Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feast Day: September 12
Names matter.
Parents spend months choosing one.
We light up when someone remembers ours.
And when you love someone, even saying their name can bring comfort.
On September 12, the Church celebrates a name that Christians have spoken with love for two thousand years.
Mary.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
“The Virgin’s Name Was Mary”
St. Luke introduces her simply:
“and the virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:27).
The angel Gabriel greeted her by name.
Elizabeth blessed her.
Jesus Himself called her “Mother.”
Her name is spoken in every Hail Mary prayed around the world.
A Feast Born From a Battle
The celebration of Mary’s name began in Spain in 1513.
It spread to the whole Church because of a dramatic moment in history.
In 1683, a huge Ottoman army surrounded the city of Vienna, threatening to break into the heart of Europe.
Christian forces led by King Jan Sobieski of Poland marched to defend the city.
Sobieski entrusted the battle to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On September 12, 1683, the siege was broken.
To give thanks, Pope Innocent XI extended the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary to the whole Church.
Removed and Restored
In the calendar reform after the Second Vatican Council, the feast was removed from the general calendar.
In 2002, Pope St. John Paul II restored it.
Today Catholics everywhere can once again honor the name of Mary on September 12, just four days after celebrating her birthday on September 8.
“Call Upon Mary”
No one wrote about Mary’s name more beautifully than St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in the 1100s.
He compared Mary to the star that guides sailors on a stormy sea.
His advice was simple:
“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary.”
— St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Calling on Mary is not a replacement for calling on Jesus.
It is like a child calling for his mother, who always brings him to her Son.
(See Why Catholics Honor Mary.)
Honoring Her Name, Honoring Her Son
Catholics honor Mary’s name because of who she is.
She is the Mother of God.
She said yes to God at the Annunciation.
She stood at the foot of the Cross.
Every honor given to her points back to Jesus, the One who made her full of grace.
What This Feast Teaches Us
This feast teaches us that we are never alone in our struggles.
In temptation, in fear, in confusion, we can simply say her name and ask her to pray for us.
It also teaches us reverence.
The names of Jesus and Mary are holy, and we should speak them with love.
When Is the Feast?
The Catholic Church celebrates the optional memorial of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 12.
Prayer Inspired by the Holy Name of Mary
Lord Jesus Christ,
You gave us Your Mother to be our mother too.
When we are in danger, doubt, or difficulty,
help us remember to call upon her name,
and let her lead us always to You.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
