Dear MODG Families,

Every year my family participates in the Three Impossible Things Novena. It is the most effective novena I have ever said, and I know many people who have had prayers answered through appealing to the intercession of the Blessed Mother in this novena.

I have said this before, but it’s worth repeating: this is a truly powerful prayer. This year a lovely woman got in touch with me and shared this, “I prayed for peace and fertility for myself, my sister, and a friend, all of whom had experienced pregnancy losses just before the novena began. On Christmas Day and the days following, I learned that both my friend and my sister are expecting. I have also been blessed to be carrying a child as well. Thanks be to God!”

I know of many other babies conceived and born in direct answer to this novena, whose parents were told that they couldn’t have, or it would be very difficult to have, children. Other kinds of prayer are answered as well. One of our MODG mothers prayed for her sister to return to the sacraments and she did in December, the ninth month of the Novena. One of the mothers in our community was praying for her son to get a permanent job, after years of temporary jobs. He did! Another of my friends prayed for her husband to become Catholic, and he did, at the end of this Novena.  I know of a family that had been at odds for years who were reconciled in answer to this novena. The husband of yet another of my friends was in an impossible situation at his work. It was resolved during my friend’s novena. Someone I know prayed that her husband would get a new job better suited to him than the current job. He did. It really is an amazingly powerful prayer.

It is always a good time to go to our Mother and ask for help, especially for these kinds of heartfelt family problems. Mary knows families, she loves families, and she has demonstrated that she will help us.  I think the Blessed Mother is also the person to go to to ask for help for our larger civic community and we could use that help to strengthen what is good, and defeat what is evil. The best and most effective thing we can do for our country is pray. Prayer gives strength and discernment to those following God’s plan. Prayer brings about the common good: the peace, justice and charity to all that we need.  There are many large global problems to pray for, people suffering in wars and for their faith.  There are local but difficult situations, as well.  When we are praying together, even for our own special intentions, we are united in the Body of Christ. Unity is a mark of God and His Church. Dissension is the opposite. Let’s be united in prayer, within His Mystical Body, asking for the intercession of His Mother. I invite you to take all these intentions to our Mother in this Novena.

It is long: It is said for nine months, from March 25th, the Feast of the Annunciation, to December 25th, Christmas Day. Though it is long, it is a prayerful way to accompany Mary through her holy pregnancy.

Novena for Impossible Requests
The following novena honors the nine months in which Our Lady carried Our Blessed Lord in her womb. Begin on March 25, and the novena ends on Christmas!
Pray the following prayer devoutly every day from March 25th through December 25th for each of three intentions.
“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.”
V - “Pray for us, most holy mother of God.”
R - “That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”
“Virgin of the Incarnation, a thousand times we greet thee, a thousand times we praise thee for thy joy when God was incarnated in thee. Because thou art so powerful a Virgin and Mother of God, grant what we ask of thee for the love of God.”
Here state intention Number 1;
Repeat all of above and state intention Number 2;
Repeat a third time and state intention Number 3.
CONCLUSION:
After above prayers and intentions say the Memorare.
Remember, O most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my mother.
To thee do I cry, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of Grace...
Blessed and praised be the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, in Heaven, on earth, and everywhere. AMEN.

I hope you will join me in praying this prayer. I have been saying it for many years, and I have a tip to offer. Say it in the morning when you get up and at night when you go to bed. That way, when (as can happen) you forget one time, you will still have said it once during the day.

I know that Our Lord will hear our prayers, and, if it is His Will, grant them through the intercession of His mother!

With love and prayers,
Laura

Please feel free to print off this prayer card or share it with a friend!