• Mary has an honoured place within Christian devotion. She is holy and special but not because her life is supernaturally different from ours. She is special precisely because she walked the very road that the Gospel is inviting us to walk.
• Mary, the mother of Jesus, stands before us as an example of hopefulness. She is the model of all that the church seeks to be. She is open to the will of God, compassionate to the needs of others and hopeful about all that life challenges her to believe. Mary is a woman who deeply believed in the transforming power of Gods word "Blessed is she who hoped that the Lords words to her would be fulfilled (Lk 1:45). Faith in God animated her life. It filled her with joy and it carried her in moments of sorrow. She trusted confidently in Gods presence and help.
• People try to imitate those whom they love and admire. They try to imitate the styles and mannerisms of film stars, cricket fans and olympic heroes. Could we Christians have a better model than Mary, the mother of Jesus? And therefore, during the days of this novena, it may be helpful to reflect on Marys life and see how we can follow "In her footsteps". Let us implore her intercession for us and say to her:

"Be with us Mary along the way,

Guide every step we take,

Lead us to Jesus your loving Son

Come with us Mary, Come."

• If the Novena is said in the context of Mass, on weekdays the readings given can be used.
• The option to hold Novena Service before Mass is also available, using one of the readings as the scripture base for the reflection.
• It may however, be noted that on Sundays, i.e. August 31st and September 7th the Readings of the Sunday proper must be used during the Mass. On these Sundays the reading and reflection for the Novena Service should precede the Mass.
• You could have a backdrop of blue chart paper or blue cloth, with the caption "INHER STEPS" written on the top of the backdrop. Place a large thermocol cut out of Mary on the backdrop or an image/statue of Mary in front of the backdrop.
• Cut out nine footsteps from thermocol or cardpaper and write key words based on the theme of each day, on each of the nine footsteps (do not put them on the backdrop).
• Each day after the reflection and prayer one child will go to the backdrop and pin/stick the footstep of that day.
• Please note that the reflection on Day 5 and Day 6 is in the form of an interview with Mary. On these days the child chosen to represent Mary could wear a blue dupatta/shawl around her in order to convey the message more effectively.
• Enlarge and then xerox sufficient copies for each child of the picture of Mary titled "IN HER STEPS" from Awakening Faith.
• On the first day of the Novena give each child a xerox copy to take home. They could colour it attractively and each day the child could go home and write the key words of that day on the footsteps just as they have seen done during the Ritual. At the end of nine days the picture could be backed with card paper/cardboard and hung up on a wall or kept on a table in their homes.
• For the Feast Day Sept 8th, you will require to make a caption with the words, "WELL DONE MARY!" on a strip of chart paper. A bouquet or basket of flowers and a thermocol cut out of a GIRL CHILD will also be required.

FIRST DAY - THE ANNUNCIATION - Marys openness to the will of God as depicted in the Annunciation: Marys "YES" to God.

Mary the Mother of Jesus was the first and best follower. During the days of this novena in preparation for her birthday Mary invites us to think about ways to be like Jesus and to change for the better. What better way can we do it than by looking back at her life and following in her steps!

In the words of Pope John Paul II "To recite the Rosary is to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ. And so as we journey with Mary each day, we will highlight some of the mysteries of the Rosary during this, "The Year of the Rosary".

Readings: Isa 7: 10-14 ; Lk 1: 26-38

Reflection: In the Annunciation we have the angels greeting to Mary, "Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee". Here we have God breaking into the existence of an ordinary, simple girl from Nazareth, choosing her to be the mother of His Son. Questions, doubts, fears crowd the mind of Mary but her passionate love for her God and deep trust in his ways, brings her response, Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy word. Mary says "YES" and places herself entirely at Gods disposal. Firmly convinced she was Gods property, she was completely open to the will of God. Mary invites us to be open to Gods call and be willing to say "YES".

Prayer : Father, Marys "YES" to you has made all the difference to our world. We know that today too, you keep calling us so you can use us to make a difference to our world. Help us, through this Eucharist, to respond to your call with a joyful, Yes Lord.

Ritual: One child goes to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Yes Lord on it. The hymn "Ill say Yes, Yes, Yes" is sung during this time.

SECOND DAY : THE VISITATION - Mary reaches out

After Marys encounter with God at the Annunciation, she goes with haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. It tells us that service is a natural outflow of an encounter with God. In every Eucharist we encounter God. May our encounter with God at this Eucharist lead us to reach out to others in service.

