St Mary is also known as St. Mary the Virgin, Queen of Heaven, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church or Mary Mother of God.
She is the Holy Mother of Jesus, and wife of St Joseph, the foster-father of Jesus Christ.
She was born on September 8 18 BC as a Jew from Nazareth of Galilee. She conceived Jesus Christ while still a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit. The miraculous conception took place when she was already engaged to Joseph.
Her feast day is celebrated on various days: January 1, May 31, August 15, August 22, November 21, December 8.
| The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, Queen of Heaven | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Date of Birth | September 8, 18 BC |
| Country of Birth | Israel, Nazareth of Galilee |
| Feast Day | January 1, May 31, August 15, August 22, November 21, December 8 |
Introduction
The feast of Annunciation of our Lord by the Archangel Gabriel is the Catholic celebration of the announcement to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God, marking His incarnation.
Gabriel told Mary to name her son Yeshua meaning salvation. This occurred “in the sixth month” of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist.
A census was called for by the emperor at the time of Jesus’s birth, Caesar Augustus and so Mary accompanied Joseph to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
At the end of her earthly life, her body was raised directly into heaven, known in the Christian West as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St Mary’s Birth
Blessed Virgin Mary was born on September 8 18 BC in Nazareth of Galilee. Some other accounts say that she was born in a house near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem.
She was conceived without the original sin and therefore placed at a higher level of veneration above the other saints.
Saint Mary’s Death
According to the Catholic doctrine, Mary did not die, she was taken to Heaven both body and soul, in what is commonly known as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is one of the four dogmas of the Catholic Church.
St Mary’s Nationality and Tribe
According to the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, Mary was a Jewish female from Nazareth of Galilee. She was of the royal House of David and so of the Tribe of Judah.
Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary are Saints Joachim and Anne. Joachim was a pious and rich man. He often helped the poor. By the time they gave birth to Mary they were far advanced in years
The Son Of Saint Mary
The only son of Mary was Jesus Christ, whom she bore through the power of the Holy Spirit after receiving the Good News from Archangel Gabriel.
The Husband of St Mary
The husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary was St Joseph. When she was betrothed to him, he was already advanced in age. Just before the betrothment ceremony, Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant and planned to secretly leave her but the Angel of the Lord adviced him otherwise.
Even if he was the husband of Mary, he did not touch her. She remained a virgin as it is explained in the Catholic Church dogma of Mary’s perpetual virginity.
Early life History
Three years after Mary was born, she was given to serve as a consecrated virgin in the Temple in Jerusalem.
There is a belief that at the time of Mary’s betrothal to Joseph, she was 12-16 years old.
By the time of her betrothal, it is said Mary resided in “her own house” in Nazareth maybe with her parents.
It is during this time that the angel Gabriel announced to her that she a baby boy, who will become the Messiah, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
After some initial doubts, she responded, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to your word.”
Joseph, the aged man to who she was to get betrothed to, planned to secretly leave her when he realized that she was pregnant but the angel of the Lord told him in a dream that her conception was by the Holy Spirit. The angel told him to not hesitate to take her as his wife, and therefore she became Joseph’s wife.
During the birth of Jesus, the Roman Emperor Augustus declared that there was to be a census and therefore, Joseph was required to return to his hometown of Bethlehem to register for a Roman census. He went there with Mary and she gave birth to Jesus in a manger.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph was warned in a dream that King Herod wanted to kill all newborn infant boys including Jesus.
Therefore, together with Mary, they fled by night to Egypt and stayed there for some time. After the death of Herod, they returned to Nazareth in Galilee and stayed there.
After this, the other times that the Blessed Virgin Mary is Mentioned in Jesus Life is
- At the age of 12 when they found Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem among the religious teachers, after separating from them on their return journey from the Passover celebration.
- At Cana of Galilee when Jesus worked his first miracle during a wedding by turning water into wine.
