# Day Two of the Novena to the Immaculate Conception
*2015-10-30*

> Bill Young leads the second day of the novena honoring the Immaculate Conception, praying the Apostles' Creed, reflecting on the Annunciation, and inviting listeners to say “yes” to God.

## Opening Prayer

Good morning. This is Bill Young, welcome to Prayer and Lent’s podcast. Today is Monday, the first week of Lent, November 30th, and we continue with day two of our novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us pray: “O God, come to my aid; O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory 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.”

## The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; descended into hell; on the third day rose again; ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

## The Annunciation (Luke 1:26‑38)

From the Gospel according to Luke, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin named Mary, betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David. The angel said, “Rejoice, you who are favored by God; the Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled and asked, “What does this greeting mean?” The angel answered, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will have no end.”

Mary asked, “How can this be, since I know not a man?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with his shadow. The child will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” He also told her that her cousin Elizabeth, though old, had conceived a son, for nothing is impossible with God. Mary responded, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

## Meditation on Mary’s “Yes”

Mary served God perfectly in her everyday life, always willing to fulfill God’s will, even in the most ordinary tasks. She was ready to accept the unexpected, as when the angel announced the Incarnation. The angel’s greeting, “full of grace,” means she was filled with God’s love. By saying “yes” unconditionally, Mary allowed the Word of God to become incarnate in her. Her fiat, accompanied by divine grace, made the mystery of the Incarnation possible. While Mary’s role is unique, each of us is invited to say “yes” to God and share in the plan of salvation.

## Closing Prayer

Let us pause in silence, then pray:

Grant that I may praise you, O Immaculate Virgin. I adore you, O Heavenly Father, for you placed your only‑begotten Son in her pure womb. I adore you, O Son of God, for you entered her womb and truly became her Son. I adore you, O Holy Spirit, for you made the Word become flesh in her immaculate womb. O Holy Trinity, one God in three Persons, you dignified the Immaculate Virgin in a divine way, as written by St. Maximilian Kolbe. Amen.

*Mary’s “yes” invites each of us to cooperate with God’s grace in our own lives.*