I am the Immaculate Conception
For the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we offer an instruction on the Mass propers, some sacred music selections and links to devotions and additional texts.
Image above: segment from the Declaration of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception stained glass window in the Denver, Colorado cathedral.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, December 8th), is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day for the universal Church. Under this title, Our Lady is not only the Patroness of the United States of America, but also the particular Patroness of the Society of St. Pius X.
In her honor and for the spiritual recollection of our readers, we offer here the texts of the Mass of the Immaculate Conception, along with some suggested musical compositions related to the propers. There is also a sidebar featuring links to prayers and additional texts about the Immaculate Conception.
Please also remember to pray for our clerics who will be making or renewing their engagements in our priestly society.
| Introit antiphon (Isaias 61:10) | |
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Gaudens gaudebo in Domino, et exsultabit anima mea in Deo meo: quia induit me vestimentis salutis: et indumento justitiae circumdedit me, quasi sponsam ornatam monilibus suis. (Ps. 29:2) Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam suscepisti me: nec delectasi inimicos meos super me. Gloria Patri, etc. |
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, and my soul shall be joyful in my God: for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, and with the robe of justice He hath covered me, as a bride adorned with her jewels. (Ps. 29:2) I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me: and hast not made my enemies to rejoice over me. Glory be, etc. |
Collect
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for Thy Son: we beseech Thee, that as by the foreseen death of the same Thy Son, Thou didst preserve her from all stain, so Thou wouldst grant unto us also, through her intercession, to come unto Thee with clean hearts. Through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Epistle (Proverbs 8:23-35)
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways, before He made anything, from the beginning. I was set up from eternity, and of old, before the earth was made. The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out; the mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth; He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
When He prepared the heavens, I was there; when with a certain law and compass He enclosed the depths; when He established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters; when He compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits; when He balanced the foundations of the earth; I was with Him, forming all things, and was delighted every day, playing before Him at all times, playing in the world: and my delight is to be with the children of men.
Now therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.
| Gradual (Judith 13:23) | |
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Benedicta es tu, Virgo Maria, a Domino Deo excelso, prae omnibus mulieribus super terram. Tu gloria Jerusalem, tu laetitia Israel, tu honorificentia populi nostri. |
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon the earth. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our people. |
| Alleluia (Canticles 4:7) | |
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Alleluia, alleluia. Tota pulchra es, Maria: et macula originalis non est in te. Alleluia. |
Alleluia, alleluia. Thou art all fair, O Mary, and there is in thee no stain of original sin. |
Gospel (Luke 1:26-28)
At that time: The Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.
| Offertory antiphon (Luke 1:28) | |
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Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus. |
Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. |
Secret
Receive the saving Victim we offer to Thee, O Lord, on the solemn feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: and grant that, as we confess that by Thy preventing grace she was kept free from every stain of sin; so, by her intercession, we may be delivered from all our offenses. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Preface of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(with special clause for the Feast of the Immaculation Conception)
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: and that we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee, in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin: Who also conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting Light, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with these we entreat Thee that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted while we say with lowly praise: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
| Communion antiphon | |
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Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, Maria: quia fecit tibi magna qui potens est. |
Glorious things are told of thee, O Mary, for He who is mighty has done great things unto thee. |
Postcommunion
May the Sacraments which we have received, O Lord, our God, heal in us the wounds of that sin, from which Thou didst alone preserve the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Mary. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
