Novena to Mary, Mother of the Saviour

Original nova of rezaelrosario.org.
The meditations and prayers of this page have been expressly prepared to accompany this devotion for nine days. They are not transcription or covert adaptation of other issues.

Mary, Mother of the Saviour

"Mother of the Saviour" (Mater Salvatoris) is one of the invocation of the Blessed Virgin. The Church thus calls Mary because from her was born Jesus, the only Savior of the world: the angel ordered to name him Jesus - which means "God saves" - "because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21). Mary is not the savior - only Christ saves - but she is the Mother who brought him into the world and cooperated with her faith in the work of salvation. We do not worship her: we worship in her the Mother of the Redeemer and come to her intercession, which leads us to Christ, the only Savior. This novena is a confident prayer to receive the salvation that God offers us in His Son.

At the beginning of this novena, it should be remembered, with truth and simplicity, that we do not worship the Virgin Mary: worship is due only to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We venerate Mary as the Mother of the Lord and our Mother, and we come to her intercession, which never stops in her, but leads us to Christ, the only Savior. How much we ask in these nine days to love Jesus more: "do what He tells you" (John 2.5).

Essential data of the advocation

• Invocation: Mary, Mother of the Saviour (Mater Salvatoris), of the Letany of the Virgin.
• Origin: The invocation of the Lauretana Letany: from Mary was born Jesus, the Savior, "for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21).
• Feeling: Mary is the Mother of the one Saviour, Jesus Christ; she saves not her, but her Son, but she cooperated with her faith in the work of salvation and leads us to Him.
• Evangelical foundation: "You shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21); "there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can save ourselves" (Acts 4: 12).
• For whom: for those who wish to receive the salvation of Christ and for those who do not yet know him as Savior.

How to prepare to pray the novena

The novena is a serene nine-day road. Before Mary, Mother of the Saviour, we seek not a magic rite, but to prepare the heart to receive the salvation of Christ. Choose a fixed place and one hour, turn off the noise and get ready with recollection. If possible, he accompanies prayer with an image of the Virgin, a candle on and the Holy Scripture open.

Pray without haste, letting the words burn deep. Each day it brings a concrete intention: for those who do not yet know Christ, for your family, for the sick and for the whole Church. Remember that asking for Mary's intercession is asking her, the first believer, to pray for us before her Son; therefore every supplication ends in Christ, the only Savior. The devotion of the Mother of the Saviour reminds us that only in Christ is there salvation.

If you can, join the novena in confession and communion. Thus devotion is not left in feeling, but is fruitful in Christian life: faith, hope and charity. Mary, Mother of the Saviour, seeks not fans, but disciples of her Son.

Proposed order for each day

1. Sign of the cross and a brief silence to be put in the presence of God.
2. Initial prayer for every day.
3. Invocation to the Holy Spirit.
4. Reading of the historical memory of the day.
5. Meditation of the day.
6. A paused reading of the suggested Word of God.
7. Formulation of the specific purpose of the day.
8. Prayer of the day to Mary, Mother of the Saviour.
9. A Godfather, an Avemaría and a Glory, and the final Hail.

Opening prayer for every day

God and our Father, who wanted to save us through your Son, born of the Virgin Mary, look with goodness to those who welcome us to this advocation. Grant us, through your intercession, to receive with faith the salvation you offer us in Christ, to let us save from sin and to grow in faith, hope and charity. May these nine days prepare us to receive your Son as the Savior of our life. By Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invocation to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the heart of your faithful; light in us the fire of your love. You who covered the Virgin Mary with your shadow so that the Saviour might be born of her, alcanzans docility to listen to the Word and to receive salvation. Guide our novena and make it, with Mary, always say "be done in me according to your word" (Luke 1: 38). Amen.

First day - Mother of the Saviour

Historical report

The Church calls Mary "Mother of the Saviour" because of her was born Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. The angel had commanded to name him Jesus, "God saves," "for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21).

Meditation

The name of Jesus embraces all his mission: to save. And Mary is her Mother: by her "yes," the Saviour entered the world. To call her Mother of the Saviour does not make her a savior - only Christ saves - but confesses that from her the Redeemer took flesh and that she cooperated with her faith. His greatness is all at the service of the salvation that his Son brings. To ask for his intercession is to ask to truly welcome Christ as the Savior of our life.

Suggested word of God

"You shall name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1: 21).

Purpose

Today I will invoke with faith the name of Jesus, my Savior, and ask him to save me from a concrete sin.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, who you gave us Jesus, take us to Him, the only one who saves. Pray for us. Amen.

