Ask most Catholics which month belongs to Mary, and they will answer without hesitation: May.
They are right.
But August has a compelling claim of its own.
For while May blossoms with Marian devotion, August shines with Marian glory. This month, the Church celebrates some of the most beautiful mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Together, they reveal who she is, where she is, and how she leads us to her Son.
The Dedication of St. Mary Major
On August 5, the Church celebrates the Dedication of St. Mary Major in Rome, the oldest and most important Marian basilica in the West. It was built after the Council of Ephesus solemnly proclaimed Mary’s most glorious title: Mother of God.
This memorial holds a special place in my heart because I had the privilege of serving there as a deacon. Day after day, I watched pilgrims stream into the basilica from every corner of the world.
Different languages. Different cultures. Different stories.
Yet they all came for the same reason: to honor their Mother.
Some arrived with joy. Others with tears. Some prayed together. Others knelt alone for long stretches before the ancient icon of Salus Populi Romani. Even Pope Francis came before every apostolic journey to entrust his travels to the Mother of God, and upon returning he often brought flowers in thanksgiving. He loved St. Mary Major so deeply that he chose it as his final resting place.
Again and again, I witnessed something beautiful: people turn to Mary because they know she leads them to Jesus.
St. Mary Major is more than an ancient church. It is a living testimony that Christians have always sought the intercession of the Mother of God with trust and confidence.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Then comes the great feast of August 15: the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When a child is in need, he instinctively looks for his mother. The Assumption tells us where to look. Our Mother, body and soul, is in heaven. From there she intercedes for us, watches over us, and leads her children home.
It is easy to become absorbed by comfort, distractions, and the next thing on the calendar. We can lose sight of the fact that we are made for heaven. The Assumption lifts our eyes beyond what is passing, awakens our longing for our true homeland, and reminds us that our Mother is already there, leading the way.
The Queenship of Mary
One week later, on August 22, the Church celebrates the Queenship of Mary.
Mary is Queen because her Son is King. Yet she does not reign from a distant throne. She exercises her queenship with a mother’s heart. The closer we draw to the Queen, the more we discover a Mother.
She listens to the prayers of her children, intercedes before her Son, and accompanies us with unfailing care. Her queenship is not power for its own sake, but the power of maternal love placed entirely at the service of her children.
The nearer we come to the Queen of Heaven, the clearer we see what St. Thérèse of Lisieux understood so well: the Virgin Mary is more Mother than Queen. Her crown does not place her beyond our reach; it draws her closer still. Exalted in glory, she remains near to every soul that calls upon her. Her royal dignity only deepens her maternal tenderness as she gently leads her children to the King whose kingdom has no end.
We Belong to Mary
August belongs to Mary. The Church dedicates this month to her Immaculate Heart.
But there is an even greater truth: we belong to Mary.
Jesus is Son of God and Son of Mary. He chose to belong to Mary. Christians are children of God and children of Mary. To belong to her is more than honoring her during one month of the year. It is to embrace our identity and strive to live a Marian way of life.
Let this month become the beginning, or the renewal, of that way of life. Make, or renew, your Marian consecration. Pray the Rosary each day. Converse intimately with your Mother. Entrust every joy and every burden to her maternal care. Imitate her charity through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
From the Cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother to us. Let us entrust ourselves completely to her, confident that, in the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph.