Readings:

Sunday readings: Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Jas 1:17 18; 21b-22, 27 ; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15

(Novena service): Lk 1:39-45, 56

Mary, we are told went as quickly as she could. Forgetting herself and her own needs she hurried through the hills and valleys to help Elizabeth who was also expecting a baby. The water jugs Elizabeth had to fill at the well seemed heavier and heavier each day. She had difficulty in getting her things washed on the rocks in the river and often she had those terrible pains in her back because of her age. Elizabeth was full of joy seeing Mary because she not only recognized Mary, the mother of her Saviour, but she also knew that Mary would be a help to her in her difficult days.

Mary knew herself to be the mother of Jesus yet it was in this ordinary action, she fulfills her extraordinary mission. She calls us to reach out to others as she did.

Father, like Mary help us to look around and see if we can help someone who needs our support.

One child goes up to the backdrop and pins the footstep marked Reach Out while the song "Theres my neighbour so lone and forgotten, Its up to me to make things lighter for him" is sung.

THIRD DAY - NATIVITY OF OUR LORD Mary bears (gives) Jesus to the world.

Just as Mary had hurried to Elizabeth at the angels word, now that the three months were over, she hastened back to Nazareth in order to face all the ordeals that awaited her there, as she awaited the birth of her son whom she brought forth into this world.

Readings: Mi. 5:2-5 ; Lk 2:1-7

God the Father did not spare his child, Mary, any trial and temptation. He did not reveal to Joseph immediately upon Marys return that she was with child by the Holy Spirit. He did not prevent any misunderstanding on Josephs part. In Mathews gospel we are told that Joseph was planning to put her away quietly. Mary had to undergo the disgrace and reckon with Joseph forsaking her. Would not her soul have cried out at times: Where is my God now? And then, before Jesus was born a new burden, a long and strenuous journey to Bethlehem and not a proper lodging for the birth of the child. It must have been dark in Marys soul.

Yet from her "YES" of nine months prior to this moment, Let it be done!, there came a new series of "YES" in every new leading she had to follow as the mother of the Lord, the Christ bearer and it was on that Holy Night she GAVE Christ to the world.

Just as Jesus was formed in Marys womb and she bore him, Mary invites us to allow Jesus to be formed in us and to GIVE him to others, to bear him to the world through our lives.

Father like Mary help us to be Christ bearers and bring Jesus to the people we meet each day.

One child goes to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Be a Christ-bearer or GIVE JESUS as the song is sung I now no longer live, Christ my Lord lives in me.

FOURTH DAY - THE PRESENTATION - Mary offers Jesus

In memory of how in times past, the Lord spared the first born of the Israelites when the first born of the Egyptians were slain, every first born male was hence forth to be brought to the temple where he would be consecrated to God as a mark of thanksgiving. The mother was also to offer her thanksgiving as well as her gifts of purification. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to offer him to God.

Readings : 1 Sam 1:21-22, 24-28; Lk 2:22-40

At the offertory of the Mass, we offer bread and wine. Jesus at the moment of his presentation in a certain sense was the offertory of His Mass the Mass that was offered for us.

Here in the temple, a prophet and a prophetess Simeon and Anna proclaim the forty day old child as a light to the Gentiles and a glory for the people of Israel. As she stood there in the temple and heard her son proclaimed the Saviour, Mary recalled all that the angel had told her and her heart filled with joy. Simeons prophecy also pointed to her heart being a scabbard for a sword.

Much as we would like life to be easy, it is not. Simeons words impressed on Mary that she would have to face joy and pain in her life. He said to her to be the mother of this child will bring her much heartache and sorrow. These strange words worried Mary but she kept them in her heart and she reflected on it.

One day a woman cried out to Jesus, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you". But Jesus replied "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it". Jesus tells us, Mary is blessed not simply because she was his physical mother, she is blessed because she heard the word of God, reflected on it and lived it. Let us ask for this grace during this Eucharist.

Father, life today is so full of noise and distractions around us and within us. Help us to make time amidst our busy schedule to ponder on your word and like Mary keep it in our hearts even when we dont understand what is happening in our lives.

One child goes to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Reflect and Obey as the hymn Listen, let your heart keep seeking, Listen

FIFTH DAY - THE FINDING OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE - Mary seeks her lost Son

Mary gave Jesus life, watched him grow as a toddler and helped him when he reached school age. These things gave her joy. But there were also sad moments for her and one of them was when Jesus was lost at the age of twelve.

