Novena to the Immaculate Conception (Day 1)

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 

did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, 

we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, 

so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. 

Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

God, world without end. 

Amen. 

O most Holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, who by your blessed Immaculate Conception, from the first moment of your conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive our prayers as we implore you to present at the throne of God the favor we now request...

(State your intention here... )

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. 

Amen.

Spiritual Exercise:

Say the 5 decades of the Rosary for Our Lady's intercession in our country.

O Mary conceived without sin; 

Pray for us who have recourse to Thee (3 times)

"...The greatness of a kingdom or country depends on the source and hold of it's foundation".

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― 

Edmund Burke.

Let's commit Our Country Nigeria to the strong hold and foundation of God through Our Mother Mary who is;

 _*The surest way to God*_

*Great Novena of the Immaculate Conception.* 

France knows what is called the "Great Novena of the Immaculate Conception," which is held annually from November 30 to December 8. It was founded in 1936, and is practiced to this day without discontinuing. The original reason for this Novena was, according to the founders, the "extreme gravity of present events," alluding to the combined threat of communism and fascism, Nazism in particular. the Novena asked for zealous prayer in favor of the social and Christian regeneration of France and for universal peace. This call in homage of Pope Pius XI's eightieth birthday was addressed not only to the Catholics of France. It received a positive answer from hundreds of thousands of faithful in many countries of the world.

The participants in the "Great Novena of the Immaculate Conception" were asked to say every day at least one decade of the rosary, followed by three times the invocation: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you." Indulgences were granted to those who attended the Novena prayers in the/a church (three-hundred days each time) and received Holy Communion on one of the days of the Novena during or the octave. Even after sixty-six years of its existence, the basic prayer obligations remain the same, though from 1947 on, a special prayer to the Immaculate was added. This prayer reflects the special concerns and events of the time. The Novena is publicized by way of a special holy card featuring on one side the image of Our Lady, and on the other side the guidelines on how to pray the Novena. In particular, it lists the special prayer to the Immaculate.

Here are some of the highlights and intentions mentioned over the years:

1936

1937

Jubilee year commemorating the consecration of France to Mary by Louis XIII. Prayer is requested to avert the threat of universal war.

1936

For the return of France to God, her "primary vocation."

1939

For the victory of our armed forces.