- An incidence where Jesus was preaching and his mother and his brothers arrived, stood outside and sent a message that they are looking for Him. He replied saying to those who sat in a circle around him, ‘These are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother’.
- At the crucifixion of Jesus where Mary stood near “the disciple whom Jesus loved” along with Mary of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and “the mother of the sons of Zebedee”. This representation is called a Stabat Mater.
The Four Dogmas of Mother of God
The Catholic Church has declared the four Dogmas of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are;
- Mary is the Mother of God – This means that Jesus Christ, who is the Word, and the Word is God did not get a start or begin with Mary but through Mary, that word was made flesh, born of her, and dwelt among us.
- The perpetual virginity of Mary – This means that Mary did not lose her virginity during the birth of Jesus Christ, she remained a virgin before, during, and after giving birth.
- The Immaculate Conception of Mary – This means that during conception she was preserved from the original sin and became Immaculate.
- The glorious Assumption into heaven of Mary – This means that after she completed her earthly life, she was assumed both body and soul into heaven.
These dogmas form the basis of Mariology, which is the study of Mary the Mother of God and how she plays her part in the process of salvation of mankind.
However, other Christian denominations’ views see Mariology as unbiblical and, therefore, denies Jesus Christ His uniqueness as mediator and redeemer of mankind.
Mother of the Church – Feast Day – Monday after Pentecost also known as Whit Monday
Mother of the Church, in Roman Catholic Mariology, is a title officially given to Mary by Pope Paul VI. The same title was also used in 1748 by Pope Benedict XIV and in 1885 by Pope Leo XIII.
It was placed in the Catholic Church Catechism by Pope John Paul II and finally, in 2018, it was added as the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church into the Roman Calendar by Pope Francis.
It is to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost which is also known as Whit Monday. The decree was signed on February 11 2018 at the 160th anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions during the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Pope Paul VI called Mary the Model of the Church because of her love, faith, and unity with Christ. She also called her the Mother of the Church because she gave birth to Jesus Christ.
On November 21 1964, Pope Paul VI said in his speech while closing the third session of the Second Vatican Council, “We declare Mary Most Holy Mother of the Church, that is, of all the Christian people.”
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The word “assumption” is derived from the Middle English word “assumpcioun” which means “a taking up into heaven”.
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is held to commemorate the spiritual and bodily taking up of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ, at the end of her earthly life, from the earth into the presence of God in Heaven.
On November 1 1950, Pope Pius XII invoked papal infallibility and defined the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be a dogma of faith.
He said, “We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by God that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.”
The Assumption of Mary into heaven completed God’s work in her because it was not proper for her flesh, which had given life to God himself, to undergo corruption.
When Mary died in the presence of the apostles, she was buried in the “Tomb of Mary,” near Mount Zion, where the early Christian community gathered and lived.
That tomb was later found to be empty and no relics could be found. The apostles made a conclusion that her body was taken up into heaven.
This is not recorded in the scriptures but it is the story that was given by word of mouth. That spot of the ‘Tomb of Mary’ is where the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition of Mary is built.
Even though the bodily assumption of Mary into heaven is not clearly recorded in Bible, The Catholic Church identifies Mary with the woman who is described in the Book of Revelation 12 as follows:
1 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Revelation 12:1-2
2 She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
The feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is held on August 15 every year as a solemnity. Many countries mark this day as a public holiday to accor the Blessed Virgin Mary the honour she deserves. These countries include
- Vanuatu
- Togo
- Tahiti
- Syria
- Spain
- Slovenia
- Seychelles
- Senegal
- Rwanda
- Romania
- Republic of North Macedonia
- Republic of Moldova
- Republic of Guinea
- Republic of Congo
- Portugal
- Poland (coinciding with Polish Army Day)
- Paraguay
- Montenegro (Albanian Catholics)
- Monaco
- Mauritius
- Malta
- Madagascar
- Luxembourg
- Lithuania
- Lebanon
- Italy
- Haiti
- Greece
- Georgia
- Gabon
- France
- East Timor
- Cyprus
- Croatia
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Costa Rica
- Colombia
- Chile
- Central African Republic
- Cameroon
- Burundi
- Belgium
- Austria
- Andorra
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The memorial of the Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954. Pope Pius XII, in the papal encyclical Ad Caeli Reginam, said that Mary deserves to be called Holy Queen of Heaven (Regina Caeli) because;
- She is the Mother of God
- She is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work
- of her intercessory power
- of her preeminent perfection
The Pope also said that Mary is called Queen of Heaven because Jesus Christ, her son, is the heavenly king of the universe and the king of Israel.
