hers, because taken from her, offered by her, possessed by her: taken from her in the Incarnation of the Word; offered by her in the redemption of the human race; possessed by her in attaining the glory of paradise. She brought forth this price, paid this price and possesses this price. 1. She brought forth this price, namely, God and man. The Blessed Virgin did so as the valiant and holy Woman, holy with the holiness of inviolate chastity, prompt obedience and total generosity. With the holiness of inviolate chastity: "A holy and modest woman is grace upon grace"(eccl. 26,19). And the Angel said: Hail! full of grace, because she was holy and chaste: holy in her body, chaste in her mind. The Apostle states: "The unmarried woman and the virgin thinks on the things of the Lord, that she might be holy both in mind and body"(i Cor. 7,34). And Bernard writes: "Gabriel was sent to a Virgin, such as one described by the Apostle, holy in mind and body, not found by chance, but chosen from eternity, foreknown by the most High and prepared for himself, guarded by the angels, foretold by the patriarchs, promised by the prophets." To this Virgin, Gabriel was to be sent for she alone had pleased the most High. 2. The Blessed Virgin brought forth that price by the holiness of her prompt obedience. "As everlasting foundations upon a solid rock, so the commandments of God in the heart of a, woman"(eccl. 26,24). To found the Church it was necessary to lay a foundation, namely the commandments of God, and to place them in the heart of some person. This could be none but the Virgin... the one who was obedient. Thus, the commandments were rooted in her heart. "Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it"(lk. 11,28). Not only is the Virgin blessed, but all who follow her as well. And who are these? all who hear the word of God and fulfill it. 3. The Blessed Virgin, valiant and holy, brought forth that price by the holiness of her total generosity. Thus Gabriel said: "Blessed art thou among women... The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And therefore the one to be born of you holy, will be called Son of God"(Lk.1,28-35). St. Augustine comments: The Holy Spirit is love, and although given with His gifts, is not a gift inseparable from any of them, except the gift of love. All the other virtues are common to the good and the bad; the love of God and neighbor is the privilege of the saints and the devout; it alone sanctifies. Thus Hugh of St. Victor remarks: "Because the love of God uniquely burned in the mind of the Virgin, so she worked wonders in her body." The love of charity preserves from corruption. "Thus the one to be born of you, through a pure and immaculate love, will be, called the Son of God." As from the love of a man and woman is born a. carnal son; so from the love of the Virgin and God is born the Son of God. Whoever wishes to be holy must follow the glorious Virgin in the holiness of inviolate chastity, prompt obedience and total generosity. 8

9 DAY 4: Have you ever been called a Dunce? Day four of the novena turns our attention to Our Lady's Dunce, Blessed John Duns Scotus. Dunce comes from the word Dunsmen and was an anti-catholic slur applied to the disciples of Duns Scotus by the Calvinists, particularly because of his teaching in defense of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception. Blessed John Duns Scotus, the great champion and defender of the Immaculate Conception, was called the Marian Doctor or Subtle doctor, because of his keen intellect, of which the Jesuit Poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, Of realty the rarest-veined unraveller; a not Rivalled insight, be rival Italy or Greece; Who fired France for Mary without spot. Dom Guéranger, the noted liturgical historian writes, "As often as this feast of the Immaculate Conception comes round, is it not just that we should think with reverence and gratitude on him, who was the first theologian that showed how closely connected with the divine mystery of the Incarnation is this dogma of the Immaculate Conception? First, then, all honour to the name of the pious and learned [Blessed] John Duns Scotus!" It is the insights of Scotus that the Church used in its definition of the Immaculate Conception. So if someone should ever call you a Dunce, you might respond, Thank you for the great compliment. Our Lady's Dunce proves once again that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. MEDITATION: From the writings of Blessed John Duns Scotus ( ) Was the Blessed Virgin conceived in sin? The answer is no, for as Augustine writes: When sin is treated, there can be no inclusion of Mary in the discussion. And Anselm says: it was fitting the Virgin should be resplendent with a purity greater than which none under God can be conceived. Purity here is to be taken in the sense of "pure innocence" under God, such as was