Prayer to the Immaculate Conception

Prayer to the Immaculate Conception

O Mary, conceived without sin, full of grace and holy light, we turn to you with love and devotion.

You were preserved from all stain of original sin and chosen by God to be the Mother of His Son. Intercede for us, O Immaculate Conception, that we may be freed from sin, strengthened in virtue, and guided by your maternal care.

Help us to love God above all things, to follow Christ faithfully, and to live in holiness according to His will.

O Blessed Virgin, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.

Amen.

A prayer to the Immaculate Conception typically invokes the Blessed Virgin Mary, acknowledging her unique purity and seeking her intercession. These prayers often highlight her preservation from original sin from the moment of her conception and her role as the Mother of God and an advocate for humanity.

One common prayer to the Immaculate Conception begins with an address to God, stating, "O God, Who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, didst prepare a worthy habitation for Thy Son, we beseech Thee, that as by the foreseen death of that same 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 Christ our Lord. Amen." This prayer emphasizes God's divine plan in preserving Mary from sin through the merits of Jesus Christ's future sacrifice, and it asks for purification through her intercession.

Another prayer, often recited as an ejaculation, states, "In Thy conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast immaculate; pray for us to the Father, Whose Son, Jesus Christ conceived of the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth." This short invocation directly affirms Mary's immaculate conception and requests her prayers.

Pope Francis's prayer to the Immaculate Conception, offered on her feast day, expresses a broader appeal, bringing to Mary "all those with whom your Son entrusted to me, in this city of Rome and in the entire world." He asks for her blessing and protection, specifically mentioning children who are alone or exploited, struggling families, and workers facing hardship. The prayer also seeks Mary's "immaculate gaze" to view people and things with respect, her "immaculate heart" to love freely, her "immaculate hands" to offer tenderness and support, and her "immaculate feet" to reach out to the lost. It concludes by thanking Mary for freeing humanity from sin and reminding believers of God's grace, Jesus' love, and the Holy Spirit's renewing power, urging perseverance and trust in her help for personal and global renewal.

Novenas to the Immaculate Conception, such as the one found on Pray More Novenas, are often prayed for nine days leading up to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, or at any time. These novenas typically include daily prayers that venerate Mary as "most pure Virgin Mary conceived without sin," acknowledge her as the Mother of God and Queen of Angels, and express confidence in her prayers for holiness and salvation. They often include intentions for personal requests and conclude with the "Hail Mary" prayer.

Other prayers to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception also highlight her role as an intercessor and advocate, asking her to present prayers to God and to protect against evil. They often invoke her purity and her triumph over the "wicked serpent" (referring to Satan) from the moment of her conception. Some prayers also seek specific graces, such as angelic purity, purity of heart and intention, and an increase in faith, hope, and charity.

The Litany of the Immaculate Conception is a more extensive prayer that calls upon Mary with numerous titles, each emphasizing her immaculate nature and various virtues, such as "Holy Mary, Immaculate," "Virgin of virgins, Immaculate," "Daughter of the Father, Immaculate," and "Queen of Heaven and earth, Immaculate." This litany repeatedly asks for her intercession ("pray for us")