Rosary & Mercy
Immaculate Conception Novena
The Immaculate Conception Novena prepares for the feast on December 8, when the Church celebrates that Mary, "in the first instance of her conception," was "preserved free from all stain of original sin" (Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854). The prayers here come from the Raccolta, the collection of prayers the Church approved and published for the faithful, in its 1910 English edition. Each day praises Mary under a different image (a lily, a rose, a mirror, the moon, a star) and asks for one grace. For the meaning of the feast in a sentence, see the questions below; for another prayer to Mary to pair with it, the Memorare fits well.
Key takeaways
- The novena runs November 29 to December 7, ending the day before the feast on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
- These are the traditional prayers from the Raccolta, the Church's old collection of approved prayers, with a different prayer for each day.
- The Immaculate Conception means Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her life. It is not the virgin birth of Jesus.
- December 8 is a holy day of obligation in the United States, and Mary Immaculate is the country's patroness.
The prayer for every day
Virgin most pure, conceived without sin, all fair and stainless in thy Conception; glorious Mary, full of grace, Mother of my God, Queen of Angels and of men, I humbly venerate thee as Mother of my Saviour, who, though He was God, taught me by his own veneration, reverence, and obedience to thee, the honour and homage that are due to thee. Vouchsafe, I pray thee, to accept this Novena which I dedicate to thee. Thou art the safe refuge of the penitent sinner; it is very fitting, then, that I should have recourse to thee. Thou art the Mother of Compassion; then wilt thou surely be moved with pity for my many miseries. Thou art my best hope after Jesus; thou canst not but accept the loving confidence that I have in thee. Make me worthy to be called thy son, that so I may dare to cry unto thee: Show thyself a mother.
(Each day: say this preparatory prayer, then the day's prayer, then nine Hail Marys and a Glory Be, and finish with the closing prayer below.)
Day by day
1Chosen from all eternity
Ask for grace to overcome the effects of original sin in your own life.
Behold me at thy sacred feet, O Immaculate Virgin. I rejoice with thee, because from all eternity thou wast elected to be the Mother of the Eternal Word, and wast preserved stainless from the taint of original sin. I praise and bless the Most Holy Trinity, who poured out upon thy soul in thy Conception the treasure of that privilege. I humbly pray thee to obtain for me grace effectually to overcome the sad effects produced in my soul by original sin; make me wholly victorious over them, that I may never cease to love my God.
Pray day 1 along6:332Full of grace
Ask for a share in the grace that filled Mary from her first moment.
Mary, unsullied lily of purity, I rejoice with thee, because from the first moment of thy Conception thou wast filled with grace, and hadst given unto thee the perfect use of reason. I thank and adore the ever blessed Trinity, who gave thee those high gifts. Behold me at thy feet overwhelmed with shame to see myself so poor in grace. O Thou who wast filled full of heavenly grace, grant me a portion of that same grace, and make me a partaker in the treasures of thy Immaculate Conception.
Pray day 2 along6:303Victory over the serpent
Ask for courage against temptation and protection from serious sin.
Mary, mystic rose of purity, I rejoice with thee at the glorious triumph thou didst gain over the serpent by thy Immaculate Conception, in that thou wast conceived without original sin. I thank and praise with my whole heart the ever blessed Trinity, who granted thee that glorious privilege; and I pray thee to obtain for me courage to overcome every snare of the great enemy, and never to stain my soul with mortal sin. Be thou always mine aid, and enable me with thy protection to obtain the victory over all the enemies of man's eternal welfare.
Pray day 3 along6:334Every virtue
Ask for grace to practise the Christian virtues and to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Mary Immaculate Virgin, mirror of holy purity, I rejoice exceedingly to see how from thy Immaculate Conception there were infused into thy soul the most sublime and perfect virtues with all the gifts of the most Holy Spirit. I thank and praise the ever blessed Trinity who bestowed upon thee these high privileges, and I beseech thee, gracious Mother, obtain for me grace to practise every Christian virtue, and so to become worthy to receive the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost.
Pray day 4 along6:315The dawn of our salvation
Ask that Christ's Passion bear fruit in you.
Mary, bright moon of purity, I congratulate thee in that the mystery of thy Immaculate Conception was the beginning of salvation to the human race, and was the joy of the whole world. I thank and bless the ever blessed Trinity who did so magnify and glorify thy person. I entreat thee to obtain for me grace so to profit by the death and passion of thy dear Son, that his Precious Blood may not have been shed upon the Cross for me in vain, but that after a holy life I may be saved.
