Marian Week, the annual celebration at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, offers the perfect opportunity for those who want to strengthen their relationship with Mary or get to know her for the first time to do so.

For many of us in the Marian Congregation, our favorite week of the year is known as “Marian Week.” The main purpose of Marian Week is to offer a time and place where the faithful can gather in a spirit of prayer and penance to express their love for the Blessed Mother.

This annual celebration occurs at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Marian Week offers the perfect opportunity for those who want to strengthen their relationship with Mary or get to know her for the first time to do so.

Marian Week 2024 begins on Thursday, Aug. 15, on the Solemnity of the Assumption, and ends Thursday, Aug. 22, with the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. These two feasts are connected in various ways. The Feast of the Queenship of Mary is eight days after the Solemnity of Mary’s Assumption, body and soul, into Heaven. She now reigns as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Thus, the Church in her wisdom has placed these two liturgical celebrations eight days apart so that we can celebrate this reality.

What we celebrate in the Liturgy here on earth is a foreshadowing of what we will celebrate for all eternity in Heaven. Inasmuch as the Mass transcends time and space, we already celebrate with the entire Mystical Body of Christ, including all the saints in Heaven, at each Mass.

Prayers and practices

Besides the two great Marian liturgical celebrations, there are many other traditions that belong to Marian Week. Throughout the history of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, some of these traditions have remained annual and some have not. One tradition that remains is the daily Marian procession after the 2 o’clock Mass during Marian Week. This procession includes the carrying of a statue of Our Lady throughout the property of the National Shrine on Eden Hill, while men and women follow praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns.

Marian Week is also particularly important for the Congregation of Marian Fathers. This week is one of the main weeks in the year when our community comes together to experience fraternity, prayer, and love from one another. Normally, it is during evening prayer on Aug. 14, Vigil of the Assumption, when the new members who are entering our community become novices (the first stage in the formation of a consecrated religious).

Vows and offices

During the Mass on Aug. 15, those men who have prepared all year in the novitiate profess their first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. During this same Mass (on Aug. 15), the other men in formation who are in temporary vows renew their vows for another year.

Oftentimes, some of our members in temporary vows profess perpetual vows during Marian Week. After professing perpetual vows, the Marian confrère is part of the Marian Congregation for life. This Aug. 12, we have two men professing perpetual vows — Br. Stephen Camara, MIC, and Fr. Fidele Malanga, MIC.

Oftentimes during Marian Week, some of our men are officially instituted in the ministries of “lector” and “acolyte.” A “lector” is a person who is officially installed to proclaim the Word of God in liturgical functions. An “acolyte” is a person who is officially installed to help assist priests and deacons with the Eucharist and other liturgical functions. These two ministries of “lector” and “acolyte” are steps toward ordination to the sacred priesthood. Oftentimes, it is during Marian Week when some of our men are ordained to the sacred priesthood or diaconate.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Br. Eliott Yozwiak, MIC