In the Old Testament and in the Israel tradition, the mother of the king was recognized as the Queen Mother of Israel.
St. John Damascene crowns this title by stating that “When Mary became Mother of the Creator, she, therefore, became the Queen of every creature.”
During the Annunciation, Angel Gabriel told Mary that her son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. This makes Mary’s queenship a share in Jesus’ kingship.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:30-33
31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
From a Catholic Church perspective, The Blessed Virgin Mary is viewed as the woman clothed with the sun as highlighted in Revelation 12:1-2
1 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
Revelation 12:1-2
2 She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
The Catholic Church confirms that the woman in Revelation 12 was the mother of Jesus.
Saint Ephrem, in the fourth century, called Mary “Lady and Queen”. The reference to this title gained traction in later years and centuries where she began to be addressed in hymns, songs, and prayers as “Queen of Heaven” and “Hail, Holy Queen”.
She is invoked in the Litany of Loreto as:
- Queen assumed into Heaven
- Queen conceived without original sin
- Queen of all Saints
- Queen of Apostles
- Queen of Confessors
- Queen of Families
- Queen of Martyrs
- Queen of Patriarchs
- Queen of Peace
- Queen of Prophets
- Queen of the Angels
- Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
- Queen of Virgins
The Queenship of Mary is usually commemorated in the fifth Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary as “The Coronation of the Virgin as Queen of Heaven and Earth”
The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary is also invoked in the Liturgy of the Hours
The Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen) is sung as a song from Trinity Sunday until the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent and as a prayer to is prayed at the end of the Rosary.
The Ave Regina Caelorum (Hail, Queen of Heaven) is an antiphon said or sung after each of the canonical hours of the Liturgy of the Hours.
The Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) is a prayer that replaces the Angelus during the Easter season, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.
Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary feast day was initially celebrated on May 31 during the last day of the Marian month.
In 1969, it was moved to August 22 on the former Octave Day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in order to emphasize the close bond between Mary’s queenship and her glorious Assumption into heaven.
Memorial of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary
We celebrate the optional memorial of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 12 every year in the Catholic Church.
The aim of the feast is to commemorate all the privileges that God has given Mother Mary and all the graces we receive through her mediation and intercession.
This feast was put in place by Pope Innocent XI in 1684 to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
During the liturgical reforms in 1969, it was removed from the Church calendar but Pope John Paul II restored it 2002, alongside the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.
The celebration of the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary had already begun in Spain in the early 16th century.
In 1683, John Sobieski the king of Poland, marshaled his army near Vienna to stop the Muslim armies of Mohammed IV of Constantinople from attacking.
Sobieski placed his soldiers under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and his troops defeated the Muslims.
Therefore, Pope Innocent XI extended this feast to the entire Church in honour of our Mother Mary’s mediation and intercession.
