“Never be afraid of loving Mother Mary too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did” (St. Maximillian Colbe). In order to know more about Mother Mary in the light of the word of God and the teachings of the Church and to ponder deeply on her life, we begin a new series named ‘My Heavenly Mother’. May this series help us to know Mother Mary more deeply and thus to receive God’s blessings through her powerful intercession. Editor

Universal Feasts of Mother Mary

Meditating upon the unique role of Mother Mary in the salvation history, many Marian feasts are celebrated in the Church both locally and universally. In this issue let us reflect upon some of the major Marian feasts celebrated in the universal church.

1. January 1: Divine Motherhood of Mary – Feast to venerate the divine motherhood of Mary for giving birth to Jesus, who is fully divine and fully human.
2. March 25: Feast of the Annunciation –   Commemorates the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during which he informed her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
3. May 31: Feast of the Visitation – Commemorates Mary’s visit to Elizabeth hearing that she is pregnant and on her visit both Elizabeth and John the Baptist, her child in the womb were filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. Immaculate Heart of Mary – The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for all people. This feast is celebrated on the 9^th day after the feast of the Holy Eucharist (Corpus Christi).
5. August 15: Assumption – on this feast we commemorate the Virgin Mary, who having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed into heavenly glory with body and soul.
6. August 22: Queen ship of Mary – When Mother Mary was accented into heaven, she was crowned as the queen of the heaven and the earth.
7. September 8: Birth of Mary – Commemorates the holy birth of Mary from her parents Sts. ‎Joachim & Anne.
8. September 15: Our Lady of Dolours – Commemorates the seven dolours of Mary.
9. October 7: Queen of the Holy Rosary – This feast was started by Pope Pius V as a thanksgiving for defeating the Ottoman army by power of the Holy Rosary.
10. November 21: Presentation of Mary – Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, received a heavenly message that they would have a child. In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, they brought her, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.
11. December 8: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Celebrates the solemn belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is universally celebrated on December 8, nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on September 8.

Next to the feasts of Our Lord Jesus Christ, it is the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary that is being celebrated in the Catholic Church. By celebrating the feasts of Mother Mary with devotion, let us receive God’s blessings through her powerful intercession.

Fr. Mathew Kumpuckal CST