Immaculate Conception Novena Candle (repost)

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Last year, inspired by this post , and this one,and another like them, I resolved to try to make a novena candle for the novena before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. My candle is a plain white pillar candle.  I used a butter knife to hollow out a "cave" at its base. Inside the cave, there rests a tiny beeswax Baby Jesus. The pure white candle hollow is covered with layers of white tulle pinned into place. White silk flowers and pearls embellish the tulle. We'll light the candle when we say the novena prayer. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception I will pull the pins and reveal the Babe in the pure, white womb. Then we'll have the candle with the Babe to enjoy for the remainder of  the season. Many thanks to the ladies who suggested this craft--my children are delighted and inspired.

Seasons_table_015 Opening Prayer

God, Our Father, you have given us Mary whom we honor as the Immaculate Conception.  You have favored her with holiness and purity, freeing her from the stain of sin, to be chosen as the Mother of Jesus.  Through her intercession and protection, may we live our lives in holiness and in complete trust of your loving plan for us.  Amen.

 

Day 1

O Blessed Virgin Mary, from the beginning of time God chose you, sinless and full of grace, to be the Mother of Jesus.  Because of your unselfish “fiat,” you are for us the example of perfect faith and obedience to what God is calling us to do.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, help us to be open to the Word of God

in our daily lives.  Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 2

O Mary, Mother of God, we honor you for your submission to the unfolding mystery of salvation history. From Bethlehem to Calvary, you were present to Jesus as faithful mother and courageous disciple, sharing in the mysteries of his life.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, may we be for others a living presence of God’s joy and compassion. Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 3

O Mary of Nazareth, you were filled with the light of the Holy Spirit as you prepared for the birth of Jesus.  You became the Mother of God and the Mother of the Redeemer, our mother and intercessor for the People of God, his Church.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, may we wait in hopeful expectation this Advent for the coming of the Lord Jesus in our hearts.  Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 4

O Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, you were in a sense the first tabernacle for Jesus.  In your womb his Sacred Heart beat under your Immaculate Heart.  You are the Vessel of Honor, the Ark of the Covenant, and Gate of Heaven.  Filled with grace, you give Jesus to us that we may bring him to others.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, may we have a deep and reverent love
for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.  Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 5

O Mary, Mother of Sorrows, your heart was pierced with a sword as you stood on Calvary beneath the cross of your Son.  Only a mother could experience such deep pain and anguish to see her only son die such a death.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, may we acknowledge that suffering can become for us redemptive and truly identifies us as one with Jesus.  Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 6

O Mary, our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope, from age to age you are called blessed among all women.  You, above all others, have a deep communion with God.  You are the model of virtue, prayer and discipleship.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, lead us into a prayerful and deeply authentic relationship with Jesus so that we may be holy and reflect his goodness to others.  Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 7

O Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, your holiness and obedience changed the course of history through the redemptive power of your Son.  You give us the example of discipleship and what it means to witness to the Way, the Truth and the Life—Jesus.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, we pray for holiness, especially as lived through the priesthood and consecrated life. Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 8

O Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, you intercede for us and lead us to your Son. Jesus said to John, “Behold, your Mother.” You are our spiritual mother, who  draws us ever closer to your Son.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, may our devotion to you increase our love for Jesus.  Hail Mary, full of grace…

 

Day 9

O Mary, Seat of Wisdom, you gave Jesus, the Eternal Word made flesh, to the world. What a privilege was yours—to bring him forth into the world so that all peoples and nations may be drawn to him, Incarnate Wisdom.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, may the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reach the farthest ends of the earth.  Help us to grow in knowledge and love of the Blessed Trinity.  Hail Mary, full of grace.

 

Concluding Prayer

Mary, we honor you as the Mother of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, we delight in your singular privilege of being born with the fullness of grace, completely preserved from the stain of original sin. Blessed among all women, you are especially favored by God.  Confident in that honor we place before you our needs and intentions (name the intention). Through your intercession, may it be brought to fulfillment. In gratitude for your motherly concern, O Mary Immaculate, patroness of the United States of America, we pray:

                                     You are all beautiful, O Mary.

                                     The original stain is not in thee.

                                     You are the glory of Jerusalem,

                                     The joy of Israel,

                                     The great honor of our race,

                                     The advocate of sinners.

                                     Virgin most prudent, pray for us.

                                     Intercede for us with our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                     Amen

 

                                   (Taken from the Latin hymn: Tota Pulchra es, Maria!)

 

Thanks and Giving

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  Dsc_0077This year, we're most thankful for our Baby Blessing. Thanksgiving dinner will be served at Mike's sister's house. A few short weeks ago, that was home base for us while Sarah was in the NICU. We're going to stop at the hospital on our way to our Thanksgiving festivities, so that we can deliver a little Christmas cheer. The Dsc_0079NICU nurses drape fleece blankets over the incubators because the babies like the dark. Mary Beth made these blankets, following these directions, so that the NICU will be all dressed up for Christmas. I remember one night when the Dsc_0078_2a baby had become a bit sicker. He required more equipment than he had when his mother had seen him earlier in the day. I listened as the nurses did their best to make that equipment look less frightening, so that his mother would not be too shocked. The last thing they did was go hunt up the cheeriest blanket they could find for the top of the incubator. We hope these blankets will bring Christmas cheer to a place of tiny people and big miracles.

It's Official

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Rachel has posted on the message board and I  wanted to be sure the word was out here as well. She wrote:

It's hard to say, but...

The Real Learning conference has had to give way to Real Life. Each of the 6 committee members has been dealt quite a year right now: high risk pregnancy, newborns, complications related to just having moved or being about to move, traveling and deployed husbands, and of course Mr. Vander Woude's tragic and heroic death.

We all believe that God is telling us "not this year" for ministering to other homeschoolers, and instead "yes this year" to focus on nurturing our families. We hope that you will continue to find the support you need here at the forum and/or at one of the other local conferences.

God Bless!

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So there you have it. Real Life--the good, the sad, and the holy.

There are a few DVDs and CDs left from last year's conference if that's any consolation.