Our Lady plays a significant role in Jesus’ life, and therefore the Catholic Church celebrates the notable and events in her life and her veneration by having feast days.
What is the Basis for Marian Feast Days?
There are a lot of momentous events in the life of Our Lady, but we don’t fully celebrate them all. Marian feasts are fundamentally decided by the Church but do follow certain points or categories. These points are based on dogmatic statements, popular devotion, geographical apparition, and lastly, based on events related to the scriptures.
We created a condensed list of the important Marian Feast Days to Remember with the dates and a short description of what the feast is about to help you easily remember these momentous moments in the life of Our Blessed Mother.
Feast Days of Mary
January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
On this feast day, we honor the Blessed Mother as the Mother of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated on the 8th day of Christmastide, which falls on the 1st of January. This day is also a holy day of obligation.
February 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
During this day, the Catholic Church celebrates and commemorates the apparition of Our Blessed Mother to Saint Bernadette Soubirous at the town of Lourdes in southwestern France. Our Lady of Lourdes appeared 18 times from February 11, 1858, until July 16.
March 25 – Annunciation
The feast of the Annunciation celebrates Angel Gabriel announcing to the Virgin Mary that God chose her to be the mother of His only son.
May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima
On this day, the Church celebrates the anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady in 1917 at Fatima, Portugal. She appeared to Lucia, who was 9 years old, and her cousins Franco, who was 8, and Jacinta, who was 6 between May 13, 1917, and October 1917.
July 16 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel
This day commemorates the apparition of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock, an English Carmelite monk. Our Lady was holding the Child Jesus in one arm and the Brown Scapular in the other during her appearance.
The Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel or the Brown Scapular is a popular devotion as when Our Lady gave the Brown Scapular to Sr. Simon Stock, it came with a promise that whoever dies wearing it shall never suffer eternal fire.
August 15 – Assumption
The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady marks the period of The Blessed Mother’s ascent to heaven. For some areas, this feast day is a holy day of obligation.
August 22 – Queenship of Mary
Eight days after the celebration of the Assumption, the Catholic Church honors the Queenship of the Blessed Mother. This is considered an extension or prolongation of the celebration of the Assumption.
September 8 – Birth of Mary
The Catholic Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
October 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary
In the Catholic Church, October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Hence it celebrates its yearly feast on October 7. Previously this feast was known as the feast of “Our Lady of Victory,” which honors the naval victory of Europe against Turkish invasion in the 16th century.
December 8 – Immaculate Conception
This feast honors the Blessed Mother and the Immaculate Conception’s Solemnity, celebrating Our Blessed Mother’s conception without sin. This day is considered a Holy day of Obligation.
December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe
This day commemorates the the apparition of Our Lady to the Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1531. This feast is important and widely celebrated in Mexico.
Important Marian Feast Days to Remember
January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
February 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25 – Annunciation
May 13 – Our Lady of Fatima
July 16 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel
August 15 – Assumption *
August 22 – Queenship of Mary
September 8 – Birth of Mary
October 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary
December 8 – Immaculate Conception
December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe