This novena runs from November 29th through December 7th, the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception.
Part I: Hymns
Hymn I: O Purest of Creatures
For days 1, 4, and 7.
Text: Fr Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)
Tune: “Maria Zu Lieben”, from Paderborn Gesangbuch (1765)
O purest of creatures! sweet Mother, sweet Maid;
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid.
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother, and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.
Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world.
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church - all her eyes are on thee.
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea.
He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair;
For the empire of sin, it had never been there;
None had e'er owned thee, dear Mother, but He,
And He blessed thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea.
Hymn II: Hail, Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star
For days 2, 5, and 8.
Text: Fr. John Lingard (1771–1851)
Tune: “Stella” by Henri Frederick Hemy (1818-1888)
Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star,
Guide of the wanderer here below,
Thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me.
O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee;
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.
Sojourners in this vale of tears,
To thee, blest advocate, we cry;
Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And sooth with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.
And while to Him Who reigns above
In Godhead one, in Persons three,
The Source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee:
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea,
Pray for thy children, pray for me.
Hymn III: O Maid Conceived Without a Stain
For days 3, 6, and 9.
Text: Author Unknown (1871)
Tune: “Horsley” by William Horsley (1844)
O Maid conceived without a stain,
O Mother bright and fair;
Come thou within our hearts to reign,
And grace shall triumph there.
Hail, Mary, ever undefiled,
Hail, Queen of purity!
Oh! make thy children chaste and mild,
And turn their hearts to thee.
Thou art far purer than the snow,
Far brighter than the day;
Thy beauty none on earth can know,
No tongue of men can say.
O Mother, of all mothers best,
Who soothest every grief,
In thee the weary find their rest,
And anguish'd hearts relief.
Oh! then for us, thy children, plead,
Thy pity we implore;
That we, from sin and sorrow freed,
May love thee more and more.
Part II: Prayer and Responsories
Prayer of Pope Pius XII
Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.
Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of the sublime gifts with which God hath filled thee, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which, after thine assumption into heaven, He crowned thee Queen of the Universe.
O crystal Fountain of Faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of All Holiness, captivate our hearts with thy heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of Evil and Death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin, which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!
O well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy church, make all men feel the attractions of Christian goodness. In thy name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.
Receive, O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around thy altars:
V. Thou are all fair, O Mary.
R. Thou art all fair, O Mary.
V. And the original stain is not in thee.
R. And the original stain is not in thee.
V. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem.
R. Thou art the joy of Israel.
V. Thou art the honor of our people.
R. Thou art the advocate of sinners.
V. O Mary.
R. O Mary.
V. Virgin, most prudent.
R. Mother, most tender.
V. Pray for us.
R. Intercede for us with Jesus our Lord.
V. In thy conception, Holy Virgin, thou wast immaculate.
R. Pray for us to the Father Whose Son thou didst bring forth.
Part III: Collect
TLM Collect for the Immaculate Conception
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. Let us pray. O God, Who, by the foreseen merits of the death of Christ, didst shield Mary from all stain of sin and preserve the Virgin Mother immaculate at her conception so that she might be a fitting dwelling place for Thy Son, cleanse us from sin through her intercession so that we also may come to Thee untainted by sin. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
