As the upcoming elections approach and in light of the recent events we have experienced as a country, we are reminded of the great importance and efficacy of prayer, especially through the intercession of our Immaculate Mother, patroness of the “Land of the Free”.
We ask you to join us in invoking Mary, Immaculate Conception, for the United States of America, especially by praying the Litany of the Immaculate Conception (1476).
One of our contemplative sisters composed music for this litany that was originally written in 1476 by Pope Sixtus V and later spread by Pope Pius VI. Below we share a video of our sisters singing this litany and the text, as well as a brief history of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the United States and of the litany itself.
The History: Immaculate Conception as Patroness of the United States of America
A Little Background
The first apparition ever recorded of the Blessed Virgin Mary occurred while she was still alive. The Apostle James “the Greater” went to what is now northern Spain in order to preach the Gospel. When he began the work of evangelization, great difficulties arose and the Apostle had quick recourse to prayer. As he knelt in prayer, on January 2nd, 40 AD, the Virgin Mother appeared surrounded by angels. She asked Saint James to build a shrine in her honor and left him a small marble pillar with a statue of herself. This image is venerated in Spain today as Our Lady of the Pillar (la Virgen del Pilar). This began a long history of deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother in Spain. The feast of the Our Lady of the Pillar is October 12th.
October 12th is celebrated in the United States as Christopher Columbus Day. However, we can say that the discovery of America was no coincidence, but rather an act of Divine Providence through the hands of Mary Immaculate. As he sailed the Atlantic Ocean, Christopher Columbus, a faithful third order Franciscan[1], piloted his vessel under the flag, “Holy Mary of the Immaculate Conception”. After having navigated the sea in voyage for over a month, he promised his crew that if they did not find land by October 12th, the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, the Immaculate Virgin, they would return home. As we learn in school “October 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”; the Immaculate Virgin did intercede and the great land of America was discovered on her feast.
Consecration to the Immaculate Conception
In 1792, Bishop John Carroll, first Bishop in the United States, consecrated the nation to Mary under the title Immaculate Conception. Some years later, on May 13th, 1846, bishops across the United States gathered for the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore, in which they unanimously elected The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, as patroness of the United States of America. On February 7th, 1847 the decision was approved by the Holy Father, Pope Blessed Pius IX (this was even before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed).
On December 8th, 1854 the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was proclaimed as a dogma of the Catholic Faith by Blessed Pope Pius IX (the same who approved the title as Patroness of the United States). In the Papal Bull proclaiming the dogma he declared,
“The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”[2]
Through the years, the people of God have always found ways to honor the Immaculate Virgin. One of the greatest examples in our nation’s history is the building of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It was built by the donations of Americans across our nation even in the midst of the great economic detriment of those years. Although its foundation stone was laid in 1920, this great shrine began to take shape at least in the hearts of many Americans, as early as 1846 (the year she was proclaimed patroness of the United States). At the completion of the Shrine in 1959, the country was again dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, and this was repeated once more in 2006. Recently, on May 1st, 2020 the Bishops of the United States renewed the consecration of our country to Our Blessed Mother, this time under the title of Mary, Mother of the Church.
Honoring the Immaculate
One way the Church recommends honoring Our Lord and the saints is through the practice of vocal prayers such as: novenas, litanies, and ejaculatory prayers to which are often attached special indulgences and graces. Within our own Religious Family of the Incarnate Word, we often use litanies and novenas as a way of preparation for important feast days. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception holds a particular place of devotion for our religious here in the United States, since she is not only patroness of the United States, but also patroness of our province (USA, Canada, Mexico, Guyana, and Surinam).
Litany of the Immaculate Conception (1476)
This year, as a special way to ask the intercession of Mary Immaculate for our country, we have been praying a litany of the Immaculate Conception that dates back to 1476 (just 16 years before the discover of our country). The litany was written by Pope Sixtus IV when he approved a liturgy in honor of the Immaculate Conception in the Papal Bull, Cum Praeexcelsa on February 28, 1476. Later, Pope Pius VI encouraged the faithful to pray this litany in order to encourage greater devotion to the Immaculate Virgin, even attaching an indulgence to the litany “each time it is prayed with devotion and contrition.”[3] Popes Pius IX and Paul VI also propagated this devotion in various prayer manuals compiled by the Vatican for private devotion.