Pray day 5 along6:296The joy of the angels
Ask to share one day in the joy of heaven.
Mary Immaculate, brilliant star of purity, I rejoice with thee, because thy Immaculate Conception brought exceeding joy to all the angels of Paradise. I thank and bless the ever blessed Trinity, who enriched thee with this privilege. Enable me also one day to take part in this heavenly joy, praising and blessing thee in the company of angels, world without end. Amen.
Pray day 6 along6:207Confirmed in grace
Ask for a lasting hatred of sin.
Mary Immaculate, rising morn of purity, I rejoice with thee, and I am filled with admiration at beholding thee confirmed in grace and rendered sinless from the first moment of thy Conception. I thank and praise the ever blessed Trinity, who elected thee alone from all mankind for this special privilege. Holiest Virgin, obtain for me so entire and lasting a hatred of sin, the worst of all evils, that I may rather die than ever again commit a mortal sin.
Pray day 7 along6:278More grace than all the saints
Ask for a changed heart and a new beginning.
Mary, Virgin, sun without stain, I congratulate thee and I rejoice with thee, because God gave thee in thy Conception a greater and more abundant grace than He gave to all his angels and his saints together, even when their merits were most exalted. I thank and admire the immense beneficence of the ever blessed Trinity, who hath dispensed to thee alone this privilege. Oh, enable me too to correspond with the grace of God, and never more to receive it in vain; change my heart, and help me to begin in earnest a new life.
Pray day 8 along6:309Model of purity
Ask for a heart that loves God constantly, now and in heaven.
Immaculate Mary, living light of holiness, model of purity, Virgin and Mother, as soon as thou wast conceived, thou didst profoundly adore thy God, giving him thanks, because by means of thee the ancient curse was blotted out, and blessing was again come upon the sinful sons of Adam. Let this blessing kindle in my heart love towards God; and do thou inflame my heart still more and more, that I may ever love Him constantly on earth, and afterwards eternally enjoy Him in heaven, there to thank and praise Him more and more fervently for all the wondrous privileges conferred on thee, and to rejoice with thee for thy high crown of glory.
Pray day 9 along6:41
Closing prayer
V. In thy conception, O Virgin, thou wast immaculate. R. Pray for us to the Father, whose Son was born of thee.
Let us pray. O God, who through the Immaculate Conception of a Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for thy Son, we beseech Thee, who by the death of that Son, foreseen by Thee, didst preserve her from all stain of sin, to grant that by her intercession we also may be purified, and so may come to Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then say three times: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Get a reminder for each day of the Immaculate Conception Novena.
Start praying with Rosary & MercyQuestions people ask
What is the Immaculate Conception?
It is Mary's own conception: from the first moment of her existence she was kept free from original sin, by God's grace and in view of the merits of Jesus (CCC 491). It is often confused with the virgin birth, which is about Jesus being conceived without a human father. Pope Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception as dogma on December 8, 1854.
When do you start the Immaculate Conception Novena?
On November 29, so that the ninth day falls on December 7, the eve of the feast. In 2026 that is Sunday, November 29 to Monday, December 7.
Is December 8, 2026 a holy day of obligation?
Yes. The Immaculate Conception is a holy day of obligation in the United States, and in 2026 it falls on a Tuesday, so Catholics are asked to go to Mass that day.
Is there a prayer to Mary that never fails?
People usually mean the Memorare, which begins "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection... was left unaided." It expresses trust, not a guarantee: no prayer forces an outcome, and God answers in his own way and time (CCC 2735-2737).
Why is Mary the patroness of the United States?
In 1846 the American bishops, meeting at the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore, chose Mary under the title of her Immaculate Conception as patroness of the country, and Pope Pius IX confirmed it in 1847. The National Shrine in Washington, D.C. is dedicated to her under this title.
What if I miss a day?
Pray the missed day when you remember and carry on. A novena is a devotion, not a rule that breaks if you skip a day.
Keep praying
Sources: The Raccolta (Burns & Oates / Benziger, 1910), "Novena for the Immaculate Conception" · Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854) · Catechism of the Catholic Church 490-493, 2735-2737 · USCCB, complementary norm on canon 1246 (holy days of obligation)