in Christ. The contrary, however, is commonly asserted on two grounds. First, the dignity of her Son, who as universal Redeemer opened the gates of heaven. But if Blessed Mary had not contracted original sin, she. would not have needed the Redeemer, nor would he have opened the door for her, because it was never closed. For it is only closed because of sin, above all original sin. In respect to this first ground one can argue from the dignity of her Son qua Redeemer, Reconciler, and Mediator, that she did not contract original sin. For a most perfect mediator exercises the most perfect mediation possible in regard to some person for whom he mediates. Thus Christ exercised a most perfect act of mediation in regard to some person for whom He was mediator. In regard to no person did he have a more exalted relationship than to Mary. Such, however, would not have been true, had He not preserved her from original sin. The proof is threefold: in terms of God to whom He reconciles; in terms of the evil from which He frees; and in terms of the indebtedness of the person whom He reconciles. First, no one absolutely and perfectly placates anyone about to be offended in any way unless he can avert the offense. For to placate only in view of remitting the offense once committed is not to placate most perfectly. But... God does not undergo offense because of some experience in himself, but only because of sin in a soul of a creature. Hence Christ does not placate the Trinity most perfectly for the sin to be contracted by the sons of Adam, if he does not prevent the Trinity from being offended in someone, and if the soul of some child of Adam does not contract such a sin, and thus it is possible that a child of Adam not have such a sin. 9

10 Secondly, a most perfect mediator merits the removal of all punishment from the one whom he reconciles. Original sin, however, is a greater privation than the lack of the vision of God. Hence, if Christ most perfectly reconciles us with God, He merited that this most heavy of punishments be removed from some one person. This would have been his Mother. Further, Christ is primarily our Redeemer and Reconciler from original sin rather than actual sin, for the need of the Incarnation and suffering of Christ is commonly ascribed to original sin. But He is also commonly assumed to be the perfect mediator of a least one person, namely Mary, whom He preserved from actual sin. Logically one should assume that He preserved her from original sin as well. Thirdly, a person reconciled is not absolutely indebted to his mediator, unless he receives from that mediator the greatest possible good. But this innocence, namely preservation from the contracted sin or from the sin to be contracted, is available from the mediator. Thus no one would be absolutely indebted to Christ as mediator unless preserved from original sin. It is a greater good to be preserved from evil than to fall into this and afterwards be freed from it. If Christ merited grace and glory for so many souls, who for these gifts are indebted to Christ as mediator, why should no soul be His debtor for the gift of its innocence? And why, since the blessed Angels are innocent, should there be no human soul in heaven (except the human soul of Christ) who is innocent, that is, never in the state of original sin? (Ordinatio, d.3, q.1) DAY 5: On this fifth day of the novena we reflect on the writings of the great Franciscan theologian and preacher of the 15 th Century, St. Bernadine of Siena, who fostered devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In this reflection Saint Bernadine of Siena makes a rather bold statement: That the whole world, after the fall of our first parents, was kept in being by God out of the love of the Blessed Virgin. Let us see how Saint Bernadine explains this statement. MEDITATION : From the writings of Saint Bernadine of Siena ( ) "That the Blessed Virgin is the noblest woman of the whole world according to the flesh" The first star, or grace, is called nobility. For the Blessed Virgin was the noblest individual and noblest creature of all the individuals or creatures which have been, could be, or could have been begotten with human nature. Indeed Matthew (1,17), in outlining the three groups of fourteen generations from Abraham to Christ, describes her as born of fourteen patriarchs, of fourteen kings, of fourteen leaders. The first group from Abraham to David inclusive, fourteen patriarchs; the second from David to the Babylonian Exile, fourteen kings; the third, from the Babylonian Exile to Christ inclusive, fourteen leaders. Luke also. (3,23-38) describing the nobility of her origin, beginning with Adam and Eve, extends his genealogy to God the Christ. Here it is demonstrated that the Lord Jesus Christ, who in heaven was without mother and on earth without father, received his entire humanity from the Virgin; and the dignities