Prayer to Our Blessed Mother
O most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our tender Mother, we come before you with filial love and deep devotion, seeking your powerful intercession before the throne of your Divine Son. You who are full of grace, conceived without sin, and assumed body and soul into Heaven, we place ourselves under your maternal protection and ask you to cover us with your mantle of love. Present our prayers and petitions to Jesus, that through your immaculate hands they may be purified and made worthy of His divine mercy. Help us to imitate your perfect virtues of humility, purity, and obedience to God's holy will, and grant us the grace to live as true children of Mary, following your example of complete surrender to the Almighty. Obtain for us the graces we need for our salvation, protect us from all evil and temptation, comfort us in our sorrows, and guide us safely to your Son in Heaven, where we may praise the Most Blessed Trinity with you for all eternity. Amen.
July 1 - Our Lady of Ortiga
This lesser-known devotion honors Mary's maternal care and protection over her children, reminding us of her constant intercession for those who call upon her name.
July 2 - Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
We celebrate Mary's joyful visit to her cousin Elizabeth, when both women rejoiced in God's miraculous works. This feast reminds us of Mary's humility and her eagerness to serve others in their time of need.
July 3 - Our Lady of the Shipwrecked (Brittany, France)
Mary is invoked as protector of those in peril at sea, offering hope and safe harbor to sailors and travelers. This devotion speaks to her role as Star of the Sea, guiding souls through life's storms.
July 4 - Our Lady of Miracles (Avignon, France)
This French devotion celebrates Mary's powerful intercession and the countless miracles attributed to her maternal love, reminding us that nothing is impossible for those who trust in her prayers.
July 5 - Dedication of Our Lady of Cambrai (Arras, France)
This dedication honors Mary's special protection over the region of Cambrai, where the faithful have long sought her intercession and experienced her motherly care.
July 6 - Holy Mother of Akita (Akita, Tohuku, Japan)
Mary appeared in Japan with messages of prayer, penance, and hope, showing her universal motherhood extends to all nations and peoples, calling them to conversion and peace.
July 7 - Our Lady of Arras (Netherlands)
This Dutch devotion celebrates Mary's presence among the Low Countries, where she has been venerated as mother and protector of the faithful for centuries.
July 8 - Our Lady of Kazan (Russia)
One of Russia's most beloved icons, Our Lady of Kazan represents Mary's special protection over the Russian people and her role in their spiritual and temporal victories.
July 9 - Our Lady of the Atonement (Graymoor, New York)
Mary is honored as the one who unites all Christians, calling them to reconciliation and unity in her Son, particularly relevant in ecumenical efforts.
July 9 - Our Lady of Chiquinquira (Venezuela)
Venezuela's beloved patroness, where Mary's miraculous image has been a source of hope and national identity, demonstrating her special love for Latin America.
July 10 - Our Lady of Boulogne (France)
This ancient French shrine celebrates Mary's protection over the coastal region and her role in bringing peace and healing to those who seek her aid.
July 11 - Our Lady of Clery (Near Orleans, France)
A devotion dear to French royalty, this shrine represents Mary's care for nations and rulers, guiding them in wisdom and justice.
July 12 - Our Lady of Lure (Avignon, France)
Another French devotion celebrating Mary's maternal presence and the graces she bestows upon those who honor her with faithful devotion.
July 13 - Our Lady of the Mystical Rose
Mary is honored as the rose without thorns, the perfect flower of humanity, beautiful and fragrant in her purity and love, offering sweetness to all who approach her.
July 14 - Our Lady of the Bush (Evora, Portugal)
This Portuguese devotion recalls Mary's appearance among nature, showing her connection to God's creation and her care for the simple and humble of heart.
July 15 - Akhtyrka Mother of God (Australia)
This Eastern Orthodox icon, now venerated in Australia, represents Mary's healing power and her role as intercessor for those suffering from illness and affliction.