As we prepare for the upcoming elections, let us turn with great confidence toward our patroness, the Immaculate Virgin Mary. May she intercede for our country and win for us the grace of true conversion and love for the Truth, who is Christ, the Incarnate Word.
“You are beautiful O Mary, and there is in you, no stain of original sin.”
– from the Office of the Immaculate Conception, Liturgy of the Hours
[1] The Franciscans became the greatest promoters and defenders of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Among the promoters, Blessed Scotus Dunns became one of the most prominent.
[2] Ineffabilis Deus, Papal Bull of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception
[3] The Golden Manual, compiled in England under the direction of the Holy See 1850 Ed.
LITANY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
By Pope Sixtus IV
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord.
In thy Conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast Immaculate
Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son Jesus, conceived of the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth.
Let us pray
O Almighty and Eternal God, Who didst prepare for Thy Son a worthy habitation, by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; we beseech Thee, that, as Thou didst preserve her from every stain of sin, through the merits of the pre-ordained atonement of Jesus Christ, so Thou wouldst grant, that we also may come without spot to Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Lord have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
God the Father, Source of all Sanctity, Have mercy on us
God the Son, Uncreated Sanctity,
God the Holy Ghost, Spirit of Sanctity,
Most Sacred Trinity, One God,
Holy Mary, Immaculate, pray for us
Holy Virgin of Virgins, Immaculate
Virgin of virgins, Immaculate,
Holy Virgin, by predestination Immaculate,
Holy Virgin, in Thy conception, Immaculate,
Holy Virgin, after Thy conception, Immaculate,
Daughter of the Father, Immaculate,
Mother of the Son, Immaculate,
Spouse of the Holy Ghost, Immaculate,
Image of the Wisdom of God, Immaculate,
Dawn of the Sun of Justice, Immaculate,
Living Ark of the Body of Christ, Immaculate,
Daughter of David, Immaculate,
Guide to Jesus, Immaculate,
Virgin, triumphing over original sin, Immaculate,
Virgin, crushing the head of the serpent, Immaculate,
Queen of Heaven and earth, Immaculate,
Gate of the Heavenly Jerusalem, Immaculate,
Dispenser of graces, Immaculate,
Spouse of St. Joseph, Immaculate,
Star of the world, Immaculate,
Impregnable tower of the Church Militant, Immaculate,
Rose amid thorns, Immaculate,
Olive of the fields, Immaculate,
Model of all perfections, Immaculate,
Cause of our hope, Immaculate,
Pillar of our faith, Immaculate,
Source of Divine Love, Immaculate,
Sure sign of our salvation, Immaculate,
Rule of perfect obedience, Immaculate,
Pattern of holy poverty, Immaculate,
School of devotion, Immaculate,
Abode of chaste modesty, Immaculate,
Anchor of our salvation, Immaculate,
Light of Angels, Immaculate,
Crown of Patriarchs, Immaculate,
Glory of Prophets, Immaculate,
Lady and Mistress of Apostles, Immaculate,
Support of Martyrs, Immaculate,
Strength of Confessors, Immaculate,
Diadem of Virgins, Immaculate,
Splendour of all Saints, Immaculate,
Sanctity of all Christians, Immaculate,
Companion of devout souls, Immaculate,
Joy of those who hope in Thee, Immaculate,
Health of the sick, Immaculate,
Advocate of sinners, Immaculate,
Terror of heretics, Immaculate,
Protectress of all mankind, Immaculate,
Patroness of those who honour Thee, Immaculate,
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord.
In thy Conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast Immaculate
Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son Jesus, conceived of the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth.
Let us pray
O Almighty and Eternal God, Who didst prepare for Thy Son a worthy habitation, by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; we beseech Thee, that, as Thou didst preserve her from every stain of sin, through the merits of the pre-ordained atonement of Jesus Christ, so Thou wouldst grant, that we also may come without spot to Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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