Feast Days Associated with The Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 15
- The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Saint of the Day – January 1
- The Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary – Saint of the Day – August 22
- The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Feast of the Seven Sorrows and Our Lady of Citeaux, France
- The Feast of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – November 21
- The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary –
- The Feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary – September 12
- The Feast of the Institution of the Knights of Our Lady
- The Feast of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – December 8
- Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles
- Our Lady Queen of Caravaggio – May 26
- Our Lady of Zell, Austria
- Our Lady of Walsingham
- Our Lady of Vladimir, Russia
- Our Lady of Vivonne
- Our Lady of Victory
- Our Lady of Verdun
- Our Lady of Vaussivieres
- Our Lady of Valvenere, Spain
- Our Lady of Valfleurie, Lyons, France
- Our Lady of Underground, Chartres, France
- Our Lady of Trut, Cologne, Germany
- Our Lady of Treves, Italy
- Our Lady of Trapani, Sicily
- Our Lady of Tongres, France
- Our Lady of Toledo, Spain
- Our Lady of the Woods, Galloro
- Our Lady of the Way
- Our Lady of the Vine, Tuscany, Italy
- Our Lady of the Valley, Sicily
- Our Lady of the Underground, Cairo, Egypt
- Our Lady of the Tower Secret, Turin, Italy
- Our Lady of the Thorn, Chalons-sur-Marne, France
- Our Lady of the Taper, England and Wales
- Our Lady of the Star, Portugal
- Our Lady of the Star – June 1
- Our Lady of the Snows – August 5
- Our Lady of the Rosary – October 7
- Our Lady of the Pillar – October 1
- Our Lady of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem – March 31
- Our Lady of Tears – April 1
- Our Lady of Sweat, Salerno, Italy
- Our Lady of Sorrows – September 15
- Our Lady of Ratisbon – December 1
- Our Lady of Ransom – September 24
- Our Lady of Prompt Succor
- Our Lady of Lourdes – February 11
- Our Lady of La Salette – September 19
- Our Lady of Guadalupe – December 12
- Our Lady of Great Power, Quebec, Canada
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Our Lady of Alexandria, Egypt
- Our Lady Help of Christians
Venerated in
The Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated in
- The Catholic Church
- The Orthodox Church
Attributes
- Woman with child
- White veil
- Roses
- Pregnant woman
- Immaculate heart
- Halo with 12 stars
- Crown of 12 stars
- Blue mantle
Major shrines, Churches, Cathedrals, Basilicas or Sanctuaries named after the saint
- The Shrine of Black Madonna of Częstochowa in Częstochowa, Poland
- The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France
- The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal
- The Basilica of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City, Philippines
- The Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto, Italy
- The Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland in Knock, Ireland
- The Basilica of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu in Gozo, Malta.
- The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico
- The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in Vailankanni, India
Marian (St Mary) Prayers
- Thirty Day Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
- The Prayer, Thanksgiving for Mary, Our Mother
- The Prayer, Memorable Jesus Mary and Joseph
- The Prayer of Aspirations to Mary
- The Prayer a Salutation to Mary
- The Magnificat (Canticle of Mary)
- The Little Office of the Immaculate Conception
- The Holy Rosary
- Sub Tuum Praesidum
- Stabat Mater Dolorosa
- St. Louis De Montfort’s Prayer to Mary
- Sorrowful Mother for the Church and the Pontiff
- Salutations to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Salutations to Mary
- Queen of Heaven Rejoice – Regina Coeli (Caeli)
- Prayers to the Holy Child Mary
- Prayers To The Child Mary And To Sts. Joachim And Anne
- Prayers to our our Lady of Good Counsel
- Prayers to Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe
- Prayer to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Prayer to the Mother of the Lord for all mothers
- Prayer to the Most Holy Virgin Mother of Sorrows
- Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Prayer to the Immaculate Conception
- Prayer to the Heart of Mary
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin to Obtain a Good Death
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary for England
- Prayer to the Blessed Virgin
- Prayer to the Assumption of Mary
- Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy
- Prayer To Our Lady, Help Of Christians
- Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick
- Prayer to Our Lady, Assumed into Heaven
- Prayer to Our Lady of Victory
