Rome (Italy). To prepare us to the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on 8 December 2024 the Salesian Family Sector of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, in collaboration with the Communication Sector, proposes the Novena entitled:
“Mary Woman of Hope”
In the presentation, the Sector explains the choice of theme and structure:
“Spes non confundit” “hope does not disappoint” (Rm 5,5). As we are at the verge of the opening of the Holy Year and the beginning of the novena to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, we wish to walk with a solicitous step, together with her, as sublime witnesses of hope.
“In the Blessed Virgin, we see that hope is not naive optimism but a gift of grace amid the realities of life. Like every mother, whenever Mary looked at her Son, she thought of his future. Surely she kept pondering in her heart the words spoken to her in the Temple by the elderly Simeon: ‘This child is destined for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed, so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul too’ (Lk 2:34-35). At the foot of the cross, she witnessed the passion and death of Jesus, her innocent son. Overwhelmed with grief, she nonetheless renewed her “fiat”, never abandoning her hope and trust in God. In this way, Mary cooperated for our sake in the fulfilment of all that her Son had foretold in announcing that he would have to “undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mk 8:31). In the travail of that sorrow, offered in love, Mary became our Mother, the Mother of Hope” (cf. Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025. no. 24).
In this novena let us invoke the Virgin Mary ‘Stella Maris’, a title much used in the popular devotion, with the certainty that she has been and still is present in the stormy events of life. With her powerful help she sustains, instils confidence and strengthens hope.
Every day of the novena, a reflection will be proposed on one particular aspect of the life of Mother Mary, Stella Maris – Mother of Hope, and a commitment will be indicated to be put into practice during the day.
We are invited to join all the countries that are experiencing moments of suffering and war, those who have lost confidence and look to the future with concern and anguish. Let us ask Mary to be a Mother of Hope for all.
May the ‘Hail Mary’, prayed with faith, be an unbroken chain of supplication so that the long-desired dream of peace may be realised in Ukraine, Israel, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Palestine and Nicaragua, and in places where there are silent wars and are forgotten.
A video will be available with the prayer o Mother Chiara Cazzuola and the ‘Hail Mary’ prayed by people from the nation for which we will pray on that day.
Day 1 – Mary Daughter of Hope – YouTube – Download
Day 2 – Mary Mother of Hope – YouTube – Download
Day 3 – Mary Temple of Hope – YouTube – Download
Day 4 – Mary who Hoped in the Midst of Darkness – YouTube – Download
Day 5 – Mary Messenger of Hope – YouTube – Download
Day 6 – Mary Image of the Church that Hopes – YouTube – Download
Day 7 – Mary Queen of Hope – YouTube – Download
Day 8 – Mary at the Foot of the Cross Strengthens our Hope – YouTube – Download
Day 9 – Mary with the Church, Presence of Hope – YouTube – Download
Invochiamo,insieme a D.Bosco la protezione di Maria Ausiliatrice
Grazie Sorelle per Bellissima iniziativa
Suor Annalaura, sono Maria Chiara Bonsignorio, si ricorda di me? La mia parrocchia qui a Genova, dove vivo ormai da 38 anni, è dedicata proprio all’Immacolata, e mi farà piacere recitare la novena anche a me, anche se non sono una consacrata!
“L’Ave Maria, pregata con fede, sia una catena ininterrotta di supplica affinché si realizzi il sogno, tanto desiderato, della pace in Ucraina, Israele, Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Etiopia, Palestina e Nicaragua e nei luoghi dove ci sono guerre silenziose e dimenticate”
C’è anche il Libano che continua ad essere martorizzato e luogo di conflitto tra Israele, Iran e altri paesi.
Sono contenta che con la Famiglia Salesiana c’è l’ambito della Comunicazione ad onorare la Vergine Immacolata. Spero che sia pregata in tutte le comunità F. M. A.