Saturday Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Page 27 in "Marian Devotions in the Domestic Church"

Catherine Fournier and Peter Fournier

It is not possible to commemorate all the "names of Mary" in the year, so only the major feasts of Mary are included in the Roman Calendar . 

But, since the 1500s, permission has also been given to celebrate a Saturday Mass in honor of our Lady on any Saturday that is not the day of another major feast. Pope Paul VI recommended this practice as "an ancient and simple commemoration." After Vatican Council II, several new Masses were written to extend and expand this veneration of our Lady. Some are specifically intended for use at a particular Marian shrine, others for Saturday Masses. Therefore, on a Saturday when no particular Mass is specified, you could ask your parish priest to celebrate a votive Mass in honor of Mary, using readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Lectionary: 

• Genesis 3:9-15, 20 
• Genesis 12:1-7 
• 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11,16 
• 1 Chronicles 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2 Proverbs 8:22-31 
• Sirach 24:1, 3-4, 8-12, 19-21 Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 
• Isaiah 9:1-6 
• Isaiah 61 :9-11 
• Micah 5: I-Sa 
• Zechariah 2: 14-17 

• Acts 1:12-14 
• Revelation 11: 19a; 12: 1-62, 10ab  
• Revelation 21: 1-52 

• 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5,6-7,8 
• Judith 13:18, 19,20 
• Psalms 45:10-11, 13b-14, 15-16 
• Psalms 113: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
• Luke 1:46-47,48-49,50-51,52-53,54-55 

• Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23; or Matthew 1:18-23  
• Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 
• Matthew 12:46-50 
• Luke 1:26-38 
• Luke 1:39-47 
• Luke 2:1-14 
• Luke 2:27-35 
• Luke 2:41-52 
• Luke 11:27-28 
• John 2:1-11 
• John 2:15b-19 
• John 19:25b-27 

Baby's breath The tiny white blossoms symbolize innocence, purity, and the breath of the Holy Spirit.

Blue columbine The columbine (from the Latin word for "dove", columba) has a circle of irregular-shaped petals, thought to resemble doves. Doves symbolize both the Holy Spirit and peace. Combined with Mary's signature color of blue, the blue columbine is seen as a symbol of fidelity. Itoften appears in paintings of Mary.