10.
Queen of Peace - Mary officially received this title during World War I in a proclamation
by Pope Benedict XV. The Pope added "Queen of Peace" into the Litany of Loreto in his
call for peace among the warring nations.
9. Our Lady of Czestochowa, or The Black Madonna - Poland's national shrine to Mary.
Legend has it that St. Luke painted this icon on a table that Jesus built. Popes and pilgrims
alike have recognized the miraculous nature of the image.
8. Mother of Perpetual Help - This painting shows the Madonna and Child attended by the
archangels Michael and Gabriel. The angels hold instruments central to the Passion. The
painting is heart breaking. The Christ Child, having glimpsed the instruments of torture, runs
to His mother's protection. His right foot is bare, indicating He was so frightened He ran out
of his sandal.
7. Our Lady of Guadalupe - This is the image Mary left on the cloak of Juan Diego. Our
Lady called herself coatlaxopeuh, which means "the one who crushes the serpent." The
word is pronounced "quat-la-supe," from which is derived the English version of
"Guadalupe."
6. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - This is Mary of the brown scapular. The scapular comes to us
through the vision of St. Simon Stock. Many miracles have been attributed to the scapular
of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
5. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal - Mary's appearances to Catherine Laboure in 1830
marked the beginning of modern Marian apparitions. Mary gave Sr. Catherine the design for
this medal. The words on the medal prompted clarification on the Immaculate Conception,
which became dogma in 1854.
4. Mother of Mercy - Saint Odo, a 10th century abbot, is believed to be the first to call Mary
by this name. In the 11th century, this title was incorporated into the prayer Salve Regina.
3. Blessed Mother - This seminal title derives from Gabriel's greeting to Mary at the
Annunciation, where she is called "blessed" among all other women.
2. Immaculate Conception - The 1854 dogma issued by Pope Pius IX refers to Mary's
sinless nature at the moment of being conceived by her parents. The Immaculate
Conception was the first time a pope claimed a dogma to be infallible, even though the idea
of papal infallibility would not be officially proclaimed for another 16 years. This is the
definitive title of the Blessed Mother.
1. Theotokos - Mary's first and most important title means "God bearer." The title, defined
by the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., refers to the Virgin Mary as the Mother of the
incarnate Son of God.
OUR LADY OF FATIMA is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary based on the famed Marian
apparitions reported in 1917 by three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. The
three children were Lúcia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto.
QUEEN OF THE HOLY ROSARY is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the Rosary.
