Marian Feast Days for 2025

(January 1 - December 31)

January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

• This feast celebrates Mary as the Mother of Jesus, who is both God and man. It is a major feast in the Church and marks the beginning of the calendar year.

February 2 – The Presentation of the Lord (Feast)

• Also known as the Candlemas, this day commemorates when Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus in the temple and when Simeon recognized Him as the Messiah.

March 25 – The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)

• Celebrates the announcement by the Angel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

April 28 – St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, Priest (Optional Memorial)

• Although this is a feast for a saint, St. Louis de Montfort is closely associated with Marian devotion, especially regarding consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

April 30 – Our Lady of Good Counsel (Memorial)

• Honors Mary under the title Our Lady of Good Counsel, invoking her maternal guidance and wisdom.

May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima (Memorial)

• Celebrates the Marian apparitions at Fatima in 1917, where Mary urged the children to pray the Rosary for peace.

May 24 – Mary, Help of Christians (Memorial)

• Devotion to Mary as the Help of Christians, especially invoked for protection against trials and difficulties.

May 31 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)

• Commemorates the visit of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, during which Elizabeth recognized Mary as the Mother of the Savior.

June 9 – Mary, Mother of the Church (Memorial)

• A relatively new feast (established in 2018) that celebrates Mary as the Mother of the Church.

June 27 – The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Feast)

• While focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this feast often includes a Marian connection due to Mary's intimate relationship with Jesus.

July 16 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Feast)

• Honors the Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Mount Carmel, particularly beloved by the Carmelite Order and those who wear the Brown Scapular.

August 15 – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

• Celebrates Mary’s being taken up into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life.

August 22 – The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)

• This feast honors Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, exalting her role as the Mother of Jesus and Queen of all creation.

September 8 – The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)

• Celebrates the birth of Mary, who was conceived without original sin, and marks the beginning of her life as the mother of Jesus.

September 12 – The Most Holy Name of Mary (Feast)

• A feast honoring the name of Mary, invoking her powerful intercession and protection.

September 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows (Memorial)

• A memorial that reflects on the seven sorrows of Mary, highlighting her suffering as the mother of Jesus during His passion and death.

October 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary (Memorial)

• Celebrates Mary under the title Our Lady of the Rosary and emphasizes the importance of prayer through the Rosary.

October 11 – Our Lady of the Pillar (Feast)

• Commemorates the apparition of Mary in Zaragoza, Spain, where she appeared to St. James and promised to protect the faithful.

November 5 – The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Feast)

• Commemorates the dedication of St. Mary Major, one of the major basilicas of Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

November 21 – The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)

• Honors the presentation of Mary in the temple as a child, emphasizing her purity and dedication to God.

December 8 – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

• Celebrates the conception of Mary, preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception in her mother’s womb.

December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast)

• Honors the appearance of Mary to Juan Diego in Mexico, celebrating her role as Patroness of the Americasand a symbol of mercy and compassion.

December 25 – The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Solemnity)

• While this is primarily a feast celebrating the birth of Jesus, it naturally also celebrates Mary as His Mother

Additional Titles of Mary (Including Minor Feasts and Optional Memorials):

• January 22 – The Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children (in the U.S.) — A day dedicated to invoking Mary's protection over the unborn.
• February 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes (Memorial) — Celebrates the apparition of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes, France, in 1858.
• March 19 – St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity) — While dedicated to St. Joseph, this feast honors Mary as the spouse of St. Joseph and the mother of Jesus.

Pray the Rosary

The Rosary is a Scripture-based prayer. It begins with the Apostles' Creed, which summarizes the great mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Our Father, which introduces each mystery, is from the Gospels. The first part of the Hail Mary is the angel's words announcing Christ's birth and Elizabeth's greeting to Mary. St. Pius V officially added the second part of the Hail Mary. The Mysteries of the Rosary center on the events of Christ's life. There are four sets of Mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and––added by Saint John Paul II in 2002––the Luminous.

The repetition in the Rosary is meant to lead one into restful and contemplative prayer related to each Mystery. The gentle repetition of the words helps us to enter into the silence of our hearts, where Christ's spirit dwells. The Rosary can be said privately or with a group.

Familiarize yourself and/or your group with the prayers of the rosary.

• Make the Sign of the Cross.
• Holding the Crucifix, say the Apostles' Creed.
• On the first bead, say an Our Father.
• Say one Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.
• Say the Glory Be
• For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery (perhaps followed by a brief reading from Scripture) then say the Our Father.
• While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, next say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery. Then say a Glory Be.

(After finishing each decade, some say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.)

• After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Queen, followed by this dialogue and prayer:

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: O God, whose Only Begotten Son, by his life, Death, and Resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.