The “Novena to the Mother of God for the Nation” begins Saturday, Sept. 29, the Feast of the Archangels. Each day will begin with a live Mass celebrated by a different bishop and two special priests, who will give an extended homily on religious liberty. This will be followed by the Novena in which we will turn to Mary and meditate on the graces of her life. Masses will air at 8 a.m. ET (live), with encores at noon ET, 6:30 p.m. ET, and midnight ET from Saturday, Sept. 29 until Sunday, Oct. 7, the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary.
Fr. Frederick Miller, Chair of the Department of Systematic Theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., composed the meditations and prayers which invoke Mary’s intercession for our nation.
"This 'Novena to the Mother of God for the Nation' will remind us of some of the central truths of the faith, in particular, the Incarnation, passion, death, resurrection of the Lord and Mary's unique role in our salvation," says Fr. Miller. "It will be, in a way, a catechism lesson that challenges us to a deeper conversion to Christ and a more generous life of charity.”
With these intentions in mind, turn with us to Our Mother and pray:
Day 1: Saturday, Sept. 29: The Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God with Lincoln (Neb.) Bishop-designate James D. Conley.
Day 2: Sunday, Sept. 30: Mary’s Desire for Virginity with pre-eminent Marian theologian and Novena Author Fr. Frederick Miller.
Day 3: Monday, Oct. 1: The Annunciation with Kansas City (Kan.) Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
Day 4: Tuesday, Oct. 2: The Visitation with Mobile Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi.
Day 5: Wednesday, Oct. 3: The Divine Motherhood of Mary with Fr. Anthony Mary Stelten, MFVA, Community Servant of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word.
Day 6: Thursday, Oct. 4: The Wedding Feast at Cana with Allentown (Pa.) Bishop John Barres.
Day 7: Friday, Oct. 5: Mary at Calvary with Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.
Day 8: Saturday, Oct. 6: Mary and the Mystery of Easter with Birmingham Bishop Emeritus David Foley.
Day 9: Sunday, Oct. 7: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven with Birmingham Bishop Robert J. Baker.
Download your free copy of the novena at http://www.religiousliberties.org/novena (English) or http://www.religiousliberties.org/espanol/novena/index.asp (Spanish).
“Many of the values that shaped our Country from the beginning seem to be at risk,” says Fr. Miller. “Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and the American Bishops have noted the erosion of religious freedom in the United States, the first value guaranteed by the Constitution. Other fundamental truths are also in danger: The God-given right to life of every unborn child, the value of virginity until marriage for our young people and the virtue of chastity for everyone, the very definition of marriage as the indissoluble bond between a man and a woman who are open to receive new life from God, and the responsibility of all to care for the disabled and the elderly until God calls them to himself. There are many other issues, but these alone point to the importance of prayer and discernment.
Mary Immaculate, Patroness of the United States, pray for us!
