December 7, 2023

Vigil of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary Immaculate, ora pro nobis
Deus, qui Unigéniti tui Matrem ab origináli culpa in sua Conceptióne mirábiliter præservásti: da, quæsumus; et sua nos intercessióne munítos, corde mundos fácias suæ interésse festivtáti. Per eúmdem Dóminum.
December 7th is the Vigil of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day of prayer, fasting and partial abstinence from meat in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. In celebration, I’m posting a prayer in Latin and English. The accompanying photo of the gilt bronze and silver statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (ca. 1680), probably after a model by Lorenzo Vaccaro, was taken at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Buona Festa dell'Immacolata!

Prayer

O God, Who didst wondrously of Thine only-begotten Son from original sin in her own conception, grant, we beseech Thee that Thou mayest Mae us strengthened by her intercession, to keep her festival with clean hearts. Through the same.