Readings : Isa. 42: 1-4 ; Lk 2:41-52

Todays reflection will be in the form of an interview (Let one girl wear a blue dupatta around her to represent Mary)

Commentator: Mary, you must have hurt deeply when you realised that Jesus was lost. Can you tell us what it was like?

Mary: You all know what it is like for parents when their child is missing. Anxiously they search for him, their fears growing from hour to hour that something must have happened to him. Mine were no different. I remembered how Joseph and I had to rush to Egypt with Jesus because Herod wanted to kill him and I was afraid. Could something like that be happening again? There was great anguish and emptiness within me.

Commentator: And how did you feel when you found him?

Mary: I was greatly relieved that my search had ended and I had found him. But when I questioned him Son why have you done this to us?, his reply, Did you not know I was about my Fathers business?", baffled me.

Commentator: This must have upset you, Mary.

Mary: It was impossible for me to understand at that moment but I kept it in my heart. All I knew was, I had to Let Go of him as my child.

Commentator: Do you have something to tell us, Mary?

Mary: Following Gods leading means detaching ourselves from others including those dear to us. I know it is very difficult to Let Go in life because we want to cling to what is dear to us and we want control over things in our lives rather than trust them in the hand of God. Real trust occurs when we put the problems over which we fret into Gods hand. That is what I did all my life. You must Let Go and Let God have his way in your life.

Father, like Mary, help us to search for you and to Let Go of those things which are keeping us from finding you.

One child goes to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Let Go on it while the hymn All to Jesus I surrender is sung.

SIXTH DAY - THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS - Mary meets Jesus on the Road to Calvary

The mockery, the scourging, the crowning with thorns were over. Jesus was led to carry the cross. Mary goes out to meet Jesus as he heads his way to Calvary where Our redemption will be wrought. As she accompanies her son to the cross, she shared in spirit the pain of each step along that path. This sacrifice of Calvary is what we commemorate at our Eucharistic table.

Readings: Isa. 53:4-10 ; Lk 23: 24-28

We will now find out from Mary about her experience of that day (one girl is dressed as Mary)

Commentator: Mary, that must have been a terrible meeting for you.

Mary: When I saw my son exposed to hatred, his face spat upon and all bloody, my heart ached and I was filled with sorrow. The sword that Simeon had spoken about pierced my heart. But I remembered what the angel had told me He will save his people from their sins. I saw our lost world in need of a Saviour and I knew that Saviour was my Son and I was filled with compassion. I loved this world, I loved you, more than I loved my First born. My arms went out to him, not to take the cross from him but to help him carry it; to urge him on, not to stop him; to give him courage anddeeply when you realised that Jesus was lost. Can you tell us what it was like?

Mary: You all know what it is like for parents when their child is missing. Anxiously they search for him, their fears growing from hour to hour that something must have happened to him. Mine were no different. I remembered how Joseph and I had to rush to Egypt with Jesus because Herod wanted to kill him and I was afraid. Could something like that be happening again? There was great anguish and emptiness within me.

Commentator: And how did you feel when you found him?

Mary: I was greatly relieved that my search had ended and I had found him. But when I questioned him Son why have you done this to us?, his reply, Did you not know I was about my Fathers business?", baffled me.

Commentator: This must have upset you, Mary.

Mary: It was impossible for me to understand at that moment but I kept it in my heart. All I knew was, I had to Let Go of him as my child.

Commentator: Do you have something to tell us, Mary?

Mary: Following Gods leading means detaching ourselves from others including those dear to us. I know it is very difficult to Let Go in life because we want to cling to what is dear to us and we want control over things in our lives rather than trust them in the hand of God. Real trust occurs when we put the problems over which we fret into Gods hand. That is what I did all my life. You must Let Go and Let God have his way in your life.

Father, like Mary, help us to search for you and to Let Go of those things which are keeping us from finding you.

One child goes to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Let Go on it while the hymn All to Jesus I surrender is sung.

SIXTH DAY - THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS - Mary meets Jesus on the Road to Calvary

The mockery, the scourging, the crowning with thorns were over. Jesus was led to carry the cross. Mary goes out to meet Jesus as he heads his way to Calvary where Our redemption will be wrought. As she accompanies her son to the cross, she shared in spirit the pain of each step along that path. This sacrifice of Calvary is what we commemorate at our Eucharistic table.

Readings: Isa. 53:4-10 ; Lk 23: 24-28

We will now find out from Mary about her experience of that day (one girl is dressed as Mary)

Commentator: Mary, that must have been a terrible meeting for you.

