The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary each year on September 12, honoring the deep spiritual and historical meaning attached to the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This optional memorial highlights Mary’s role in salvation history, her intercession for believers, and the comfort and protection her name inspires.
The devotion to the Holy Name of Mary began in Cuenca, Spain, in 1513, where the local Church instituted a special day of celebration in her honor. From there, the feast gradually spread to other parts of Europe, reflecting the growing devotion to the Virgin Mary during the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
The feast took on global significance following the dramatic events of 1683, when Christian forces led by King Jan Sobieski of Poland halted the Ottoman Empire’s advance at the Battle of Vienna. In thanksgiving for this victory, Pope Innocent XI extended the feast to the entire Catholic Church, fixing the date on September 12, just four days after the Nativity of Mary (September 8). The Pope intended the celebration to remind the faithful of Mary’s powerful intercession in times of trial.
After centuries of observance, the feast was removed from the general Roman liturgical calendar in 1970 during the reforms that followed the Second Vatican Council. However, devotion to the Holy Name of Mary never disappeared. Recognizing its enduring spiritual value, Pope John Paul II restored the feast in the third typical edition of the Roman Missal (2002/2003) as an optional memorial, allowing it once again to be celebrated worldwide.
### Meaning of Mary’s Name
The name Mary (Miryām in Hebrew, Maryam in Aramaic) has been interpreted in many ways over the centuries, with proposed meanings ranging from “beloved” to “exalted” to “star of the sea.” While linguists debate the precise origin, the Church sees in the name a profound symbol of grace, intercession, and maternal protection. To invoke the name of Mary is to call upon the Mother of God, whose presence brings comfort to the sorrowful and hope to sinners.
Today, the feast remains an optional memorial, but it is widely celebrated by communities around the world. Homilies and reflections emphasize Mary’s closeness to humanity, the strength her intercession provides, and the reminder that her name points always toward her Son, Jesus Christ.
In a world still facing uncertainty and conflict, the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary continues to inspire faith and hope. As believers mark September 12, they are invited to recall the historical victories attributed to Mary’s intercession, but even more importantly, to deepen their personal trust in the power of her name.