# Novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Day 9
*2008-12-06*

> Bill Young leads the final day of the novena honoring the Immaculate Conception, reflecting on Mary's vocation of service and humility.

## Opening Prayers

Good morning. This is Bill Young, and welcome to episode 238 of Catholic Podcast Ministries, Prayer and Lunch. Today is the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, and in honor of that, we are completing the novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is day number nine.

We begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Oh my God, come to my aid. Oh Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. We now pray the Apostles' Creed.

## The Magnificat and Divine Election

On this ninth day, we honor Mary, Queen and Handmaid of the Lord. From the Gospel according to Luke, Mary says: 'My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant. Yes, from now onwards, all generations will call me blessed. For the Almighty has done great things for me. For holy is his name, and his faith, love, extend the ages after age, to those who fear him.'

He used the power of his arm; he routed the arrogance of the heart. He pulled down the princes from their thrones and raised the lowly. He filled the starving with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to help Israel, his servant, mindful of his faithful love according to the promise he made to our ancestors, of his mercy towards Abraham.

The Lord has chosen her; he has chosen her before she was born. He made her live in her own dwelling place. The Lord chose her.

## Meditation on Service and Queenship

Jesus taught his disciples that if anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and the servant of all. Mary allowed His word to become flesh in her, beginning by listening to the word and obeying it, thus fulfilling her vocation as spouse and mother. By placing herself as the servant of God, she left herself to be at the service of all. Her service was one of love, and she continues in this service to this day.

Indeed, it was through serving others that Mary gained experience of her life in mysterious but authentic ways. For Mary, to reign is to serve, and to serve is to reign. The Immaculate Virgin fulfills her queenship by giving herself entirely—first to her Son, and then to all humankind. 

The Almighty does great things for Mary. All generations call her blessed because she is His humble servant, who does nothing but the will of God, and was thus chosen by God to be Queen of Heaven and Earth.

## Closing Prayers

Hail, song of cherubim and praise of the angels. Hail, the praise and joy of the human race. Hail, garden of delights, good of life. Hail, bulwark of the faith, heaven of the shipwrecked. Hail, remedy of Adam, hail the ransom of Eve. Hail, the most holy temple, hail throne of the Lord. Hail, O Chaste One, who has crushed the head of the dragon and cast him into the abyss. Hail, refuge of the afflicted, hail deliverance from the curse. Hail, O Mother of Christ, Son of God, to whom be all glory, honor, adoration, and praise everywhere, now and forever. Amen.

You were Immaculate, O Virgin, in the conception. Pray for us to the Father whose Son you bore.

O God, through the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, you prepared a worthy dwelling place for your Son. In anticipation of His birth, you preserved her from every stain of sin. Grant that we too may have her intercession and may come to be united with you in purity of spirit.

*For Mary, to reign is to serve, and to serve is to reign.*