Blessed Virgin Mary

The Latest

Pope Francis invoke the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy at a prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, Oct. 27.

Pope Francis asks Mary’s intercession in World Day of Peace video

Jan 1, 2024

By Jonathan Liedl

Pope Francis implores the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for an end to human conflicts in a new video released... Read more

Pope Francis' Angelus message on Jan. 1, 2023, marked the solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. An estimated 40,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the event. The feast day coincides with the World Day of Peace.

Why are the solemnity of Mary and the World Day of Peace celebrated on the same day?

Jan 1, 2024

By Katie Yoder

Jan. 1 marks more than the start of a new year — it is also the solemnity of Mary, Mother... Read more

The House of Mary community poses for a photo on Dec. 8, 1994, in St. Peter's Square, the first time they brought their blue banner with the words "The Immaculate Conception will Triumph" to the Angelus with Pope John Paul II. The group has continued to bring the banner to every Sunday Angelus for 29 years.

The story behind the Immaculate Conception banner at every Vatican Angelus

Dec 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The banner’s declaration recalls the Marian spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who had a special devotion to the Immaculate Conception. Read more

Polonia Castellanos, founder of the Spanish Association of Christian Lawyers.

Spanish lawyer, mom of 4, challenges country’s rosary ban

Dec 8, 2023

By Martin Barillas

“There are plenty of times when the Virgin Mary has come to Spain’s aid,” Polonia Castellanos said, “and we are... Read more

A firefighter scales a long ladder to the top of a nearly 40-foot-high column to pay tribute at dawn to the Blessed Virgin with a wreath of flowers on Dec. 8, 2023.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis honors Virgin Mary on solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Dec 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis prayed in front of a statue of the Immaculate Conception near Rome’s Spanish Steps, which sits atop a... Read more

'Immaculate Conception' by Peter Paul Rubens, circa 1628.

The miracle that made the Immaculate Virgin patroness of Spain and its infantry

Dec 8, 2023

By CNA Staff

In 1585 a miracle attributed to the Immaculate Conception allowed the Spanish troops to win the Battle of Empel in... Read more

Procession from Saint-Jean Cathedral to Fourvière Basilica in Lyon, France, on Dec. 8, 2022.

The city of Lyon, France, honors Mary with light festival on Dec. 8

Dec 8, 2023

By Emma Silvestri

The tradition of the Festival of Lights goes back to 1852 before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was even... Read more

An aerial view of the León city stadium in Guanajuato state in Mexico, where approximately 22,000 people gathered on Nov. 5, 2023, to participate in the traditional “living rosary,” an expression of faith in search of peace.

22,000 people pray ‘living rosary’ for peace in violence-plagued Mexican state

Nov 9, 2023

By Diego López Colín

Thousands gathered on Nov. 5 in the León city stadium in Guanajuato state in Mexico to participate in the traditional... Read more

John Henry Newman by Sir John Everett Millais.

St. John Henry Newman’s insights on the Blessed Virgin Mary

Oct 9, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Newman, whose conversion to Catholicism rocked the 19th-century English world, devoted a portion of his autobiography defending the Immaculate Conception. Read more

Our Lady of Sorrows at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Granada, Spain.

Our Lady of Sorrows: What are Mary’s seven sorrows?

Sep 15, 2023

By Katie Yoder

Catholics are invited to contemplate the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a special way on Sept. 15,... Read more

Pope Francis offers Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter's Basilica on Dec. 12, 2020.

Pope Francis: Like Our Lady of Guadalupe, mothers can be great evangelizers today

Aug 23, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In his catechesis on evangelization on Aug. 23, the pope spoke about how the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe... Read more

Pope Francis smiles at pilgrims during his Wednesday general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Aug. 9, 2023.

Pope Francis: Mary ‘never keeps us waiting’

Aug 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said he likes to invoke the Virgin Mary under the title of “Our Lady ‘in haste’” because of... Read more

When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica.

‘Mary, Explained’ series addresses Marian devotion in Arlington Diocese and beyond

Jun 11, 2023

By Bridget McCartney Nohara

In preparation for its upcoming golden jubilee, the Virginia diocese has created a seven-part series to explain why the Church... Read more

When Pope Pius IX declared the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on Dec. 8, 1854, he had a golden crown added to the mosaic of Mary, Virgin Immaculate, in the Chapel of the Choir in St. Peter's Basilica.

PHOTOS: Discover 8 beautiful images of the Virgin Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica

May 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

From Michelangelo’s Pieta to a 12th-century painting, St. Peter’s Basilica contains priceless sacred art depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in Gyumri, Armenia, June 25, 2016.

Pope Francis entrusts all mothers to Blessed Virgin Mary on Mother’s Day

May 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“We gratefully and affectionately remember all of our mothers, those who are still with us and those who have gone... Read more

The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was returned to St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Gibbsboro, New Jersey, Sept. 7, 2022.

Our Lady of Fatima statue to tour Newark Archdiocese throughout May

May 1, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

One of only 13 copies in the world, the statue will leave its home at the Shrine of Fatima in... Read more

Bassel Habkouk is reunited with his two children after being trapped for 52 hours after the devastating Feb. 6, 2023, earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Survivor of Turkey earthquake: ‘God protected me and the Virgin Mary did not leave me’

Mar 1, 2023

By Guitta Maroun

Only a few hours after Bassel Habkouk arrived for a visit in Turkey on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck... Read more

Jerrid Farnam, 32, has been charged with several felonies in connection with a violent vandalism at Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, Arkansas, on Jan. 5, 2023. He said he was about to begin breaking open the tabernacle where the consecrated bread is kept, but something stopped him in his tracks: a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Police say church vandal was about to break into tabernacle — until he saw the statue of Mary

Feb 6, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

The suspect started to take a sledgehammer to the tabernacle where the consecrated bread is kept, but something stopped him... Read more

Pope Francis visits the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, to entrust his upcoming trip to Africa to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pope Francis entrusts trip to Congo and South Sudan to Blessed Virgin Mary

Jan 30, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope departs Rome on Tuesday morning for the capital city of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a... Read more

Image of the Virgin Mary destroyed in Sopó (Colombia)

Vandal destroys statue of the Virgin Mary in Colombia

Jan 5, 2023

By Eduardo Berdejo

The statue, which stood in a small brick grotto at the entrance to the town of Sopó in the Cundinamarca... Read more