Second Day - Jesus, One Savior

Historical report

The apostles preached with courage: "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can save ourselves" (Acts 4: 12).

Meditation

The Church calls Mary "Mother of the Saviour" without forgetting that the only Savior is Christ. It does not save us money, power, science, or our own merits: it saves us Jesus, who gave life for us. Recognize it frees us from putting hope into false saviors and opens us to the one true salvation. Mary, the first saved by the grace of her Son, points it out to us. To ask for his intercession is to ask that he lead us to put all our hope for salvation in Christ.

Suggested word of God

"There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved" (Acts 4: 12).

Purpose

Today I will put my hope for salvation in Christ, and not in the false assurances of the world.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, take us to Christ, the only Savior. May in Him, and not in false saviors, let us put our hope. Pray for us. Amen.

Third day - What does it save us from?

Historical report

The angel said that Jesus would save his people "from their sins." And St. Paul teaches that Christ delivered us "from sin and death," reconciling us with God through his cross and resurrection.

Meditation

Christ did not come primarily to solve material problems, but to save us from the greatest evil: sin, which separates us from God, and eternal death. We often ask God for health, money or success, and it is good; but the salvation He came to bring is deeper: the forgiveness of sins, friendship with God, eternal life. To recognize what Christ saves us from changes the order of our requests and our life. Mary, saved from sin by grace, understood it. To ask for his intercession is to ask for the salvation that really matters.

Suggested word of God

"The pay of sin is death; the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6: 23).

Purpose

I will ask Christ today, above all, to save me from sin, rather than material difficulties.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, give us your Son the salvation that matters most: the forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Pray for us. Amen.

Fourth Day - Mary cooperated with her faith

Historical report

Mary said "be done in me according to your word" (Luke 1: 38), and with that free "yes" she welcomed the Saviour. The Fathers teach that, in believing and consenting, he cooperated in a unique way in the work of salvation.

Meditation

God wanted to save us by counting on the freedom of a creature: he asked for Mary's "yes," and she gave it with faith. He added nothing to the work of Christ, the only Redeemer, but cooperated in welcoming and serving him, from Nazareth to the cross. This teaches us that we too are to cooperate with our salvation by freely welcoming it: God does not save us without us. Faith, conversion, sacraments are our part in the gift that He offers. To ask for the intercession of the Mother of the Saviour is to ask for a generous "yes" like his.

Suggested word of God

"Be done in me according to your word" (Luke 1: 38).

Purpose

Today I will say my "yes" to God in something concrete, cooperating with the grace of salvation.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, who you cooperated with your faith in salvation, teach us to freely welcome the grace of your Son. Pray for us. Amen.

Fifth Day - Mary with the sick

Historical report

Jesus, the Savior, healed many sick as a sign of the salvation he brought. To Mary, Mother of the Saviour, the sick come seeking the health of the body and, above all, of the soul.

Meditation

At the wedding of Cana, Mary warns the need and goes to her Son: "they have no wine." Thus he intercedes for the sick: he presents to Christ our shortcomings and refers us to Him, "do as He tells you." It is not she who heals, but her Son, the Savior; but her intercession of Mother reaches out to the sick what is best: sometimes health, always the salvation of the soul, the strength to carry the cross and peace. The healing of Jesus was a sign of a deeper salvation, which reaches even when the health of the body does not arrive.

Suggested word of God

"Jesus' mother said to him," They have no wine "(John 2,3).

Purpose

I will pray today for a concrete patient, asking for his health and above all the salvation of his soul, and I will make a gesture of closeness.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour and comfort of the afflicted, brings to your Son the cry of the sick and of those who care for them. Alcanzal salud if appropriate, and always the salvation of the soul and peace. May on the cross we recognize the love of Christ, true health. Amen.

Sixth Day - To receive salvation: conversion and faith

Historical report

When Jesus entered Zacchaeus's house and he became, the Lord said, "salvation has entered this house today" (Luke 19: 9). Salvation is offered to all, but it asks to be received with faith and conversion.

Meditation

God offers salvation free of charge, but he respects freedom: it must be welcomed. As Zacchaeus, who came down from the tree, received Jesus and changed his life, we too must receive the Saviour with faith and let us be transformed by Him. It is not enough to be called a Christian name; the door of the heart and the house must be opened. Salvation is neither automatic nor magical: it is a life-changing encounter. Mary welcomed the Saviour with all her being. To ask for his intercession is to ask for an open heart to Christ who saves.

Suggested word of God

"Today salvation has entered this house" (Luke 19: 9).

