Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is one of many Marian celebrations throughout the liturgical year. At first blush you might wonder what is the difference between this memorial celebration and the Solemnity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary? They are two distinct celebrations that honor different aspects of the Virgin Mary’s life and role within Christian faith.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, observed on December 8th, commemorates the belief that Mary, from the moment of her conception, was preserved free from original sin. It is important to note that the Immaculate Conception does not refer to the conception of Jesus but rather to the conception of Mary herself. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception, declared by Pope Pius IX in 1854, affirms that by God’s grace, Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin, making her the perfect vessel for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. This solemnity highlights Mary’s unique role in God’s plan for salvation and emphasizes her purity and holiness.

The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrated on the Saturday following  the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (yesterday’s celebration). The focus of this memorial is on Mary’s inner life, particularly her love, devotion, and compassion. It highlights the virtues and qualities of Mary’s heart, symbolizing her profound love for God and her intimate union with Jesus. The memorial invites the faithful to reflect on Mary’s example and to emulate her virtues, seeking a deeper connection with God and a more compassionate and loving disposition in their own lives.

While both celebrations are centered around the person of Mary and acknowledge her unique role in salvation history, they emphasize different aspects of her life and virtues. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception focuses on God’s singular gift of her sinlessness and purity, while the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary highlights her love, devotion, and compassion as an example for believers to follow.

Perhaps this leads you to think about the distinction between solemnities, feasts, and memorials on our liturgical calendar. The differences are primarily based the significance assigned to them. Here’s a general explanation of these distinctions:

Solemnities are the most important celebrations in the liturgical calendar. They commemorate the most important mysteries of the Catholic faith, such as the Incarnation (Christmas), the Resurrection (Easter), and the Holy Trinity.  As regards Marian solemnities, looking at the list below, one can see that those solemnities are celebrations of God has done for Mary or for the salvation of the word through Mary’s cooperation with grace.

Feasts hold a slightly lower status compared to solemnities but still carry significant importance. They commemorate important events or aspects of the faith, such as the lives of saints or significant events in salvation history.

Memorials are dedicated to particular saints or specific aspects of the faith. They are established to remember and honor the holy men and women, including the Virgin Mary, who have played a role in the Church’s history.

Marian Solemnities, Feasts and Memorials
January 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
February 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
February 11: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
May 13: Feast of Our Lady of Fatima
May 31: Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
June/July: Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
July 16: Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
July 26: Feast of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim (Parents of Mary)
August 2: Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula
August 5: Feast of Our Lady of the Snows
August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 22: Memorial of the Queenship of Mary
September 8: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 12: Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
September 15: Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
October 7: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary