Feast of the Holy Name of Mary

Origins and expansion

The observance was first instituted in 1513 within the Spanish diocese of Cuenca. Pope Sixtus V adjusted its calendar placement later that century, and in 1622 Pope Gregory XV permitted its use across the Archdiocese of Toledo. The devotion eventually spread throughout the Spanish realm and the Kingdom of Naples. Following the 1683 relief of Vienna, where King John Sobieski entrusted his forces to Mary, Pope Innocent XI established the feast for the entire Roman Rite in 1684. Pope Pius X set the fixed date to 12 September in 1911. After being removed during post-conciliar reforms, Pope John Paul II reinstated it in 2002.

Linguistic and spiritual meaning

The name Mary derives from the Hebrew Miryam and the Aramaic Maryam, rooted in a term signifying bitterness. Early Christian scholars and Greek Church Fathers proposed various symbolic readings, including 'Drop of the Sea', 'Bitter Sea', and 'The Light Giver'. The title 'Star of the Sea', translated as Stella Maris, grew into the most enduring interpretation. Saint Jerome also connected the title to an Aramaic root denoting 'Lady'. In Catholic teaching, the name receives deep reverence because it belongs to the Mother of the Redeemer, carrying reminders of divine grace.

Devotional customs and legacy

Reverence for Mary's name is woven directly into the Hail Mary prayer. Religious communities, including the Cistercians and Servites, historically adopted Mary into the personal names of their members as a sign of dedication. The feast serves as the patronal day for religious congregations such as the Marianists and Marists, who chose it to emphasize Mary's person. Churches across the globe bear the title, including Rome's Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano and the cathedral in Hagåtña on the island of Guam.

How Feast of the Holy Name of Mary is kept

Catholics observe the day with liturgical prayers, Marian hymns, and recitation of the Hail Mary during Mass and the Divine Office. Priests may celebrate the optional memorial using specific readings focused on Mary. Believers reflect on her maternal role, recite traditional prayers, and ask for her intercession. Members of certain religious orders also recall their vows and the spiritual names they bear in her honour.

When and where

The feast falls annually on 12 September as an optional memorial in the Roman Rite calendar. It was fixed to this date in 1911 by Pope Pius X.

Kept across the Catholic world, the feast is observed in parishes, religious communities, and dedicated shrines across Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific.

What Feast of the Holy Name of Mary means

To Catholic believers, invoking Mary's name represents trust in her role as protector and mediator before God. The various historical translations, such as the Star of the Sea, portray her as a guiding light who assists the faithful through earthly trials, reflecting the love between the Virgin Mother and her Child.

Questions people ask about Feast of the Holy Name of Mary

See also

Holy WeekThe solemn seven days leading to Easter, recalling the final week and Passion of JesusFeast of Corpus ChristiA Christian feast celebrating the presence of Christ in the bread and wine of the EucharistCandlemasA Christian feast of candle blessings marking the end of the Christmas seasonCamino de SantiagoA Christian walking pilgrimage across Europe to the shrine of Saint James in Spain

Good reading and sources

• Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.