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Prairies
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Atonement
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption
- Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
- Prayer to Our Lady of Pompeii
- Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Prayer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Prayer to Our Lady of Mercy
- Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes
- Prayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa
- Prayer to Our Lady of Combermere
- Prayer to Our Lady Immaculate
- Prayer to Obtain Confidence in the Merits of Jesus Christ and in the Intercession of Mary
- Prayer to Mary, Queen of the Apostles
- Prayer to Mary, Queen of Heaven
- Prayer to Mary, Queen in the Home
- Prayer to Mary, Mother of Grace
- Prayer to Mary, Mother of God
- Prayer to Mary, Help of Christians
- Prayer to Mary Queen of Apostle
- Prayer to Immaculate Mary
- Prayer of the Immaculate Conception
- Prayer of Pope Pius Xii Consecration to the Blessed Virgin
- Prayer in Resignation to Suffering (by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
- Prayer in Honour of the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Prayer in Honour of the Blessed Virgin and Her Mother, St. Anne
- Prayer for the Presentation of Mary
- Prayer for the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Prayer for the Immaculate Queen of Peace
- Prayer for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
- Prayer for the Assumption of Mary
- Prayer at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Garden
- Pilgrim’s Prayer Through Mary
- Petition of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii
- Perpetual Help Hymn
- Our Lady, the Lord’s Virgin and Mother
- Our Lady, Queen of Angels
- Our Lady of Victory
- Our Lady of The Sacred Heart
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Our Lady of Aparecida
- Oh Mary, Pray for us!
- Offering of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- O Virgin Mother
- O Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God and My Mother
- O my most sweet Mother, how shall I die, poor sinner that I am?
- O Mother of Perpetual Help
- O Most Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church
- O Mary Bright Dawn of the New World
- O Immaculate Virgin
- My Queen, My Mother
- Mother of Compassion
- Morning Consecration to Mary
- Memorare – Remember, Most Loving Virgin Mary
- Mary’s Consent
- Mary, Virgin for Ever
- Mary, Our Model in Prayer
- Mary, Mother of Grace
- Mary, Mother of God
- Mary as a Personal Patron
- Mary as a Patron of a Community
- Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Litany of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows
- Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes
- Invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Invocation of Our Lady the Immaculate Conception
- In Honor of the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
- Holy Mary, Help the Helpless
- Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy
- Hail Thou Star of Ocean
- Hail Mary, Full of Grace
- Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)
- Feast of Mary, Mother of God
- Fatima Prayer
- Devotion in Honour of the Sorrowful Heart of Mary
- Dedication of England to Mother of God
- Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows
- Consecration to Mary
- Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Consecration of the Church and the World to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Child’s Prayer To Mary
- Blessed Mother
- Aspirations to Mary
- Aspiration to the Most Blessed Mary
- Annunciation, by John Donne
- Ancient Prayer to the Virgin Mary
- Akathist Hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Affectuate Salutations to Mary
- Act of Union with Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary after Holy Communion
- Act of Oblation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Act of Entrustment to Mary
- Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Act of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin (for Infants at Time of Baptism)
Blessed Virgin Mary Quotes
O Mother of God, you birthed the one who created all. Within you was He whom the universe cannot contain.
How beautiful the mystery. How exalted your vocation that precedes and makes possible the apostles’ own.
At home with husband and child you bounced on your knee the one who spins the world on his finger. How beautiful the mystery. Help us start this new year with wonder more than resolutions, with eternal gratitude more than mundane goals.
What is the Blessed Virgin Mary Patron Saint of?
The Blessed Virgin is cited as the patron Saint of all humanity. But there are many people who take a closer relationship with her in their professions, occupations, places and activities.
