Novena to the Immaculate Conception

Nine days of special preparation for the great feast of our Lady's Immaculate Conception, with some resources for growing in love for Mary Immaculate.

Novena to the Immaculate Conception with commentary from Pope Francis and Saint Josemaria (PDF): On 8 December (or 9 December in 2024, because the solemnity is transferred from the 2nd Sunday of Advent), we celebrate the beauty of the Virgin Mary. Since it is an important feast day, it is a custom in the Church to prepare for it 9 days ahead of time. We call it the novena to the Immaculate Conception. To live it each day, we offer you texts from the Gospel for your personal prayer, along with some ideas from Saint Josemaria and Pope Francis. We can learn so much from their affection for our Lady.

A meditation (guided prayer) for each day of the novena, given by priests in Kenya.

Immaculate Conception: Magisterium, Fathers, Saints: Mary's Immaculate Conception is given clear expression in texts of the Magisterium, Fathers of the Church and saints. We offer a selection here.

Life of Mary (I): The Immaculate Conception: The first chapter in the 20-part "Life of Mary" available on this website explains the meaning of this feast.

• "You are all-beautiful, O Mary" Prayer of Pope Francis to Mary Immaculate (8 December 2013)

Prayer of Pope Francis to Mary Immaculate (8 December 2016)

Novena to the Immaculate Conception with texts from Saint Josemaria (available as a PDF).

• Free eBook: "Mary, a Life Close to Jesus".

150th anniversary of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception During a pastoral visit to France in 2004, Saint John Paul II went to Lourdes to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception.