Sacred Calendar
The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.
Calendar standard
Pre-1955 Roman usage
The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.
The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.
Daily observance
Today in the City of God
The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.
Choose a date
Daily observance
Most Holy Name of Mary
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Season: Time after Pentecost
The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.
Today's pilgrimage
Most Holy Name of Mary
Rank: Greater Double
Color: white
Quote for the day
Our Lady
“Behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”
Luke 1:48, Douay-Rheims
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - September 12
The feast of the most holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated by order of the Sovereign Pontiff, Innocent XI., on account of the signal victory gained over the Turks, at Vienna in Austria, through her protection. — At Alexandria, in the time of the emperor Maximinus, the birthday of the holy martyrs Hieronides, Leontius, Serapion, Selesius, Valerian, and Straton, who were drowned in the sea for the confession of the name of Christ. — In Bithynia, St. Autonomus, bishop and martyr, who went to that country from Italy to avoid the persecution of Diocletian. After he had converted many to the faith, he was killed at the altar by the furious Gentiles, whilst celebrating the sacred mysteries, and so became the victim of Christ. — At Merum, in Phrygia, the holy martyrs Macedonius, Theodulus, and Tatian, under Julian the Apostate. After other torments, they joyfully consummated their martyrdom by being laid on burning gridirons by order of the governor Almachius. — At Iconium, in Lycaonia, the holy bishop Curonotus, who received the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded under the governor Perennius. — At Pavia, St. Juventius, bishop, mentioned on the 8th of February. He was sent to that city with St. Cyrus by blessed Hermagoras, disciple of the evangelist St. Mark. They both preached the Gospel of Christ there, and being renowned for great virtues and miracles, illustrated the neighboring cities by divine works. They closed their glorious career in peace, invested with the episcopal dignity. — At Lyons, the decease of St. Sacerdos, bishop. — At Verona, St. Silvinus, bishop. — At Anderlecht, St. Guido, confessor.
Highlighted saint
The Most Holy Name of Mary
The sweet and powerful name of the Mother of God.
The feast honors the Holy Name of Mary, by which the Church invokes the Mother of God with filial confidence.
Her name is not a substitute for Christ, but a Catholic way of magnifying the Lord who has done great things in His handmaid.
Virtue to practice
Filial confidence in Our Lady.
Error to resist
The cold suspicion that treats true Marian honor as a rival to Christ.
For the pilgrim in exile
Say Mary's name as a child of the Church. The Mother does not keep souls for herself; she teaches them to magnify the Lord.
Imitate today
- Invoke Mary's name with reverence.
- Ask her help against temptation.
- Let Marian devotion lead to praise of God.
Sources
- Luke 1:46-55, Douay-Rheims.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, September 12.
Breviary Witness
The name that magnifies the Lord.
Matins - Most Holy Name of Mary
Breviary witness
- The Breviary devotion to the Holy Name of Mary is filial, reverent, and ordered to the glory of God.
- Mary's name is loved because she is the Mother of God, the humble handmaid in whom the Lord has done great things.
For the pilgrim in exile
Invoke Our Lady without embarrassment and without sentimentality. Her name should lead the soul to confidence, purity, and praise of God.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for September 12, Most Holy Name of Mary.
- Luke 1:46-55, Douay-Rheims.
Gospel of the day
All generations shall call me blessed.
Most Holy Name of Mary - Luke 1:46-55
“Behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”
What Our Lord teaches
- Mary's name is honored because God has done great things in His humble handmaid.
- Her blessedness magnifies the Lord and teaches the Church grateful praise.
Virtue to practice
Invoke the Holy Name of Mary with filial reverence.
Error to resist
The coldness that treats Marian honor as a distraction from God rather than a magnifying of Him.
For the pilgrim in exile
Say Mary's name as a child, not as a slogan. She teaches the soul to magnify the Lord.
Sources
- Luke 1:46-55, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel for the Most Holy Name of Mary.
Meditation
The Church Made Public
Pentecost teaches that the Holy Ghost does not create private religious enthusiasm detached from doctrine, worship, and authority. He gathers, sends, teaches, and strengthens the visible Church. The remnant must therefore seek fire without disorder and zeal without novelty.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, do not permit me to admire truth without submitting to it. Give me the courage to obey what Thou hast already made known.
Thought for the pilgrim
Truth becomes fruitful when it is obeyed.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Choose one known duty and obey it without delay or complaint.
Source notes
Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X
Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952
Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts should come from Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, traditional popes before 1958, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, or received liturgical texts.
The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xvii–xxviii.