Religious Groups
- Sisters of the Holy Cross – Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Servite Order – Our Lady of Sorrows
- Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement – Mother Thrice Admirable
- Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Bethlehem (Bethlehemite)
- Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy – Our Lady of Ransom
- Order of Preachers (Dominicans)
- Missionary Sisters of Saint Peter Claver Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Jesuits – Madonna Della Strada
- Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary – Our Lady of Peace
- Congregation of the Holy Ghost – Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Congregation of Holy Cross – Our Lady of Sorrows
- Carmelites – Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Dioceses with St Mary as their Patron Saint
- Zamboanga, Philippines – Our Lady of the Pillar
- Wichita, Kansas
- Venice, Florida – Our Lady of Mercy
- Tyler, Texas
- Toowoomba, Queensland – Mary of the Southern Cross
- Territorial Prelature of Marawi – Our Lady Help of Christians
- Syracuse, New York
- Sydney, Australia – Our Lady Help of Christians
- Steubenville, Ohio – Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Spokane, Washington
- Sioux City, Iowa
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Seattle, Washington
- Savannah, Georgia
- Santander, Spain – La Virgen de la Bien Aparecida
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands – Virgin of Los Remedios
- Salina, Kansas – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Sacramento, California – Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rockford, Illinois
- Reno, Nevada
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Pueblo, Colorado
- Providence, Rhode Island (Our Lady of Providence)
- Portland, Oregon
- Portland, Maine
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Parañaque, Philippines (Our Lady of the Good Success)
- Orange County, California – Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Ogdensburg, New York
- New Ulm, Minnesota
- New Orleans, Louisiana – Our Lady of Prompt Succor
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Montreal, Canada (dioecesis Marianopolitanis)
- Monterey, California
- Middlesbrough, England – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Miami, Florida
- Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles
- Manila, Philippines (Immaculate Conception)
- Malaga, Spain – Our Lady of the Victory
- Lancaster, England – Our Lady of Lourdes
- Jefferson City, Missouri – Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Issele-Uku, Nigeria – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Imus, Philippines – Our Lady of the Pillar
- Huế, Vietnam – Our Lady of La Vang
- Honolulu, Hawaii – Our Lady of Peace
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Immaculate Conception
- Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Guadalajara, Jalisco
- Greensburg, Pennsylvania – Our Lady of the Assumption
- Grand Island, Nebraska
- Gaylord, Michigan
- Gallup, New Mexico
- Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana – the Immaculate Conception
- Fargo, North Dakota – the Immaculate Conception
- Evansville, Indiana
- Essen, Germany (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Dodge City, Kansas
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Denver, Colorado
- Crookston, Minnesota
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Cologne, Germany (Immaculate Conception)
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Cebu, Philippines – Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Camden, New Jersey
- Burlington, Vermont- the Immaculate Conception
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Austin, Texas
- Archdiocese of Caceres, Naga, Camarines Sur (Our Lady of Peñafrancia)
- Apostleship of the Sea, Baltimore – Stella Maris (Our Lady Star of the Sea)
- Antipolo, Philippines (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage)
- Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania
- Albany, New York (Immaculate Conception)
Geographical Places
There are places that claim The blessed Virgin Mary as their Patron Saint. Some have the Pontifical Decree but some others don’t.
