Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for Zimbabwe and for the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC)This Novena is prayed in preparation for the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference Plenary Meeting (8–10 June 2026) and the Consecration of Zimbabwe to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 10 June 2026. It begins on 31 May 2026 and concludes on 8 June 2026.Through this Novena, the faithful and all people of goodwill are invited to unite in prayer for Zimbabwe, asking God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for: • unity and reconciliation, • respect for human life and dignity, • servant leadership, • justice and peace, • and the pursuit of the common good.We also pray for healing from: • fear and political polarization, • corruption and impunity, • manipulation through intimidation and handouts, • hatred and division, • and all that undermines truth, justice, and national unity.OPENING PRAYEROpening Prayer (to be prayed each day of the Novena)O Immaculate Heart of Mary,Mother of God and Queen of Peace,we come before you with filial trust and confidence.You are full of grace,the humble servant of the Lord,and in you there is no trace of evil.Teach us to turn always to God and not to fear,so that our lives may become instruments of fraternity, justice, and peace in Zimbabwe. Pray to God that He sends forth his Spirit upon our nation:
• soften hardened hearts, • heal division and bitterness, • strengthen the weak, • comfort the suffering, • and guide all leaders with wisdom, courage, humility, and integrity.Help us to walk together as one people along the path of peace,so that authority may become true service in Christ,and our nation may reflect the values of truth, justice, and love. O Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for Zimbabwe.Amen. Day 1: Turning hearts to God—casting out fearIntention: That Zimbabwe may be freed from fear that fuels polarization and manipulation.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, renew our nation from within. Help us to begin where every renewal truly starts: in conversion of heart—because “if we want the world to change, then first our hearts must change.” Through your intercession, obtain for Zimbabwe courage instead of fear, truth instead of intimidation, and reconciliation instead of bitterness. Teach us to respond to God as you did with your “Fiat,” so that we may walk the arduous paths of peace. Prayer for the bishops: Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, obtain for the bishops your maternal tenderness and guide their deliberations in the Plenary meeting, so that their words and decisions serve unity and the common good. Amen. Day 2: Unity greater than conflictIntention: That Zimbabwe may be united as one family.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, obtain for Zimbabwe to live reconciliation.Teach us the Gospel logic that “unity is greater than conflict,” and guide us to a resolution “on a higher plane” that preserves what is good and true on both sides. Through your intercession, let polarization lose its power. Replace anger with fraternity; replace revenge with mutual commitment; and make every community a place where people can work together “side-by-side, in pursuing goals that benefit everyone.” Prayer for the bishops: Obtain for the bishops wisdom to foster communion and avoid partisan language, so that their leadership builds peace rather than deepens division. Amen.
Day 3: Peace as truth, dialogue, and responsibilityIntention: That Zimbabwe may pursue peace through honest dialogue.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, guide Zimbabwe into peace. Help our people to identify real problems clearly, and to recognize that others may have at least “a legitimate point of view” and something worthwhile to contribute—even if they acted badly or were mistaken. Teach us to speak without hatred and to listen without fear, until dialogue becomes a bridge instead of a weapon. Prayer for the bishops: Inspire the bishops through your intercession to communicate clearly and responsibly, so that the Church’s voice in Zimbabwe remains truthful, accountable, and respectful of human dignity and the common good. Amen. Day 4: Protection of human life and dignityIntention: That Zimbabwe may uphold and respect human life.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, protect human dignity in Zimbabwe. Make our nation faithful to the dignity of every person and sensitive to the suffering of the vulnerable. Where intimidation and injustice deny the worth of persons, awaken repentance and restore respect for life and the image of God in every neighbor. Prayer for the bishops: Obtain for the bishops the grace to defend the weak, encourage moral courage, and promote policies and pastoral initiatives that protect life and human dignity. Amen. Day 5: The common good over private gainIntention: That leaders and citizens may pursue the common good.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, bring order to public life. Teach leaders and citizens that we are called to “direct society to the pursuit of the common good” and to strengthen the political and social fabric for human flourishing. By your intercession, break the habit of using office for private gain. Remove, through God’s grace, the spirit of corruption and impunity, and replace it with justice, accountability, and integrity. Prayer for the bishops: Guide the bishops through your intercession to encourage faithful citizenship—so that conscience is formed for service, not manipulation. Amen. Day 6: Freedom from manipulation—handouts, threats, coercionIntention: That people may not be controlled through fear, handouts, and threats.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, protect Zimbabwe from the misuse of
influence. The Church prays and teaches that communication is a moral act: it must not be marked by coercion, deception, or manipulation. Where manipulation uses handouts or threats to bend consciences, bring light and courage through God’s grace. Help Zimbabweans to reject propaganda that divides, to refuse intimidation, and to choose truth. Teach us the way of Jesus, who spoke with candor and truthfulness, without compromising hearts through fear or deceit. Prayer for the bishops: Give the bishops clarity and firmness through your intercession, so that the Church’s guidance in this time is truthful, transparent, and free from the temptation to “manipulate and control.” Amen. Day 7: Healing of political rhetoric—fear and divisionIntention: That political discourse may stop inflaming conflict.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, heal the wounds of our words. Protect our nation from rhetoric that motivates through division and hatred. When fear is used as a tool—when conflict becomes profitable—purify hearts and change the moral atmosphere. Ask God, through your intercession, to send the Spirit of love who “dispels hatred, soothes bitterness, extinguishes greed and rouses us from indifference.” Prayer for the bishops: Grant the bishops prophetic prudence through your intercession—so that their guidance strengthens unity, discourages hate, and forms consciences for faithful service. Amen. Day 8: Servant leadership—emulating ChristIntention: That leaders may serve like Christ.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, through your intercession, purify the motives of those who hold authority. Replace domination with service. Teach Zimbabwe’s leaders to imitate the servant leadership of Christ—authority as care, closeness, and responsibility for the common good. Remove, through God’s grace, the spirit of impunity, so that justice may protect the vulnerable and truth may be respected in every institution. Prayer for the bishops: Bless the bishops through your intercession with courage to promote servant leadership in pastoral practice and in public witness. Amen. Day 9: Fraternity and peace—preparing the consecration
Intention: That the Plenary meeting culminates in a fruitful consecration and spiritual renewal.O Immaculate Heart of Mary, we place Zimbabwe in your maternal care. This consecration is a “spiritual act” of complete trust—like children who, amid suffering, turn to their mother for protection. We ask you to place in your pure and undefiled heart the “inestimable goods of fraternity and peace,” and to guide Zimbabwe’s steps through the “steep and arduous paths” of peace, fraternity, and dialogue. Prayer for the bishops: As the bishops meet and pray, let the Holy Spirit strengthen unity, renew hope, and help them act in charity and truth for Zimbabwe. Amen. Concluding prayer (for each day or at the end of the novena)O Mary, Immaculate Heart,Mother of God and Patron Saint of Zimbabwe,pray for our nation. Obtain for us: • unity greater than conflict, • peace rooted in truth and justice, • respect for human life and dignity, • and hearts committed to the common good.Free Zimbabwe from: • fear and hatred, • corruption and impunity, • manipulation and dishonesty, • violence and division.Guide leaders and citizens aliketoward servant leadership in Christ,so that our nation may become a home of peace, fraternity, justice, and hope. Watch over the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference,especially during the Plenary Meeting,and grant that all its deliberations may be guided by the Holy Spiritfor the good of the Church and the nation. O Immaculate Heart of Mary,lead us always to your Son, Jesus Christ,who lives and reigns forever and ever.Amen.
Issued by the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) on 30 May 2026.