Purpose

Today I will truly open my heart to Christ with an act of faith and concrete conversion, perhaps in confession.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, alcanzus welcome your Son with faith and conversion, that he may enter salvation in our life. Pray for us. Amen.

Day 7 - Coronade Queen and Mother

Historical report

The Church will venerate Mary as Queen, crowned in heaven with her Son. The Mother of the Saviour now shares the glory of Him to whom she gave the world, the first of the saved.

Meditation

Mary is Queen because she is Mother of the King and Savior, and her royalty is service, like that of her Son, who "did not come to be served, but to serve" and to "give his life as a ransom for many." She, the first saved by the grace of Christ, is the first and hope of all the redeemed: where the Mother has arrived, the children expect to come. To contemplate the Queen, Mother of the Saviour, full of hope: salvation is not an idea, but a real goal, already achieved in it. To honor Mary Queen is to desire the salvation that Christ won for all.

Suggested word of God

"The Son of man has come to seek and save what was lost" (Luke 19: 10).

Purpose

I will live today with the look on eternal salvation, offering an act for the conversion of someone.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour and crowned Queen, the first of the saved, increases our hope for the salvation of your Son. Intercede for us before Christ, King of the universe. Amen.

Day 8 - Salvation for the whole house

Historical report

El Salvador was born and grew up in a home. To Zacchaeus he said, "Today salvation has entered this house." And the Filipi jailer was saved "with all his family" by believing (Acts 16,31).

Meditation

God wants to save not only the isolated people, but the entire families. When faith enters a home, it reaches everyone: parents, children, grandparents. It is therefore so important that at home we know and love Christ the Savior, pray, pass on faith to the children and accompany those who have gone away. The salvation of loved ones is the greatest of Christian concerns. Mary, Mother of the Saviour and Mother of the home, joins her intercession to ours. To command the family is to ask for the salvation of all of the house.

Suggested word of God

"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your family will be saved" (Acts 16,31).

Purpose

I will pray today for the salvation of my family and will approach Christ to one of my own with a word or an example.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Savior and Mother of the Holy Family, reaches salvation to our homes. May Christ the Saviour enter into our houses; comfort those who live alone and bless our elders. Let none of us get lost. Amen.

Day 9 - Sent to life

Historical report

After the novena, the faithful return to their daily lives sent to welcome and proclaim the salvation of Christ. The apostles were sent to bring to all peoples the good news of salvation.

Meditation

The novena is not the end, but the sending. Having considered Mary, Mother of the Saviour, nine days, we go out with the desire to receive the salvation of Christ every day and to announce it to others. There are many who do not know Jesus as Savior or have forgotten him; the Christian is called to make him known with word and life. Like Mary, who brought the Saviour into the world, we also, after the novena, return to life to bring Christ to those around us, with joy and without fear.

Suggested word of God

"Go to the whole world and proclaim the Gospel" (Mark 16,15).

Purpose

Today I will make Christ the Savior known with a concrete witness, and I will come, if I can, to the Eucharist.

Prayer of the day

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, send us renewed into the life of every day. May we, welcoming the salvation of your Son, proclaim it to others, until all are saved in Him. Pray for us now and always. Amen.

Closing prayer

Mary, Mother of the Saviour, at the end of this novena, we thank you for having accompanied us these nine days. You, who gave the world to Jesus, always give us your Son, the only Savior and Lord, in whose name is salvation. Do not allow our devotion to remain in a passing feeling; make life of faith, hope and charity. Alcanzans welcome the salvation of sin and death, and announce it to others; save our families, comfort the sick and bring Christ to those who do not yet know him. And when our way on earth is finished, show us, after this exile, Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb. By Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Community requests

• For the Church and for the Pope, that they may proclaim to the world the salvation that God offers us in Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.
• For those who do not know Jesus as Savior or have forgotten Him, that they may discover Him and be saved. Let us pray to the Lord.
• For those who put their salvation into false idols - money, power, pleasure - to find the only Savior. Let us pray to the Lord.
• For the sick, that they may receive the health of the body if it is appropriate and always the salvation of the soul. Let us pray to the Lord.
• For the families, that Christ the Saviour may enter into all their homes. Let us pray to the Lord.
• For our deceased, that the Mother of the Saviour may present them before her Son and achieve eternal salvation. Let us pray to the Lord.

Novena prepared by the rezaelrosario.org team as original devotional material. The historical data are offered in accordance with the tradition and the Magisterium of the Church; devotion is addressed to God, and Mary is asked to intercession.