B ehold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel (which means, God is with us). Matthew 1:23 Nine Days of Prayer for the parishioners, families, students, faculty and staff of Immaculate Conception Parish and School, Dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.
This issue of Nine Days of Prayer is dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the namesake of our parish and school. The idea for Nine Days of Prayer is modeled after the Catholic Church s Tradition of praying a Novena. The word novena is taken from the Latin word novem which means nine. A novena is made up of nine days of prayer and meditation usually to ask God for special prayer requests or petitions. Novenas are often used to ask specific saints to pray for us. Novenas are an ancient tradition that goes back to the days of the Apostles. Jesus told His disciples to pray together after His ascension into heaven, so they went to an upper room along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, (Acts 1:14) and joined constantly in prayer for nine days. Jesus reminds us to remain persistent in prayer. A novena is a great aid in persistence and perseverance in nine days of prayer. In this issue of Nine Days of Prayer, we come together as a community to pray that we may be a faithful, hopeful, and loving Christian people. These Nine Days of Prayer, ends with our celebration of Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mass times and events to commemorate our Parish Feast Day can be found in the bulletin.
Day 1 & 5 November 29 & December 3 The Hail Holy Queen Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. For an increase in the virtue of faith: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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. For an increase in the virtue of hope: Hail Mary For an increase in the virtue of charity: Hail Mary beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
Day 2 & 6 November 30 & December 4 The Memorare Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. For an increase in the virtue of faith: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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. For an increase in the virtue of hope: Hail Mary For an increase in the virtue of charity: Hail Mary beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen
Day 3 & Day 7 December 1 & December 5 The Angelus V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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. V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R. Be it done to me according to thy word. Hail, Mary... V. And the Word was made flesh, R. And dwelt among us. Hail, Mary... V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen. beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen
Day 4 & Day 8 December 2 & December 6 The Magnificat My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. For an increase in the virtue of faith: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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. For an increase in the virtue of hope: Hail Mary For an increase in the virtue of charity: Hail Mary beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen
Day 9 December 7 Prayer to Mary for Vocations O Mary, Virgin of the Word made flesh in your womb, help us to be open to the Word of the Lord, so that, having been welcomed and meditated upon, it may grow in our hearts. Help us to live, like you, the beatitudes of believers and to dedicate ourselves with unceasing charity to evangelizing all those who seek your Son. Grant that we may serve every person, becoming servants of the Word we have heard, so that remaining faithful to it we may find our happiness in living it. Amen. For an increase in the virtue of faith: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are 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. For an increase in the virtue of hope: Hail Mary For an increase in the virtue of charity: Hail Mary beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen
Immaculate Conception Church 106 Chapel Lane Charles City, IA 50616 www.iccharlescity.com