IMMACULATE CONCEPTION NOVENA: DAY 2

Day 2 – November 30: “The Mighty One has done great things for me”

The meeting of Mary and Elizabeth is filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and charged with joy and wonder.  Elizabeth, impressed by Mary’s faith, cries out:  “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”  One of the great gifts that the Virgin received was certainly faith.  Belief in God is a priceless gift, but one that has to be received.

Mary responds with the song of the Magnificat (cf. Lk1:46-55), in which we find the words: “The Mighty One has done great things for me.”

When God touches the heart of a person, that person becomes capable of doing tremendous things.  The “great things” that the Almighty accomplished in the life of Mary speak also to our own journey in life, which is not a meaningless meandering, but a pilgrimage that, for all its uncertainties and sufferings, can find its fulfilment in God.  You may say to me:  “But, Father, I have my limits; I am a sinner; what can I do?”  When the Lord calls us, he doesn’t stop at what we are or what we have done.  On the contrary, at the very moment that he calls us, he is looking ahead to everything we can do, all the love we are capable of giving.  Like the young Mary, you can allow your life to become a means for making the world a better place.  Jesus is calling you to leave your mark in life, your mark on history, both your own and that of so many others.

Act of Veneration to the Immaculate Virgin Mary (Pope Francis, December 8, 2013)

Virgin most holy and immaculate, to you, the honor of our people,
and the loving protector of our Church,
do we turn with trust and love.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary! In you there is no stain of sin.

Awaken in all of us a renewed desire for holiness:
may the splendor of truth shine forth in our words,
the song of charity resound in our works,
purity and chastity abide in our bodies and hearts,
and the full beauty of the Gospel be evident in our lives.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
In you the Word of God became flesh.

Help us always to heed the Lord’s voice:
may we never be indifferent to the cry of the poor,
or untouched by the sufferings of the sick and those in need;
may we be moved by the loneliness of the elderly
and the vulnerability of children,
and always love and respect the life of every human being.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
In you is the fullness of joy born of a blessed life with God.

Help us never to forget the meaning of our earthly journey:
may the kindly light of faith illumine our days,
the comforting power of hope direct our steps,
the contagious warmth of love stir our hearts;
and may our gaze be fixed on God, in whom true joy is found.

You are all-beautiful, O Mary!
Listen to our prayer, graciously hear our plea:
may the beauty of God’s merciful love in Jesus remain in us,
and may this divine beauty save us,
our Church and the entire world.  Amen.