Mary: When I saw my son exposed to hatred, his face spat upon and all bloody, my heart ached and I was filled with sorrow. The sword that Simeon had spoken about pierced my heart. But I remembered what the angel had told me He will save his people from their sins. I saw our lost world in need of a Saviour and I knew that Saviour was my Son and I was filled with compassion. I loved this world, I loved you, more than I loved my First born. My arms went out to him, not to take the cross from him but to help him carry it; to urge him on, not to stop him; to give him courage and moral support if he needed such; to suffer with him, in order to save with him.

Commentator: Mary, do you have a message for us today?

Mary: You too must go to meet the Christ who is still under the cross in the underprivileged, the outcasts, the suffering and oppressed in society. May be he will appear to you, as a person who is suffering from family difficulties, or a relative who has lost his job, or a friend who is broken and does not know where to turn. Go out to meet him in your fellowmen and be a witness. He needs you to let the world experience his healing touch.

Father, fill our hearts with compassion that will persuade us to go out and meet Christ in our fellowmen who struggle under their burdens.

One child goes up to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Meet Jesus in others as the hymn "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me" or "The World stands in need of liberation" is sung.

SEVENTH DAY - THE CRUCIFIXION -Mary stands with Jesus at the foot of the Cross.

As we participate in this Mass let us remember that we are on Calvary and Calvary is the Mass. And there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother. Though others had fled she could not leave the side of her Son. So deeply did she love him, his pain was her pain. She was filled with sorrow but she continued to believe in the face of unbelievable sorrow and this hope came from trusting God.

Reading: Col. 1:20-22 ; Jo 19:16b-19, 25b-30

Calvary was dark. For three hours it grew darker. Mary stood by the cross to share his crime. That crime was loving us too wildly. Mary alone knew that this ashen face streaked with spittle and with blood was the very face of God. She knew that Jesus was hanging from those nails to make reparation to God the Father for all the sins of the world. She would stand there and make reparation for the world to the Son. And as she stood there and experienced his death once again she spoke her "YES" to God.

When we are found with cancer or a similar disease do we bless God, accept it lovingly as part of His all wise plan. When our best efforts meet with failure, when friends prove untrue and loved ones are taken away by death, do we see his hand in all such happenings.

Mary asks us today to persevere like her. Even when she held the lifeless body of Jesus she continued to say Thy will be done by which she meant she was going to co-operate with God in his mighty works of the Incarnation and Redemption. She calls us to do the same.

Lord, we thank you for the beautiful example of faith, courage, acceptance and perseverance given by Mary. Give us the grace of acceptance and perseverance in all we do.

One child goes up to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Perseverance while the hymn Have thine own way Lord is sung.

Mary waits with hope for the Coming of the Spirit

The cross was not the end. Because of her trust Mary cannot allow her hope to end even at the cross. Her God was never far away; After the death of her son she confidently joins the apostles and stays with them in the upper room. Her hope was rewarded and she shares the joy of her sons resurrection. Then along with Mary the disciples await the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Readings: Acts 1:2b-4; 2: 1-4 ; Mk.16:14-19

Mary was important not only for the coming of Christ but also for the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was with her, as the book of Acts tells us that the apostles persevered in prayer. The disciples were living in fear, hiding away in Jerusalem in that upper room. Yet they were able to renew each hour their faith in Jesus because they found each day in his mother patience and ever living hope. She prayed with them to the one whom her son would send, comforted them in their troubles, calmed their fears through her own serenity. Her attitude was like a balm to them, deeply consoling and strengthening.

Many of us lack hope. But Mary shows us how to face the difficulty and pain of human experience with confident hope. To have Christian hope is to look to the resurrection and believe that even in the battle of death, Jesus brings life. To have Christian hope is to believe, with Mary that Jesus can and will bring that same new life to the areas of death and emptiness within our own experience. Every action of Mary revealed her confidence that God would not abandon her.

Father, fill our hearts with faith and hope like Marys which will allow us to believe in the victory of Jesus and to triumph over rejection, sadness and pain in our own lives.

One child goes up to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Hope on it while the sons Ill just keep trusting my Lord, is sung.

Marys sensitivity to the needs of others

Our love for God is not genuine nor complete if it does not include whatever God wants us to do as well as those whom he loves all his children who are his brothers. At Cana Mary is seen doing selfless service by intervening at the right time at the wedding feast thus practising brotherly love.