attached to this humanity, namely familial so as to be called a son of David, and consanguinity so as to have brethren of a noble line, all these he received from His Blessed Mother. And whence came it that he is the final leader, the final king, the final patriarch of the entire Israelite people, if not from the glorious Virgin? Thus it is quite evident that every bodily perfection granted the human race in Adam by the Lord was principally given so as to descend through many generations to the Virgin and through the Virgin Mother to terminate in Christ. Hence, God commanded such cleanliness to the letter in His law, not only in human bodies but also in vessels, in homes, in camping places and in all things belonging to God's people, so that the people might preserve that nobility and cleanliness for the sake of the Christ... After Christ that people had no other patriarch, or king or leader... so that what Christ says of himself (Apoc.2,8.) might be verified: the First and the Last says this. The First, namely whom God principally 10

11 intended in His people; and the Last, namely patriarch, king, or leader in that people. Because therefore the Evangelists describe in this Maiden every distinction, gift, power, nobility and dignity which might be in any human individual born according to the flesh, it is incumbent upon us, following their witness, to prefer her to all princes and princesses, queens and kings, emperors and empresses, and all powers, tribes and tongues of the whole universe. "That the whole world, after the fall of our first parents, was kept in being by God out of the love of the Blessed Virgin" The second star (or grace) is called conservation. For Mary alone, for many thousands of years before she was born, primarily and principally preserved Adam and his posterity in being. Indeed, in virtue of their transgression, Adam and Eve merited not only the penalty of death but extermination. Divine justice, which knows no respect of persons, should not have left the sin of man (just as it did not leave the angelic sin) uncondemned in hell. But for the sake of that special reverence and unique love which He had for the Virgin, God kept the world in existence. Because God loved her above all creatures... the first human beings were preserved from extermination and not returned to nothing as they deserved. The explanation of this is as follows. The Blessed Maiden was in the loins of Adam, and his seed, and the power of producing the Maiden was inherent in our first parents, until it should be realized in the act. For of this maiden was to be born the Son of God, Jesus, who existing in Adam only in respect to his corporal substance, was only to be brought forth from the Virgin and from no other person. The merciful God pardoned our first parents and did not annihilate them, because, in so doing, the Virgin would not have arisen, and consequently, neither would Christ have been clothed with human flesh... To recapitulate everything in a few words: I do not hesitate to affirm that God effected every liberation and granted every pardon in the Old Testament solely out of reverence and love for the Blessed Maiden. In virtue of this reverence and love, God predestined her, foreordaining from all eternity that she be honored before all His other works. ["On the Exceedingly Wonderful Grace and Glory of the Mother of God, Art. 1, Chapters 1 and 2] DAY 6: Today on Day six of the novena we hear from another Franciscan Doctor of the Church, Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (BRIN-dihzee), who wrote 15 volumes on theology, one of which was a most masterful treatise on the doctrines concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Lawrence preached in seven languages, including Latin and Hebrew. Let us listen to this master of the sacred page as he teaches us about our Immaculate Mother. MEDITATION: From the Writings of St. Lawrence of Brindisi ( ) "The root of humanity, bedchamber of God, and pure water: This is Mary, therefore Immaculate." Great was the happiness of human nature in paradise before original sin, so long as man remained in the state of innocence and original justice. Then was human nature like that tree, seen by King Nabuchodonosar in his dreams: tall, with top touching heaven; wide, with branches filling the whole world; adorned with the loveliest fronds and flowers and the best of fruits in greatest abundance. But soon, by virtue of the sentence executed by the Angel, this tree was despoiled of its goods, and with branches and trunk cut off, was reduced to nothing --almost, except for the command that a root with shoot be preserved safe and intact (cf. Dan. 4,7-12). On account of sin, humanity tumbled from maximum good fortune to maximum misfortune; light was changed into darkness, the bright day into the cloudiest of nights; a full moon went into eclipse. But from the contagion of that sin, the "shoot" that is Christ was preserved, as well as the "root"[mary] from which that shoot was to rise... We see in Genesis the root with its shoot preserved; for before a 11

