Holy Name of Mary
Feast Day September 12

Patron of All Gods People

Let us remember that Our Lady, in each of her many images, is always ready to help us and those we love.  Those who turn to her find that she will always lead us to Jesus, just as she carried Him to us in her womb.  We can trust that when we ask her, she will carry our prayers to the feet of her Son.

Why Celebrate the
Holy Name of Mary?

We can feel confident that our prayers invoking the Holy Name of Mary will help us not lose heart so that we are steadfast in our prayers for our prodigals.  We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to the Mother of God and the Mother of Mercy.

During September, we honor Mary’s birthday on the 8th, and with the title of Our Lady of Sorrows on the 15th.  In addition, the Church honors the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 12th.  Her name means Star of the Sea.  

The feast day began in the 16th century, but fell out of use after 1969.  Blessed John Paul II restored it to the Roman Calendar in 2000. 

 Prayer

From the Mass for the Holy Name
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, he gave us as our mother the one he had chosen to be his own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive strength and comfort in all our needs.

Devotion to Mary,
Star of the Stormy Sea

by Saint Bernard

“Whoever you are that perceive yourself during this mortal existence to be rather drifting in treacherous waters, at the mercy of the winds and the waves, than walking on firm ground, turn not away your eyes from the splendor of this guiding star, unless thou wish to be submerged by the storm. ... Look at the star, call upon Mary. ... With her for guide, you shall not go astray, while invoking her, you shall never lose heart ... if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary, if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal.”