Every September 12, the Catholic Church honors the Feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This tradition was officially established by Pope Innocent XI, but its roots stretch back to the early 1500s in Spain.
There, Catholics began celebrating Mary’s unique graces, intercession, and role as a mediator.
The Many Titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Throughout history, the Blessed Mother has been known by a variety of titles, each reflecting different aspects of her divine role.
These titles include Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Queen of Peace, and many more.
Here’s a look at seven of the most beloved titles of the Virgin Mary.
Our Lady of Fátima
In 1917, during the tumultuous days of World War I, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal.
Lucia Dos Santos and siblings Jacinta and Francisco Marto were visited by Mary six times.
During these appearances, she encouraged them to pray the rosary daily, revealed a vision of hell, and warned of global conflicts and persecution.
In her final visit, she identified herself as “the Lady of the Rosary.”
Our Lady of Lourdes
On a chilly February day in 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 13-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France.
Over 18 encounters, Mary instructed Bernadette to pray the rosary, seek the conversion of sinners, and build a chapel at the site.
Today, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, with its renowned healing waters, attracts millions of pilgrims each year.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a cherished title in Latin America.
In 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, a humble Native American, on a hill in what is now Mexico City.
She asked for a church to be built there and left an image on Juan Diego’s tilma that remains miraculously preserved.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe draws between 18 million and 20 million visitors annually.
Our Lady of the Rosary
The title of Our Lady of the Rosary was bestowed upon the Virgin Mary by Pope Pius V in the 16th century.
This recognition followed a significant naval victory that Pope Pius V attributed to Mary’s intercession.
Prior to the battle, over 200 ships’ crews and Christians across Europe prayed the rosary, which, according to the pope, contributed to the defeat of nearly 300 Turkish ships.
The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary was established in gratitude for this divine intervention.
Our Lady of Sorrows
The devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows is nearly a millennium old and invites the faithful to contemplate Mary’s seven sorrows.
These sorrows start with St. Simeon’s prophecy to Mary and culminate in the suffering and death of Christ.
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
One of Pope Francis’s notable advocacies is the devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots.
This title comes from a painting created around 1700, depicting Mary untying knots from a ribbon.
The image was inspired by the painter’s grandparents, who resolved their marital issues with the help of their priest and the Virgin Mary’s intercession.
The ribbon, taken from their marriage ritual, symbolized the untying of their difficulties.
Queen of Peace
The title Queen of Peace, or Our Lady of Peace, dates back to the 16th century.
Jean de Joyeuse gifted a statue of Mary holding an olive branch and Jesus to his bride, Françoise e Voisins, on their wedding day.
This statue, known as Notre Dame de Paix, became a treasured family heirloom and was eventually crowned by the archbishop of Paris on July 9, 1906, under St. Pius X’s name, earning the title Our Lady, Queen of Peace.
What’s Next?
The Virgin Mary’s many titles reflect her deep and varied role in the Catholic faith.
Each title brings a unique aspect of her influence and devotion to light, offering believers diverse ways to connect with her spiritual presence.