March 2025 Marian Days
March 1 - Our Lady Della Croce (Crème, Italy)
This devotion in Crema, Italy centers around the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary near a roadside cross in 1490. The site became a place of pilgrimage and healing, leading to the construction of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Croce.
March 2 - Apparitions of Our Lady
This day commemorates various approved Marian apparitions throughout history, recognizing the Virgin Mary's continued presence and intercession in the lives of the faithful through her appearances to various visionaries.
March 3 - Our Lady of Angels of Toulouse (France)
The devotion to Notre-Dame des Anges in Toulouse dates back to medieval times. The sanctuary became a significant center of Marian devotion in southern France, known for its architectural beauty and spiritual significance.
March 4 - Our Lady of Guard (Notre Dame de la Garde)
Located in Marseille, France, this basilica sits at the highest point of the city. The 19th-century church features a golden statue of the Virgin Mary overlooking the harbor, earning her the nickname "The Good Mother" among locals who see her as the guardian of sailors.
March 5 - Our Lady of Good Help
This title commemorates the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States, located in Champion, Wisconsin, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Adele Brise in 1859, requesting her to catechize children.
March 6 - Our Lady of Nazareth
This celebration honors Mary's role in Jesus' early life in Nazareth, emphasizing the holy family's simple, faithful life and Mary's dedication to raising Jesus in their humble home.
March 7 - Madonna of the Star
This devotion originates from artistic representations of Mary crowned with stars, symbolizing her role as Queen of Heaven and her divine guidance, like a star leading the faithful to Christ.
March 8 - Our Lady of Virtues
This feast celebrates Mary as the model of Christian virtues, particularly highlighting her humility, purity, and unwavering faith, offering an example for all believers to follow.
March 9 - Our Lady of Savigny (France)
The abbey of Savigny housed a beloved shrine to the Virgin Mary, where pilgrims sought her intercession throughout medieval France, known for numerous reported miracles.
March 10 - Our Lady of The Vine (Wurzburg, Germany)
This devotion in Würzburg connects Mary to the rich vineyard tradition of the region, symbolizing her role in bearing the fruit of salvation through Christ.
March 11 - Our Lady of The Forest
This title commemorates various shrines and apparitions of Mary in wooded areas, emphasizing her presence in nature and the peaceful solitude often found in forest sanctuaries.
March 12 - Our Lady of Miracles
This feast recognizes the numerous miraculous interventions attributed to Mary's intercession throughout history, celebrating her continuing role in bringing God's grace to the faithful.
March 13 - Our Lady Empress
This title honors Mary's queenship over heaven and earth, recognizing her unique role as Mother of God and her spiritual authority in the Church.
March 14 - Our Lady de la Breche
This devotion originated in Chartres, France, where Mary's intercession was credited with protecting the city during a siege in 1568, when an image of the Virgin Mary reportedly survived a breach in the city walls.
March 15 - Our Lady of The Underground
This title commemorates the hidden shrines and secret worship of Mary during times of persecution, particularly in the early Church and during various periods of religious oppression.
March 16 - Our Lady of The Fountain
This celebration is connected to various shrines built near springs or fountains associated with Marian apparitions or miracles, symbolizing Mary as a source of spiritual refreshment.
March 17 - Our Lady of Ireland
This feast recognizes Mary's special relationship with Ireland, where she is deeply venerated as "Our Lady of Knock" following her 1879 apparition, and celebrates Ireland's strong Marian devotion.
March 18 - Our Lady of Mercy of Savona
This devotion originated in Savona, Italy, where Mary appeared to a peasant in 1536, requesting prayers for peace and mercy during a time of conflict.
March 19 - Our Lady of The Cape
Located at Cap-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada, this shrine became famous after a reported miracle involving an ice bridge that allowed stones to be transported for the shrine's construction in 1879.
March 20 - Our Lady of Calevout
This lesser-known devotion represents one of many local Marian shrines that developed in medieval Europe, serving as a center of prayer and pilgrimage.
March 21 - Our Lady of Bruges
This celebration honors the famous Madonna of Bruges, Michelangelo's marble sculpture housed in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium, symbolizing Mary's maternal tenderness.
March 22 - Our Lady of Citeaux
This feast is associated with the Cistercian Order's special devotion to Mary, as all Cistercian churches are dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
March 23 - Our Lady of Victory of Citeaux
This title commemorates Mary's intercession in various victories, particularly those associated with the Cistercian order and their monasteries.
March 24 - Our Lady of the Thorn
This devotion originates from a shrine in Chalons-sur-Marne, France, where a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns was preserved, connecting Mary's devotion to her son's passion.
March 25 - The Annunciation of Our Lady
This major feast commemorates one of the most pivotal moments in Christian history - when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary announcing that she would conceive and bear Jesus, the Son of God. The feast celebrates Mary's profound "fiat" (her "yes") when she responded "Be it done unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). This moment is considered the instant of the Incarnation, when Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, making it not just a Marian feast but also a celebration of Jesus. The date of March 25th is particularly significant as it falls exactly nine months before Christmas, reflecting the period of Mary's pregnancy with Jesus. This feast emphasizes Mary's role in salvation history and her example of complete trust and submission to God's will.
March 26 - Our Lady of Soissons
This shrine in northern France was known for possessing a slipper believed to have belonged to the Virgin Mary, making it a significant medieval pilgrimage site.
March 27 - Our Lady of Foggia
This Italian devotion centers around an ancient Byzantine icon discovered in Foggia, known for numerous miracles and still venerated today.
March 28 - Our Lady of Castelbruedo
This local devotion represents the countless small shrines and churches dedicated to Mary throughout Europe, each with its own unique history and traditions.
March 29 - Our Lady "Aracoeli" (Altar of Heaven)
This title refers to the famous basilica in Rome built on the Capitoline Hill, where tradition says the Sibyl prophesied to Augustus the coming of Christ through Mary.
March 30 - Our Lady of Auvergne
This celebration honors the strong Marian devotion in France's Auvergne region, home to numerous shrines and pilgrim sites dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
March 31 - Our Lady of the Holy Cross
This feast holds deep significance as it represents Mary's profound connection to Christ's crucifixion. The devotion emphasizes her role as a witness to Christ's suffering, standing faithfully at the foot of the cross (as described in John 19:25-27). This title particularly honors Mary's steadfast presence during the crucifixion and her participation in Christ's redemptive sacrifice, remembering her as both the sorrowful mother and a model of unwavering faith in the face of tremendous suffering. The feast serves as a powerful reminder of the intersection between Marian devotion and the central mystery of Christ's passion.