July 16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Feast of the Brown Scapular
This is one of the Church's most beloved devotions, celebrating Mary's promise to those who wear the Brown Scapular with devotion. Our Lady of Mount Carmel appeared to Saint Simon Stock in 1251, giving him the scapular as a sign of her protection and salvation. She promised that whoever dies wearing this garment shall not suffer eternal fire. The Carmelite tradition emphasizes Mary's role as mother, teacher, and guide in the spiritual life. The scapular represents Mary's mantle of protection, and devotees trust in her promise: "Take this scapular, it shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace." This feast invites all Christians to deepen their devotion to Mary and to live under her maternal protection, following her example of perfect surrender to God's will.
July 17 - The Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary
We honor Mary's perfect humility, her complete surrender to God's will, and her example of true Christian virtue that serves as a model for all believers.
July 17 - Our Lady of Campitelli (Italy)
This Roman devotion celebrates Mary's protection of the Eternal City and her role in preserving the faithful from plague and disaster through her powerful intercession.
July 18 - Our Lady of Victory at Toledo (Spain)
Mary is honored as the one who grants victory over evil and temptation, protecting the faithful in their spiritual battles and temporal struggles.
July 19 - Our Lady of the Miracle (Lima, Peru)
Peru's capital honors Mary for the miracles worked through her intercession, demonstrating her special love for South America and its people.
July 20 - The Virgin of Zocueca (Andalucia, Spain)
This Andalusian devotion celebrates Mary's presence in southern Spain, where she has been a source of comfort and hope for generations of faithful.
July 21 - Our Lady of Verdun (Lorraine, France)
Mary is venerated in this historic French region as protector and guide, especially during times of war and conflict, offering peace to troubled hearts.
July 22 - Our Lady of Safety or of Safe Hiding (Overloon, Holland)
This Dutch devotion honors Mary as a refuge and safe harbor for those in danger, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional, providing shelter under her mantle.
July 23 - Institution of the Order of Our Lady of Premontre (Lancaster, England)
This celebrates the founding of the Premonstratensian Order under Mary's patronage, highlighting her role in religious life and her guidance of those dedicated to God's service.
July 24 - Rzevsk, Mother of God (Tver, Russia)
Another beloved Russian icon, representing Mary's continued presence and protection over the Russian people throughout their long history of faith and struggle.
July 25 - Our Lady of Lac Bouchet (Quebec)
Mary's presence in French Canada demonstrates her universal motherhood, extending her care to the New World and protecting French settlers in their new homeland.
July 26 - Madonna del Faggio (Castelluccio, Bologna, Emilia Romagna, Italy)
This Italian devotion, associated with a beech tree, celebrates Mary's presence in nature and her accessibility to simple people in rural settings.
July 27 - Our Lady of Faith (Gravelines, France)
Mary is honored as the perfect model of faith, the one who believed God's word and trusted completely in His promises, guiding others to similar trust.
July 28 - Our Lady of Sorrows (Starkenburg, MO, USA)
This American devotion honors Mary's compassionate heart as she stood at the foot of the cross, sharing in her Son's suffering. Our Lady of Sorrows represents Mary's perfect participation in the redemptive work of Christ through her willing acceptance of spiritual martyrdom. The seven sorrows traditionally include the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of Jesus in the temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, the crucifixion, the taking down from the cross, and the burial of Jesus. Through these sorrows, Mary shows us how to unite our sufferings with Christ's passion, transforming pain into spiritual fruitfulness. This devotion particularly resonates with those experiencing grief, loss, or difficult trials, as Mary becomes their companion in sorrow and their guide to resurrection hope. The shrine in Missouri serves as a beacon of comfort for American Catholics, demonstrating that Mary's maternal compassion extends to all nations and peoples.
July 29 - Our Lady of Deliverance (Madrid, Spain)
Spain's capital honors Mary as the one who delivers the faithful from all forms of bondage, whether sin, suffering, or despair, offering freedom through her Son.
July 30 - Our Lady de Gray (France)
This French devotion celebrates Mary's grace and beauty, both physical and spiritual, as the masterpiece of God's creation and the channel of His grace to humanity.
July 31 - Our Lady of Verdelais (Gironde, France)
The month closes with this French devotion honoring Mary's verdant, life-giving presence, like a garden of grace that brings forth spiritual fruit in the lives of the faithful.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