Sunday Readings: Isa 35:4-7a ; Jas 2:1-5 ; Mk 7:31-37

(Novena Service: Jo 2:1-11)

For our reflection today we will listen to a little story in the life of the ancient philosopher Diogenes.

One day Diogenes was standing at a street corner laughing like a mad man. Some of his friends asked him why he was laughing. He said, Do you see that stone in the middle of the street? More than ten persons have already stumbled on it. They looked at the stone, cursed it and went away but none of them cared to remove it to prevent others from stumbling.

In the story we have three categories and most of us can fit in one of the three categories; the stone that was the stumbling block, the people who stumbled but did not help others avoid the stumbling and the man who stood and enjoyed the fun. One might say, Diogenes was under no legal obligation to remove the stone or to warn people about it. Here precisely is the difference that love makes. Love compelled Mary to take the initiative at Cana, "Son they have no wine". Love desires the good of the other and does what is necessary and possible in order to ensure it.

Often it takes only a smile, a kind word, or a friendly gesture to express our love and sympathy. From Mary we can learn how to interfere in the right matter at the right time. At Cana, Mary instructed the servants, "Do whatever he says". She says the same to us today. And has Jesus not clearly said to us Love one another as I have loved you? So let us listen to Mary as she says to us, "Do whatever he says" and let us love as Jesus told us to.

Father, like Mary help us to be concerned about others and fill us with a love which will compell us to move out to make the lives of others better and lighten their burdens.

One child goes up to the backdrop and pins a footstep marked Love one another or Serve one another while the song Lord make me like you, please make me like you is sung.

During these days of the novena we have journeyed with Mary and have had glimpses into her life as we reflected on some of the mysteries of the Rosary. What then shall we, say to her today, her birthday?

A story is told of an old Jesuit brother who used to make the stations of the cross everyday. On Easter Sunday he was seen at his favourite prayer. "On Easter Day", he was asked in surprise, "The Stations, on a feast day like this?" But he was not abashed. He said, "These are my Easter Stations. I go from one to another and each time I say, Well done Lord! Now all that is over, you are happy again. Thank you for everything".

This is the attitude we can bring as we celebrate Marys birthday today. She had been led by a hard and solitary path and had to suffer much because that was the price of her unique role in Gods plan. "Well done Mary! Now all that is over. Thank you for everything"

One child could go to the backdrop and put up a caption Well Done Mary! somewhere on the backdrop. Another child could carry a basket or bouquet of flowers and place it in front of the statue/image of Mary. (Use Girl Children as far as possible on this day)

Readings: Mt 5:1-4a or Rn 8:28-30; Mt 1:18-23

Today we celebrate the birthday of Mary; it is also the day when we remember the GIRL CHILD.

Much of the violence inflicted on women is because of the low status and low image of women in society. More than two thousand years ago, God chose a simple, ordinary woman from an unknown village in Nazareth and made her blessed among women. And in the Magnificat we read "All generations shall call me blessed" Lk 1:48.

Our society needs to look at Mary to raise the image of the girl child and the status of women. In Mary, we find an initiator at the wedding feast of Cana, who in spite of Jesus refusal tells the servants to do his bidding. Mary was a woman of courage. The "YES" said by her at the Annunciation required tremendous courage. She had to go against Jewish tradition, her own family, and risk the penalty of having a child outside marriage. It was an act of great independence and assertiveness not a passive, helpless "YES". Again at the Passion when the apostles scuttled away and disappeared from the scene, Mary remained courageously till the end at the Cross. Mary was a leader. Even after the death of Jesus when the apostles were still scared and fearful, Mary was the rallying point for the group. It is no wonder then that the last Glorious Mystery, The Coronation of Our Lady in Heaven seems a logical conclusion of her life.

Let us ask Mary to intercede for our society that it will begin to see the girl child differently; as one created by God in his own image and likeness as all human being are and that society will end the atrocities committed against the girl child.

Father, in Mary, you found an empty, humble, yielded vessel into which you could pour your grace and through whose co-operation your plan unfolded. Open our minds and hearts to change our attitudes and behaviour towards the girl child and help us to take the steps we need to, to make life better and more fulfilling for the girl child in our society.

One child goes up to the backdrop and places a thermocol cut out of GIRL CHILD in Marys arms or near the thermocol cut out of Mary/image/statue of Mary while the hymn Be with us Mary is sung with particular emphasis on the verse When Jesus met with rejection"