Novena of the Immaculate Conception 2023

Rome (Italy). To prepare us to the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on 8 December 2023 – in which we celebrate Mary who found grace with God, was preserved from sin to become the Mother of the Savior and the Mother of us all – the Salesian Family Sector of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians proposes the Novena entitled:

“Mary enlightens and accompanies our synodal journey”

In the presentation, the Sector explains the choice of theme and structure:

On 29 October, with the closing of the first Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (4-29 October 2023), we reached a new Synodal phase As an Institute, we wantto walk and praise with Mary as we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception 2023. We are not isolated, we do not walk alone, but we are part of the one flock of Christ who walks together

To create the proposal for the novena, we drew inspiration from two documents:”Towards a Spirituality of Synodality” and “A Synodal Church on Mission”, focusing on Mary’s dynamism on the journey to the home of her cousin Elizabeth. It is the image of the journey towards a synodal community of welcome, refuge and joy.

Together, Mary and Elizabeth, and all the generations that enter into their song, are already the community of hope God’s promises in Christ will never fail. They sing a “new song” in which they re read their own experience, through which they gather all the tradition from which they are born.

In their common song and shared voice, they can only proclaim what God has done for them:”Magnificat anima mea dominum”dominum” – “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour As long as this song is not extinguished, the world has a sure hope Participates in this song, the world will find its way to the priceless gift of life that is Jesus Christ.

Each day, two selected passages are offered to encourage reflection, prayer, and commitment. As a concrete practice, it is proposed to the Communities to pray or sing the Magnificat during Vespers, renewing their sentiments of gratitude for God’s redemptive action in His People who journey through history.

The Salesian Family Sector hopes that all communities will be able to sing together with Mary and the people of God the song that is born of the Spirit and that flows from communion.

Texts of the Novena in languages