The Catholic Church celebrates the Holy Name of Mary on September 12. We owe this feast to a Polish king.
The Roman martyrology of the year 2000 reinstated the feast of the Holy Name of Mary on that date. This feast was dear to Pope John Paul II, the “Polish pope”, because it is linked to the history of Poland and Europe, as evidenced by the frescoes of the "Polish Chapel" of the Church of the Holy House of Loreto representing the victory of the Polish King John Sobieski in Vienna over the Turkish troops.
The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary to commemorate the victory over Muslim invaders
A century after their defeat at Lepanto (1571), the Turks tried to invade Western Europe by land. Mohammed IV gave the banner of the Prophet Mohammed to Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha at the beginning of the year 1683, and made him swear to defend it at the cost of his life if necessary.
The Turks set out through Hungary with approximately 300,000 men, with their sights on Austria. In July 1683 Kara Mustapha reached Vienna and laid siege to the city, which was defended by only 15,000 men.
In August 1683, a wandering preacher for the Capuchin order and great mystic, Marco D'Aviano -- recently beatified by Pope John Paul II -- was appointed grand chaplain of all Christian armed forces. D’Aviano is credited with rallying the Viennese and was able to convince the king of Poland to come and rescue the city with his 40,000 men.
Vienna had been under siege since July 14 and its surrender was only a matter of hours. The balance of power was not in favor of the Christian troops, but Sobieski entrusted Vienna to the intercession of the Virgin and his forces marched behind the banners of the Blessed Virgin.
The Battle of Vienna began at dawn on September 11...
Father Marco celebrated Mass on the Kahlenberg, to the north of the city, served by King Sobieski before his army standing in a semicircle. The monk predicted an unprecedented victory. And instead of concluding with the liturgical words: "Ite missa est," he shouted: "Ioannes vinces!" John will overcome!
The battle began at dawn on September 11. A splendid sun illuminated the two armies upon which depended on the fate of Europe. The bells had been ringing in the city since day break. Women and children were praying in the churches, imploring the aid of the Virgin Mary. By evening, the banner of the Grand Vizier had fallen into the hands of King Sobieski, halting the advance of Turkish soldiers into Europe.
The next day the victorious king entered the liberated city amidst general jubilation, and he attended Mass followed by the solemn Te Deum in the church of the Virgin of Loreto, to whom he attributed the victory.
The memorial feast was extended to the whole Church and set on September 12
Pope Innocent XI also attributed the victory to the intercession of the Virgin. In an Ex Voto he instituted the feast in honor of the Holy Name of Mary.
The feast was extended to the whole Church on November 25, 1683, and set on the Sunday following the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Pope Saint Pius X changed the date to September 12, the actual anniversary of the victory.
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