12 penalty for sin was inflicted on man, it was said to the serpent: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; she will crush your head (Gen. 3,15). When a king builds some palace to be a proper and rightful dwelling for himself and his family, he constructs it wholly magnificent, and adorns it royally as befits his majesty. In such wise did Solomon build his house (III Kings 7,1-12). Such a king will especially adorn with the greatest magnificence and riches his own chamber, where the throne of his majesty is to be placed. So too does God build his holy Church, the living Temple of God: Behold the tabernacle of God with men (Apoc. 21,3); You are the temple of God (11 Cor. 6,16), a temple made of living stones, the whole constructed with divine magnificence, as the temple of Solomon (cf. III Kings 6,1-18). But above all, God adorned his own chamber, which is the most Holy Virgin. He did so, just as did Solomon adorn the holy of holies, the dwelling place of God (III Kings 6,19-36). You are all fair, my love, and the stain is not in you (Cant. 4,7). The Hebrew reads: "the stain not in you"- without the verb is. Similarly, the verb is does not appear in Deuteronomy 32,4, when Moses said of God: A faithful God and without any iniquity. David said: Because you are a God that wills not iniquity (Ps.5,5); yet the Hebrew for that actually reads: "not a God willing iniquity you." The latter means: You never were, are, or will be willing iniquity; there never was, is, or will be iniquity in God. So too the statement "the stain not in you" means that the stain never was, is, or will be in you. Thus must be understood [not limited to the present tense only] the statement "the stain not in you." One only is my dove, one my perfect one (Cant.. 6,7). The Hebrew reads: my "Immaculate" one. There are three words in Hebrew very similar: tham, thamah, and thamim, of which the first means "simple," the second "immaculate," and the last "perfect." The Hebrew text here, however, uses the second. For this reason, therefore, the all holy Virgin is unique above all queens... and young maidens (Cant.6,7) because she is immaculate, like the purest dove, like the sun itself, which was made full of light. Hence it is written: you -- all fair, my love; and the stain -- not in you. The singular for "you" is used: You all (Tota Tu) -- not in you; this denotes the uniquely singular grace of Mary. The soul of the Virgin Mother of God was in her conception like the bush with Moses, entirely intact in the midst of the flames, not consumed, unharmed (Ex. 3.2). [On the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, 10] (23) DAY 7 Have you ever been so enraptured with the love of God that you were lifted up to heaven? On day seven of the novena we listen to the 17 th century Franciscan, Saint Joseph of Cupertino, who whenever he saw an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was so filled with the love of God that he levitated into the air. Those who lived with Saint Joseph said he lived more above the earth than on it. The Church with its sense of humor has named St. Joseph the Patron saint of Aviators. We fly to your patronage Oh Holy Mother of God along with this great Marian aviator as we ponder your Immaculate Conception. MEDITATION: From the writings of Saint Joseph of Cupertino ( ) Refuge of Sinners, Mother of God, have pity on me. She is the dispensatrix of the graces of paradise; all the riches of the human race come from her hands, for God created her for this. 12

13 God willed to be born of the Woman, the Virgin without sin; nor did he violate the virginal cloisters. Just as a spring is unchanged when a person, without bathing himself, sees his own image in the water, so the virginal cloister of Mary remained intact when the Lord entered. So too, when one stands before a. mirror, he sees within it his own image, but turning away his image is no longer in the mirror, and the mirror remains integral. Thus the sacred cloister of Mary ever virgin remained inviolate. God our Lord was so full of the milk of His divine love, that he could not remain in that condition. It seems he felt a. certain pain and hence created the Blessed Virgin in whom he infused all graces. He made her so as to be able to bestow the milk of divine grace on men as he wishes. God could do this and he did do this; namely, that the Blessed Virgin be conceived without sin. If a. Lord wished to make a. lovely garden, in his mind he would plan various things to place in that garden, which he would then order made; but one particular he would reserve in his heart without telling others. When the garden was finished, he would order this to be revealed, for example a fountain. Thus God our