August Days Honoring Our Blessed Mother
Opening Prayer
Most loving Mother Mary, as we enter this blessed month of August filled with your glorious feasts, we come before you with hearts full of love and devotion. From your triumphant Assumption into heaven to the tender devotion of your Immaculate Heart, may each day of this month draw us closer to your maternal embrace and to your Divine Son, Jesus.
Guide us, O Queen of Heaven, as we meditate on these sacred mysteries and celebrations. Help us to imitate your virtues of faith, hope, and love, and may our prayers and devotions during this holy month be pleasing to your Immaculate Heart.
Blessed Mother, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Through your powerful intercession, may we one day join you in the eternal glory of heaven, where you reign forever as our Queen and Mother. Amen.
August 1 - Our Lady asks for Establishment of an Order for Redeeming Captives (1218)
Mary calls forth a religious order dedicated to freeing Christian prisoners from captivity, showing her maternal concern for those in bondage.
August 2 - Our Lady of Angels, Assisi, Italy (13th Century)
The Blessed Mother is honored in the beloved city of St. Francis, where angels and Mary's intercession bring countless graces to pilgrims.
August 3 - Our Lady of Bows, London (1071)
An ancient English devotion to Mary, established in medieval London as a place of refuge and prayer.
August 4 - Our Lady of Dordrecht, Holland
St. Santera built a shrine honoring Mary in this Dutch city, creating a center of Marian devotion in the Netherlands.
August 5 - St. Mary Major (Our Lady of the Snows), Rome, Italy (352)
The miraculous August snowfall in Rome led to the building of this great basilica, which houses the precious relic of Our Savior's crib.
August 6 - Our Lady of Copacabana, Bolivia
Mary is venerated as patroness of Bolivia, watching over her children in South America with special maternal care.
August 7 - Our Lady of Schiedam, Holland (15th Century)
A medieval Dutch devotion celebrating Mary's protective presence in the Low Countries.
August 8 - Our Lady of Kuehn, near Brussels, Belgium
The Blessed Mother is honored in this Belgian shrine, bringing her blessings to the faithful of the region.
August 9 - Our Lady of Oegnies, Brabant, Netherlands
Mary's presence is celebrated in this historic Dutch region, continuing centuries of Marian devotion.
August 10 - Institution of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, Barcelona, Spain (1218)
The Mercedarian Order is established under Mary's patronage, dedicated to ransoming captives and showing mercy to the enslaved.
August 11 - Our Lady of the Way, St. Charles, Missouri / Charlemagne receives Our Lady's robes (810)
Mary guides travelers on their earthly journey while the great emperor receives sacred relics of the Mother of God.
August 12 - Our Lady of Rouen, France
The French city honors Mary with deep devotion, seeking her intercession and protection for the faithful.
August 13 - Dormition of Our Lady (58)
The Church commemorates the peaceful death of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as she falls asleep in the Lord before her glorious Assumption.
August 14 - Vigil of the Assumption of Our Lady
The Church prepares in prayer and anticipation for tomorrow's great feast of Mary's bodily assumption into heaven.
August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven
THE GREATEST MARIAN FEAST OF AUGUST - Pope Leo IV instituted this solemn feast in 847, celebrating the glorious truth that Mary, free from the corruption of sin, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. This dogma of faith proclaims that the Mother of God, having completed her earthly life, was taken up into heaven where she reigns as Queen of Heaven and Earth. It is the crown of all Marian feasts, celebrating her unique privilege as the sinless Mother of the Redeemer.
August 16 - Our Lady of Trapani, Sicily
The beautiful island of Sicily venerates Mary under this ancient title, seeking her protection from the Mediterranean storms of life.
August 17 - Victory of King Philip the Fair (1257) / Our Lady of Chartres (1304)
Mary's intercession brings victory to France, as the faithful implore her help through the famous shrine at Chartres Cathedral.
August 18 - Coronation of Our Lady
A MAGNIFICENT CELEBRATION OF MARY'S QUEENSHIP - This feast honors the sublime moment when the Blessed Virgin Mary was crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. Following her glorious Assumption, Mary receives the crown of glory as the Queen Mother of the King of Kings. She who bore the Crown of Thorns' Victor now wears the diadem of eternal glory, interceding for all her children as the powerful Queen of the Universe. Her coronation fulfills the ancient promise that she would be blessed among all women and that all generations would call her blessed.
August 19 - Our Lady of the Don, Russia (1380)
Mary protects Holy Russia, as her miraculous icon brings victory and hope to the Orthodox faithful in their struggles.
August 20 - Our Lady of St. Bernard's "Ave," Brabant, Netherlands
The great Cistercian doctor's devotion to Mary flourishes in the Netherlands, where his Marian prayers continue to bear fruit.
August 21 - Our Lady of Knock, Ireland (1879)
The silent apparition of Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John at this Irish shrine brings comfort and healing to countless pilgrims.
August 22 - Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
THE MOST TENDER DEVOTION TO OUR MOTHER'S HEART - This beautiful feast celebrates the pure, sinless heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pierced by seven sorrows yet always burning with perfect love for God and humanity. Mary's Immaculate Heart, conceived without sin and never touched by evil, beats with maternal love for all her children. This devotion, especially promoted after the Fatima apparitions, calls us to console her heart through prayer, penance, and reparation. Her heart, united perfectly to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is our refuge and the way that leads us most surely to her Divine Son.
August 23 - Our Lady of Victory of Valois, France (1328)
Mary grants victory to the French at Valois, showing that she fights alongside those who call upon her name in battle.
August 24 - Our Lady, Health of the Sick / Our Lady of Benoite-Vaux, France
The Blessed Mother shows her healing power, bringing comfort and cure to the sick and suffering faithful.
August 25 - Our Lady of Rossano, Calabria, Italy
Southern Italy venerates Mary under this local title, trusting in her maternal care and protection.
August 26 - Our Lady de la Treille, Douay, France (1543)
A historic French shrine where Mary has shown her favor through centuries of faithful devotion and answered prayers.
August 27 - Our Lady of Moustier, France / Seven Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Church celebrates the seven great joys of Mary's life, from the Annunciation to her Assumption and Coronation.
August 28 - Our Lady of Kiev, Russia (1240)
The Mother of God protects the ancient Christian city of Kiev, serving as patroness of the faithful in times of trial.
August 29 - Our Lady of Clermont, Poland (1380)
Polish devotion to Mary flourishes under this title, as the faithful seek her intercession and protection.
August 30 - Our Lady of Carquere, Portugal
The Portuguese honor Mary in this shrine, continuing the Iberian Peninsula's deep love for the Mother of God.
August 31 - Our Lady of the Founders, Constantinople
The ancient Christian city honors Mary as patroness of those who establish and build up the Church of Christ.
