ROME — When Pope Leo XIV delivered his first public blessing as pontiff, he concluded it with a Hail Mary, invoking the feast of Our Lady of Pompei. On his first official trip as pope, he visited the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in the medieval village of Genazzano. On his return, he stopped at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, where he paused to pray by the tomb of Pope Francis.
These acts were not random; they reflect the deeply rooted Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary, whose veneration extends from popes to everyday believers. In fact, even among the less devout, the phrase “throwing a Hail Mary” has crossed into secular vernacular, underscoring Mary’s cultural and spiritual resonance.
As the Catholic Church celebrates Marian devotions during the month of May, this period offers an opportunity to reflect on the traditions, theological significance, and emotional comfort that the Virgin Mary provides for millions of the faithful.
One Mary, Many Names: A Theology of Titles
In Christian doctrine, Mary is the mother of Jesus, and by extension, the bearer of God in human form — a mystery known as the Incarnation. Her oldest and most foundational title, Theotokos, or “Mother of God,” was affirmed after rigorous theological debates in the early centuries of Christianity.
“The title of Theotokos encapsulates both Mary’s divine role and the nature of Christ,” explained Giuseppe Falanga, professor of liturgy at Pontificia Università della Santa Croce in Rome.
The Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of Rome’s oldest churches still standing, is dedicated to this title. According to legend, its construction was prompted by a miraculous snowfall on one of Rome’s hills in August — an event that led to the feast of Our Lady of the Snows.
Mary is also honored with titles derived from doctrinal milestones, such as the Assumption, commemorated on August 15. On that day, Catholics believe Mary was taken bodily into heaven, a feast marked with Masses and processions — and, in countries like Italy and Greece, a national pause that transcends religious boundaries.
Other titles stem from apparitions, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, who is said to have appeared to the Indigenous man Juan Diego in 1531. Millions more journey to Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France — sites of later apparitions that continue to draw global pilgrims.
Finally, Mary is often invoked through titles tied to specific needs or vocations: Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Protection, and Star of the Sea, a title popular among seafarers.
“It’s almost like there’s a Mary for everything,” said Kayla Harris, professor and director of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Visual Representations, Spiritual Focus
Mary’s iconography is as diverse as her titles. From Black Madonnas, such as Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, to rare portrayals of her as pregnant or elderly, the visual imagery varies across continents and centuries.
A famous 15th-century image housed in Genazzano depicts a tender close-up of Mary and the Christ child, with Jesus holding his mother’s neck — a representation that not only humanizes Mary but draws theological attention to Christ.
According to Catholic teaching, Mary is not worshipped but venerated, an important distinction explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Worship is reserved for God alone, while Mary is honored as an intercessor and spiritual mother.
“Mary always points the faithful toward Jesus,” said Falanga. “Even her gaze in most depictions directs us to focus on Christ.”
May, Motherhood, and Marian Prayer
Mary’s universal appeal lies in her maternal role, said Harris, especially as someone who understands human suffering and advocates for the faithful.
Since the 19th century, the month of May has been dedicated to Marian devotions, rooted partly in earlier Greco-Roman traditions that honored fertility goddesses in spring. May also aligns with Mother’s Day in countries such as Italy and the United States, further reinforcing Mary’s symbolism.
Pope Leo XIV’s first Sunday noon blessing coincided with Mother’s Day, a moment traditionally reserved for the Regina Caeli or Hail Mary prayer, emphasizing her spiritual motherhood.
At the Genazzano sanctuary, two mothers who attended morning Mass said they continually pray for their adult children’s faith.
“The Madonna has been holding my hand since I was a child,” said Anastasia Galizia, a lifelong resident of the village. “I ask her how to love her son and I pray for conversion, for me, for my family, and for the whole world.”
In Rome’s Basilica of St. Augustine, two Marian sites draw particular devotion from mothers: a sculpture known as the “Labor Madonna”, where expectant women pray, and a chapel with the relics of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, who is remembered for praying for her son’s spiritual return.
“We welcome many mothers who pray to St. Monica for their children who’ve drifted from the faith,” said Rev. Pasquale Cormio, rector of the basilica. “They ask for the grace that their children’s hearts be touched again.”
The Heart of Catholic Prayer
Whether through a whispered Hail Mary or a grand procession, the Virgin Mary continues to occupy a unique and revered place in Catholic spirituality. From papal visits to village chapels, her image and intercession offer comfort, guidance, and hope to those seeking divine help.
In Mary, Catholics find not just the mother of Jesus, but a spiritual companion — one who knows joy, suffering, and love, and who points always to something greater: faith in God.