Lord planned the garden (that is the world) and accomplished in common view all that he had planned, reserving to himself however one holy Idea. This he wished to reveal and decree in its own proper time: to make present in the world a Virgin without stain of sin, who would give birth to his Son, I say the Son of God. If a prelate, let us say the Pope, should issue an excommunication, or launch an interdict against a city or its citizens for some crime committed in it, he has the power to exempt whomsoever he wishes, for example Peter and John. He can do so without even mentioning this exemption, but merely reserving it in the recesses of his mind. So too, the high God, who is superior of the entire world, could fulminate the curse of original sin on all the descendants of Ada.m, and could exempt by his omnipotence whomsoever he wished. Accordingly he exempted from this law of the curse her whom he had destined to be Mother of God. Hail, Holy Queen, rose without thorn, lily of love, Mother of the Lord, gain me this grace: that I may not die a sinner. DAY 8: The eighth day of the novena introduces us to the 18 th Century Franciscan, St. Francis Anthony Fasani, who was a great preacher and missionary. In this meditation our saint in pondering Our Lady s feet gets to the heart of the matter and asks, are we following in her footsteps? MEDITATION: From the writings of Saint Francis Anthony Fasani. (168].-1742) How beautiful are your sandaled feet, O Prince's Daughter! (Cant. 7, 2) First Consideration O soul, ponder how, transparent and pure as she was from the' very moment of her Immaculate Conception, Mary came forth from the Most High God as the first-born daughter of all creation, formed by His creative word. Her appearance on earth was like the first immaculate ray of light... the sun, the moon, the stars, all of nature, the whole visible and invisible world bowed at her feet as she walked the earth: "how beautiful are your sandaled feet, O Daughter of the Prince!" 13

14 Oh! so beautiful are the steps of Mary as she walks through life!... and you, O soul who meditate on them now, what steps have you taken with your feet since reaching the.use of reason? Were they meritorious or not?...and from that time, over the course of so many years, what have you accomplished for the good of your soul?...for your growth in holiness? And where are you going now?...are your steps taking you toward God or away from him? O Immaculate Virgin, loveliest Daughter of the Most High Prince, perfect Thou my goings in Thy paths (Ps. 16, 5). Direct and keep, we beg you, our steps strictly upon your paths as we strive to follow in your sacred footprints! Second Consideration Ponder, O soul, how Mary is said to progress through life on beautifully sandaled feet. In connection with the Saints, sandaled feet signify their interior affections, perfected and strengthened by the virtues...; Mary from the first moment of her existence was always most pure and perfect: her thoughts, her affections, her desires and her plans were always strengthened and embellished by admirable virtues; like fragrant flowers they filled all her surroundings with sweet fragrance, without any foul odor or dark cloud ever to tarnish or diminish their beauty. And, you, O soul who meditate on her affections, you wander through the impure desert of this earthly pilgrimage with nary a thought as to how you might strengthen yourself with all the necessary virtues. Courage! Today lift up your spirit! Away with the impurities surrounding you. Fortify yourself with the shield of holy virtues so that you can walk as Mary did, and attain blessings awaiting you in Paradise. O Mary, most pure among all creatures, direct our feet, strengthen our affections as we strive to imitate your holy virtues! Third Consideration O soul, ponder how Mary who, after her Son, is the first-born daughter of the Most High God, is called par excellence: "Daughter of the Prince": that is, the most beloved, dearest, worthiest of her Prince Father, God. And this filiation which Mary had by her Immaculate Conception, she always kept inviolate...; never did she weaken it by disobedience. Rather, she continued wondrously to enhance it through the complete observance of the law and absolute conformity to the will of her heavenly Father. O Mary, most beautiful, you were always a daughter and never a slave, always a daughter of grace and never a slave of sin! And you, O soul who meditate on her filiation, how have you treasured the filiation God gave you through grace at your holy Baptism?...Whose son or daughter have you been for so long a time?...and whose child are you now?... In charity recover anew that divine filiation, never lose it again...; propose now, firmly, never more to be a child of Eve, a slave of sin, but a child of Mary, first-born daughter among all creatures, and Mother of all graces. DAY 9: On this the