Africa
Algeria – Our Lady of Africa
Uganda – Mary, Queen of Africa
Angola – Immaculate Heart of Mary
Asia
- Kuwait – Our Lady of Arabia
- India – Our Lady of the Assumption
- Lebanon – Our Lady of Lebanon
- China – Mary Help of Christians
- Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia – Our Lady of Arabia
- Korea – Immaculate Conception
- Suwon – Our Lady of Peace
- Seoul – Immaculate Conception
- Jeju – Immaculate Conception
- Incheon – Our Lady, Star of the Sea
- Daegu – Our Lady of Lourdes
- Daegeon – Our Lady of Lourdes
- Busan – Our Lady of Rosary
- Andong – Immaculate Conception
- Philippines – Immaculate Conception – Principal patroness of the Philippines
- Bicol Region – Our Lady of Peñafrancia (Ina ng Peñafrancia)
- Baguio – Our Lady of Atonement
- Cavite province – Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga)
- Imus City and the Diocese – Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus
- Silang – Our Lady of Candelaria
- Dasmariñas – Immaculate Conception
- Loboc, Bohol – Our Lady of Guadalupe in Extremadura
- Manila – Our Lady of Guidance
- Santa Ana – Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Manila (Our Lady of the Abandoned)
- Zamboanga City – Our Lady of the Pillar
- Western Visayas – Our Lady of the Candles
- Vietnam – Our Lady of La Vang
- Quezon City – Our Lady of Hope
- Piat, Cagayan – Our Lady of Piat
- Parañaque – (Nuestra Senora del Buen Suceso)
- Pampanga – Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga (Our Lady of Remedies)
- Obando, Bulacan – Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Salambao
Europe
- Albania – Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Andorra – Our Lady of Meritxell
- Austria – Our Lady of Mariazell
- Azerbaijan – The Virgin Mary, Protector of Caucasus
- Belgium – Our Lady of Beauraing
- Croatia – Mother of Goodness
- England – Our Lady of Walsingham
- Germany – Bavaria – Our Lady of Altötting
- Greece – Tinos – Our Lady of Great Grace or Evangelistria (Our Lady of Good Tidings)
- Ireland – Our Lady of Knock
- Italy – Rome – Salus Populi Romani
- Lithuania – Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn
- Luxembourg – Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted
- Malta – Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu
- Netherlands – Our Lady, Star of the Sea
- Poland – The Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland (also as Our Lady of Częstochowa or Bogurodzica
- Portugal – Our Lady of Fátima
- Republic of Macedonia – Skopje – Mother of God
- Russia – Our Lady of Kazan
- Slovakia – Our Lady of Sorrows
- Switzerland – Our Lady of the Hermits
- United Kingdom – Gibraltar – Our Lady of Europe
- Spain
- Our Lady of the Pillar
- Trujillo, Cáceres – Virgen de la Victoria (Our Lady of Victory)
- Extremadura – Our Lady of Guadalupe (Extremadura)
- Catalonia – Virgin of Montserrat
- Canary Islands – Virgin of Candelaria
- Biscay – Our Lady of Begoña
- Barcelona – Our Lady of Ransom
- Asturias – Our Lady of Covadonga
- Almoradí – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Australia / Oceania
- Our Lady Help of Christians
- New Zealand – Our Lady of the Assumption
- Samoa – Our Lady Star of the Sea
The Americas
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Caribbean
- Costa Rica – Our Lady of the Angels
- Cuba – Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre (Nuestra Senora de la Caridad del Cobre)
- Dominican Republic – Our Lady of Altagracia
- Haiti – Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Puerto Rico – Our Lady of Divine Providence
- Central America
- El Salvador – Our Lady of Peace (Nuestra Seňora de la Paz)
- Honduras – Our Lady of Suyapa
- Nicaragua – Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of El Viejo
- Panama – The Immaculate Conception
North America
- Mexico – Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Jalisco – Our Lady of Expectation (Our Lady of Zapopan)
- United States – Patroness of the United States under her title of the Immaculate Conception
- Mississippi – Our Lady of Sorrows
- Louisiana – Our Lady of Prompt Succor
- Guam – Santa Marian Kamalen
- Canada – Notre-Dame-du-Cap
South America
- Venezuela – Our Lady of Coromoto
- Zulia – Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
- Uruguay – The Virgin of the Thirty Three (La Virgen de los Treinta y Tres)
- Peru – Our Lady of Mercy
- Paraguay – Our Lady of the Miracles of Caacupé
- Guatemala – Our Lady of the Rosary
- Ecuador – Our Lady of the Presentation of El Quinche
- Colombia – Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá
- Chile – Our Lady of Carmel of the Maipú
- Brazil – Our Lady of Aparecida
- Bolivia – Virgin of Copacabana
- Argentina – Our Lady of Luján
Related Links
Powered By SEO Experts
Follow @ReadingCatholic
