30 November 2011: Immaculate Conception Novena

“Thou art all fair, O Mary, and stain of original sin is not found in thee.” (Song of Songs 4:7)
Mary constantly showers down graces and favors on the faithful, and so has won the privilege of ‘all-powerful intercessor’. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Christians know that they can reach God through his Mother: our shortcut -- the most direct path to God.
Our love for her is shown in our always coming up with new ways of expressing affection for her. We begin the Novena leading to the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception by trying to offer Our Lady something special each day.

Day 1 - Morning Star
Mary is prefigured in the Old Testament. After the Almighty proclaims Redemption following the fall of our first parents, God tells the serpent: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between her seed and your seed: He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Gen 3:15)
Literally, the woman is Eve who is tempted and falls. On a deeper level though, the woman represents Mary, the new Eve, who will give birth to Christ, the absolute conqueror of the devil, who is symbolized by the serpent. Satan himself is powerless before her grandeur.
Isaiah prophesied Mary is to be the Virgin Mother of the Messiah. (cf Isa 7:14) St Matthew explicitly refers to fulfilment of this prophecy through Our Lady. (1:22-3) The Church also applies to our Blessed Mother the praise the people of Israel grant to their heroine Judith, who saved her people (Jdt 15:9-10). Mary cooperates in freeing us from an enemy greater than Holofernes whose head Judith cut off. (C Pozo, “Mary in Scripture and in the Faith of the Church”)
“I am the Mother of fair love, of fear, of knowledge and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue ...” (Sir 24:18)
Our Lady illumines our way and guides us through life. She is also found at the origin of our conversion to Christ. All spiritual benefits come to us by way of Mary. The Blessed Virgin makes it easy for us to begin over and over again. She offers all that “she ponders in her heart” (Lk 2:51), all that refers specifically to Jesus, towards whom she draws us by the hand. (John Paul II, “Address”, 20 October 1979)
“She does not shine for herself, or from herself, but she is the reflection of her and our Redeemer, and she glorifies him. When she appears in darkness, we know that He is close at hand.” (John Henry Newman, “Mystical Rose”)
Our glowing star when we are on the sea of life. (John Paul II, “Address”, 4 June 1979) “Don’t take your eye off the splendor of the brightly-glowing Star Mary if you do not want to be overcome by the squalls.” (St Bernard, “Homily on the Blessed Virgin Mary”, 2)
“The Mother of God is full of grace to a degree that surpasses even that of the angels. Therefore, rightly is she called ‘Mary’ which means ‘illuminated one’. It also signifies ‘illuminator of others’, with respect to the whole world.” (St Thomas, “On the ‘Hail, Mary’ in Catechetical writings”, 182)
Our Lady, Star of the Sea “alone dispels the darkness, brings down all blessings, and opens the door of Paradise for us. For this reason, the name ‘Mary’ which signifies ‘Star of the Sea’, most appropriately belongs to her. Just as the brightest star in the sky guides sailors toward a safe haven, Mary leads Christians to glory.” (St Thomas, Op cit, 185)
In every moment, she will guide us on a sure path... ‘Most sweet heart of Mary, prepare for us a safe way.’
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, In Conversation with God, 7:268-74

Look at the Star ... Invoke Mary
“And the Virgin’s name was ‘Mary’. Let us stop to contemplate this name, which fits the Virgin Mary so perfectly. Nothing is more fitting than to compare her to a star which sends forth its rays without being changed, even as the Virgin brought forth her Son without loss of bodily integrity. The ray takes nothing from the light of the star, nor does the birth of her Son detract from the integrity of the Virgin. She is, therefore, this radiant Star whose rays light up the entire universe.” -- St Bernard (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, p17)

‘Our Mother’
“Our mother”, “mother of mine”, “Show yourself to be a mother”: such were the terms with which St Josemaria Escrivá often addressed the most holy Virgin. She is truly our mother, because she begot us to supernatural life. (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 61)
Mary’s mothehood remains without lapsing ... until all the elect have been gathered to God. Once assumed into heaven, she has kept up this saving mission, for with her manifold intercession she continues to obtain for us the gifts of eternal salvation.
With love most motherly she tends to the brethren of her Son, who continue as pilgrims amid danger and anxiety till they are led to their most blessed homeland. (Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 62)
Nailed to the cross, Jesus gave us Mary to be our mother: “‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” (Jn 19:26-7) On the edge of dying he bequeathed his most precious belongings, “the testament of the cross” (John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater”, 30).
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez-Carvajal and Peter Beteta, “Children of God”, 1997, 63

Feast -- St Andrew, Apostle
A disciple of John the Baptist before becoming a follower of Christ to whom he brought his brother, Peter. With Philip he presented the Gentiles to Christ. Before the miracle in the desert, he pointed to Christ the boy with the loaves and fishes. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1702)
He was crucified in Patras, Greece, and according to common opinion, on a cross in the form of the letter ‘X’. (“New St Joseph Weekday Missal”, I:762)
St Andrew shows how authentic friendship makes it easy to speak of Christ: the apostolate of friendship and confidence. (cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 7:264)

• Our Lady of Genesta, on the coast of Genoa, in Italy. A poor woman, named Petruccia, undertook to build this church, a task which appeared to every one impossible; she however proceeded to lay the corner stone, and assured every one that she should not die until the Blessed Virgin and St Augustine finished this work. In fact, this church was found miraculously completed a short time afterwards. -- Segninus, in his Chronicle. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Genesta, Genoa, Italy (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)
• “Madonna della Genesta”. Genoa, Italy. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)