Roman Catholics commemorate Sunday, September 12, the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Messiah, and the mother of all mankind.
Holy masses, novenas, and special prayers will be offered in several churches and Marian shrines across the country in observance of the feast.
The faithful are encouraged to pray the Holy Rosary in commemoration of the feast.
Church officials encourage the faithful to reflect on the prayer of known Marian devotee St. Bernard: “Look at the star of the sea, call upon Mary, in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary. Call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart. If you follow her, you will not stray, if you pray to her, you will not despair, if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall, if she protects you, you will not fear, if she is your guide, you will not tire, and if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination.”
The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary has been a universal Roman Rite feast since 1684, when Pope Innocent XI included it in the General Roman Calendar to commemorate the victory at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. It was removed from the Church calendar in the liturgical reform following Vatican II but restored by Pope John Paul II in 2002, along with the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.