ninth and final day of the novena, we enter the 20 th Century with the great Apostle of Mary and Martyr of Charity, Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Pope John Paul II called Saint Maximilian, an Apostle of Our Difficult Age, especially because he is an Apostle of Mary. Mary, particularly in her Immaculate Conception, is the one foretold in Genesis 3:15 who would crush the head of Satan under her foot. Saint Maximilian is truly the Doctor of the Immaculate Conception because of his profound insights into this mystery, began his theology on his knees pondering this simple question: Who are you O Immaculate Conception and who am I? Let us ponder this question with him. MEDITATION: From the writings of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe ( ) 14

15 Immaculata, Virgin Mother, to thee I turn in humble prayer: "Grant that I may praise thee, O holy Virgin; give me strength against thine enemies!"(duns Scotus). The Immaculata appears in this world, without the least stain of sin, the masterpiece of God's hands, full of grace. God, the Most Holy Trinity, beholds the lowliness (i.e., the humility, the root of all her other virtues) of his handmaid, and "does great things for her, he the Almighty"(cf. Lk. 1,49). God the Father gives her his own Son to be her Son; God the Son descends into her womb; and God the Holy Spirit forms the body of Christ in the womb of this pure virgin. "And the Word was made flesh"(jn. 1.,14). The Immaculata becomes the Mother of God. The fruit of the love of God in his Trinitarian life and of Mary the Immaculata, is Christ the God-Man. [Sketches for a Book, 1295] Who is the Immaculata? To this abrupt question it is not possible to give a satisfactory answer, because this mystery transcends our human intelligence. She is the Mother of God, and her name is the Immaculata. When God showed himself to Moses he said of himself, "I am the One who is" (Ex. 3,14); in other words, "I am BEING itself." When St. Bernadette asked the Most Blessed Mother her name, Mary replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Such is the Immaculata defined by her own words. But what does the expression "Immaculate Conception" mean? The word "conception" tells us that she is not eternal; that she had a beginning. "Immaculate" tells us that from the first instant of her existence there never was in her the least conflict with God's will. The Immaculata is the most perfect of all creatures... She was immaculate because she was to become the Mother of God; she became the Mother of God because she was immaculate. Mother of God! The human mind cannot grasp what God is; neither can we comprehend the dignity of the mother of God. It is easier to understand a title like "servant of God"; "daughter of God " is more difficult to grasp; but "Mother of God" transcends our minds completely. God calls creatures into being when he creates them. Then, in their movement of return to God these creatures draw near to him and come to resemble their Creator more and more. God comes to his most perfect creature, the Immaculata; and the fruit of their love is Jesus Christ, the Mediator between the Creator and all creatures... True knowledge of the Immaculata can only be acquired in prayer. The purer a soul is, the greater efforts it makes to avoid sin -- and if it does happen to sin, it tries its best to rise from sin and to make up for its fault by love -- the more humble it is, and the more spirit of penance it shows, the more and better will it get to know the Immaculata.. [Conference, 26.VII.39] NOVENA PRAYER We praise and invoke you, O Immaculate Conception, Mary, Mother of God, Perpetual Virgin, Holy Queen Assumed into Heaven. We greet you, Daughter of the Eternal Father, Mother of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, temple of the most Holy Trinity. We hail you, Immaculate Lady, eternally predestined by God to be the Mother of Mercy, the Mediatrix of all graces. In your freedom from all stain of sin, and in your fullness of grace, we contemplate the perfect image and first flowering of the Church as She is to be perfected in the world to come. Therefore, Immaculate Mother of the Church, we now confidently turn to you, and ask you to obtain from your holy and beloved Son the favors we request in this novena... (here mention your requests in silence). Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother; to you do we come, before you we stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. (Three times) 15

16 Thank you for joining us in the praying of the solemn novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the airmaria radio network. If you would like to join us in the praying of the Solemn Novena in person or to download the various readings used for the novena, log on to that s w-w-w-dot-w-o-m-b-r-a-d-i-o-dot-com for more information. Once again, Thank again and Ave Maria! 16