Virgo Potens

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 7th The Announcement of His Coming 1. For a short time after their creation our first parents lived in perfect peace and happiness in the Garden of Eden. If they had continued obedient to the authority of their Creator during their whole time of probation there would have been no need for the advent of the Son of God as their Redeemer from sin, for sin there would have been none. It was their deliberate rebellion that was the occasion that determined the visit of the Word to this world of ours. No wonder that the Church sings, O felix culpa! O happy transgression, which earned a Redeemer such as this! Admire God's wonderful providence in thus bringing good out of evil and advantage to man for his very sin. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

December 6th ~ FEAST of ST. NICHOLAS, Bishop, Confessor 4th century St. Nicholas is distinguished in the Church for his holy austerity and childlike innocence. Chosen as Bishop of Myra in Lucia, Asia Minor, he distinguished himself for his charity and liberality. He was particularly solicitous for the care of the young, and thus is venerated as the patron of children. He took part in the Council of Nicaea in 320, which condemned the Arian heresy. His relics are preserved in Bari, Italy. St. Nicholas, pray for us. ~ St. Joseph Daily Missal, 1956

Day Eight O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too Thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto Thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. O Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with Him for us that we may be granted the favor which we petition so earnestly in this novena. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we are animated with confidence that thy prayers on our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of thy joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions. (Here mention your personal request.) O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, thou hadst influence with thy Divine Son whilst upon this earth; thou hast the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from Him the granting of this petition, if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 6th The Divine Decree (continued) 3. The divine decree did not stop at this first coming of the Son of God. There is to be a second advent, one in which He will appear in human form indeed, yet now no longer in lowliness and humiliation, but clothed with all the brightness and glory which His divine nature can impart to His sacred humanity. In this second coming He is to come and receive the reward that He has earned for His human nature, and for all those who had faithfully served Him. He is to come and reign. He is to crush all His enemies under His feet. Look forward to that glorious day, and pray that you may share the glory of the Son of God. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

The Immaculate Conception Patroness of the United States of America PRAYER for AMERICA MOST Blessed Virgin Mother, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to accept the decree of Holy Mother Church, placing our beloved country under the protection of thy Immaculate Conception. Accord it thy continuous care and powerful influence, that God may safeguard it from all danger and permit it to fulfill its high mission among the peoples of the earth. ℣ Sacred Heart of Jesus, ℟ Have mercy on us. ℣ Sacred Heart of Mary, ℟ Pray for us. ℣ St. Joseph, ℟ Pray for us. ℣ Our holy guardian angels ℟ Watch over us. ℣ Live, Jesus, in our hearts, ℟ Now and forevermore. Amen. (3 times) ℣ May all praise, adoration, love and thanksgiving be continually given to our Divine Lord in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar: ℟ Now and forevermore. Amen. Prayers and Devotions (1954)

Day Seven O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too Thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto Thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and our mother, from the sublime heights of thy dignity, turn thy merciful eyes upon us while we, full of confidence in thy bounty and keeping in mind thy Immaculate Conception, and fully conscious of thy power, beg of thee to come to our aid, asking thy Divine Son to grant the favor we earnestly seek in this novena, if it be beneficial for our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray. (Here mention your personal request.) O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, thou hadst influence with thy Divine Son whilst upon this earth; thou hast the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from Him the granting of this petition, if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 5th The Divine Decree (continued) 2. In what garb was the Son of God to clothe Himself when He became Man? In one that should give us some idea of the evil He came to undo. He, the Eternal Son, coequal with the Father, took the form of a servant, was born of a despised race, of humble parents, in poverty, and humility, and contempt. All this should impress on us how sin has deserved all these and every other evil imaginable besides. If these were the results of sin on the spotless Lamb of God, what must they be on sinful, feeble man ? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Day Six O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too Thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto Thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Glorious and immortal Queen of Heaven, we profess our firm belief in thy Immaculate Conception, preordained for thee in the merits of thy Divine Son. We rejoice with thee in thine Immaculate Conception. To the one, ever-reigning God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three in Person, one in nature, we offer thanks for thy blessed Immaculate Conception. O Mother of the Word made Flesh, listen to our petition as we ask this special grace during this novena. (Here mention your personal request.) O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, thou hadst influence with thy Divine Son whilst upon this earth; thou hast the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from Him the granting of this petition, if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 4th The Divine Decree 1. What brought Christ down from heaven? It was man's sin. From all eternity the Blessed Trinity, looking forward to the fall of man, had decreed that the Eternal Word should clothe Himself with human flesh, and should be born into the world in order to repair the evil that man had wrought. Thus God in His mercy provides a remedy for all the sins and follies of men even before they are committed. We do the harm, and God undoes it. Has He not often thus averted from me the consequences due to my evil deeds? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Day Five O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too Thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto Thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. O Lord, Who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, didst prepare a fitting dwelling for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that as by the foreseen death of Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain of sin, grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the grace that we seek at this time. (Here mention your personal request.) O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, thou hadst influence with thy Divine Son whilst upon this earth; thou hast the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from Him the granting of this petition, if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 3rd What Advent is (continued) 3. Yet we know that it is a fact. "For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven." He yearned after us with a divine love. Willingly, joyfully, almost eagerly He stripped Himself of all His glory. "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death." Who after this can refuse to believe that He loved us and still loves us fondly, tenderly? Who can refuse to love Him in return, and to show this love by a loyal obedience to all that He asks of us? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

FIRST SATURDAY of DECEMBER 💙 “See my daughter, how my heart is encircled by thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me, and announce that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who on the First Saturdays of five consecutive months, confess, receive Holy Communion, recite part of My Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on its mysteries with the intention of offering me reparation.” ~ Words of Our Lady to Sr. Marie (Lucia dos Santos) on December 10, 1925 If possible, make First Saturday devotions today, in reparation for offenses against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as requested by Our Lady herself in 1925, and confirmed by Our Lord in 1927.

Day Four O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too Thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto Thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. O Mary, Mother of God, endowed in thy glorious Immaculate Conception with the fullness of grace; unique among women in that thou art both mother and virgin, Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ, we ask thee to look down with a tender heart from thy throne and listen to our prayers as we earnestly ask that thou obtainest for us the favor for which we now plead. (Here mention your personal request.) O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, thou hadst influence with thy Divine Son while upon this earth; thou hast the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from Him the granting of this petition, if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Immaculate Conception

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 2nd What Advent is (continued) 2. Of all the miracles in the world never was there one to be compared to His coming on earth in the form of a man. It was a miracle so entirely above and beyond our reason that unless we knew it by faith to be a fact we should be inclined to pronounce it impossible. That the infinite God should take the form of a creature! that the Eternal Word should be clad in a body formed of the dust of the earth! that He should of His own accord leave the highest heaven for a life of suffering and a death of agony! Nothing but the power of God could work such a wonder as this. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)