Celebrating Mary All Year Long
Marian devotion among Catholic and Orthodox Christians is particularly nourished by festivals in the name of the liturgical year that celebrate the Virgin Mary. In the Catholic Church, this can take the form of solemnities, feast days or memorials (discover ). All are privileged times to , and place ourselves under her protection. Discover the great Marian feasts as well as the months and days of the year dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The Main Marian Feasts
Marian Solemnities
- January 1: Solemnity of Saint Mary, Mother of God
- August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary (Catholic Church) or Dormition of Mary (Orthodox Church)
- December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
The Marian Feasts
- March 25:
- May 31: Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
- September 8: Feast of the Birth of Mary
Required Remembrances
- Monday after Pentecost: Remembrance of “Mary, Mother of the Church”
- August 22 : Remembrance of the Virgin Mary, Queen
- September 15: Remembrance of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
- October 7: Remembrance of Our Lady of the Rosary
- November 21: Remembrance of the Presentation of Mary to the Temple
Optional Remembrances
Optional remembrances include:
- February 11: Optional remembrance of
- May 13: Optional remembrance of
- July 16: Optional remembrance of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- August 5: Optional remembrance of the Dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome
- September 12: Optional remembrance of the Holy Name of Mary
- December 10: Optional remembrance of Our Lady of Lorette
- December 12: Optional remembrance of
May: the Month of Mary
The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary. During this spring month, when life is fully manifested through nature and the beauty of creation is brilliant, we are invited to make . For centuries, the mother of Jesus has been associated with the beauty of flowers, especially roses.
We can especially pray to our Heavenly Mother, during the month of May, by including a , a or a in our daily prayer or by participating in .
October: Month of the Rosary
October is the month of the . It is an opportunity to resume your rosary and to pray this beautiful Marian prayer that invites us to meditate on through the eyes of Mary.
Saturday: Mary's Day
One day of the week is particularly dedicated to the Virgin Mary: Saturday. Saint Thomas Aquinas provides an explanation: "And as the resurrection of Christ was on a Sunday, it is on this day that we solemnize, like the Jews, the Sabbath, because of the first creation. (...) however we keep the Sabbath in honor of the glorious Virgin, for on that day of the death of Christ, her faith remained whole "
Let us invoke her on this day!
With Hozana, pray to the Virgin Mary throughout the year and prepare for the great Marian feasts!
Hozana offers preparatory novenas, online retreats and prayer communities on the occasion of the great Marian feasts - Preparatory novenas for or , , , or
