# Sixth day: novena in honour of the immaculate conception
*2015-12-05*

> Bill Young continues the novena in honour of the Immaculate Conception, focusing on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary as the antagonist of Satan.

## The Power of Prayer

Good afternoon. Today we are continuing with the novena in honour of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I am calling all individuals to pray daily. Prayer is the only main weapon that we have. We could buy all the guns, bullets, and bombs, but they do not have the same effect as prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ and prayer to His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who will eventually defeat the serpent.

## Mary, the Antagonist of Satan

The theme for this day is 'Mary, the Antagonist of Satan.' In the Book of Revelation, we see a great sign in heaven: a woman robed with the sun, standing on the moon, with a crown of twelve stars on her head. Opposite her is a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns. The dragon seeks to devour the child as soon as it is born, but the child is taken up to God and His throne, while the woman escapes into the desert where God had prepared a place for her.

This battle began at the dawn of creation. In Genesis 3:15, God said to the serpent, 'I shall put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will bruise your head, and you will strike him at his heel.' What St. John sees in Revelation is a battle of cosmic dimensions—the ancient conflict between the woman and her children and the dragon and his children; between the Church and Satan; between Mary and Lucifer.

## The Battle for Purity

We are called to fight for purity and holiness against sin and immodesty. The Immaculate Virgin leads us to purity of heart if we allow ourselves to be taught and guided by her. We attain purity only through continuous and constant battle, which consists of saying 'yes' to God numerous times and 'no' to Satan just as many times. This battle is fought through prayer, vigilance, and many acts of love, both great and small, as well as controlling our passions and dominating our faults.

However, this battle cannot be continued without the help of God, which is given to us if we frequently receive the sacraments. Nor can it continue without commending ourselves to the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the victorious woman, and the assistance of the community of the faithful. We need a community that supports those who stumble, encourages those of wavering faith, and helps those who have fallen.

## Prayer of St. Maximilian Kolbe

We conclude with a prayer by St. Maximilian Kolbe: 'Grant that I may praise You, O Immaculate Virgin, with my commitment and personal sacrifice. Grant that I may live, work, suffer, consume myself, and die for You, only for You. Grant that I may lead the entire world to You. Grant that I may contribute to Your greater glory and Your utmost glorification; grant that I may render to You a glory such that no one has ever given to You unto this day. Grant that others may surpass me in their zeal for Your glorification, and that I might surpass them, so that in our noble emulation of each other, we allow Your glory to grow even more profoundly, even more rapidly, and even more intensely, according to the desire of Him who exalts You.'

*Victory over sin and the enemy is achieved through a constant battle of saying yes to God, supported by the sacraments, the intercession of Mary, and the community of the faithful.*