Marian feast days

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

San Albino Church, Mesilla Village, Las Cruces, New Mexico (January, 1985).

Marian feast days are specific days of the year declared by the Catholic Church as being significant Marian days for the celebration of events in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her veneration.^[1]

During the month of May, May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary take place in many Catholic regions. There is no firm structure as to the content of a May devotion. It includes usually the singing of Marian anthems, readings from scriptures, a sermon, and or presentation by local choirs. The whole rosary is prayed separately and is usually not a part of a Marian devotion, although Hail Mary's are included. The devotion, was promoted by Jesuits and spread to Jesuit Colleges and to the entire Latin church and since that time it has been a regular feature of Catholic life.^[2] Marian devotions may be held within the family, around a “May Altar” consisting of a table with a Marian picture decorated with many May flowers. The family would then pray together the rosary.^[3] May devotions exist in the entire Latin church and since that time have been a regular feature of Catholic life.^[4]

Traditionally, the month of October is "rosary month" in the Catholic Church,when the faithful are encouraged to pray the rosary if possible. Since 1571, Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, is venerated on October 7.^[5] Pope Benedict XVI, following all his predecessors, also encourages the rosary during the month of October:

The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, the unique contemplative prayer through which, guided by the Lord's Heavenly Mother, we fix our gaze on the face of the Redeemer in order to be conformed to his joyful, light-filled, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. This ancient prayer is having a providential revival, thanks also to the example and teaching of the beloved Pope John Paul II. I invite you to reread his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae and to put into practice its directions on the personal, family and community levels.^[6]

Among the most prominent Marian feast days in the ordinary Roman Catholic Calendar are^[7]:

January 1 Mary, Mother of God
January 8 Our Lady of Prompt Succor
February 2 Purification of the Virgin
February 11 Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25 Annunciation by Archangel Gabriel (it may be either moved to the day before Palm Sunday should this date be on Holy Week; or to the Monday after the second Sunday of Easter if this date falls on either Friday or Saturday of Holy Week or during Easter Week^[8])
April 26 Our Lady of Good Counsel
May 1 Queen of Heaven
May 13 Our Lady of Fatima
May 24 Mary Help of Christians
May 31 Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces
May 31 Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June 27 Our Lady of Perpetual Help
August 15 Assumption into Heaven
August 21 Our Lady of Knock
August 22 Queenship of Mary
September 8 Nativity (birth) of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 15 Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7 Feast of the Most Holy Rosary
November 21 Presentation of Mary
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe

In the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Visitation is observed on July 2. Its modern date, May 31 is instead the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is commemorated on August 22 (which in the modern calendar is the Queenship). Friday in Passion Week (the week prior to Holy Week) is observed as the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 15, and the Motherhood of the BVM is October 11. The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, does not exist in the extraordinary calendar.

Among the most prominent Marian feast days in the Eastern Orthodox and Greek-Catholic liturgical calendars are: