Marian Titular Feast FAQs of 2025

Frequently asked Questions, asked on the Feast day of the Assumption of Mary (August 15, 2025)

This article is written to specifically address the Titular Feast day of the Assumption, which takes place on August 15. There are may Feast Days attributed to the Virgin Mary and there are even more Titular Indulgences when we include other saints, and generally these same thoughts and rules apply. But these particular [adapted] questions were asked on this particular Holy Day.

1. Is this plenary indulgence applicable to any parish?

2. Do I have to go to a church with the word “Assumption" in it?

3. Why can’t I do this indulgence at any church?

4. What if there are no churches by me that have 'Assumption' in its title.

5. I went to a church named “Mary help of Christians.” Does this count?

6. What if I did this indulgence at a church that is not named after the assumption?

1. Is this Plenary Indulgence applicable to any parish?

No. The only parishes that offer a plenary indulgence for the feast of The Assumption are churches who’s “titular” is the mystery of the Assumption of Mary.

What is a titular? “Titular” is a broader term that covers both ‘patron saint’ and ‘patron mysteries.’ Usually a church building is named after it’s titular. So a church with a patron saint would be named something like this: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or St. Michael the Archangel’s Catholic Church. A church with a patron mystery would be named something like this: Trinity Catholic Church or Most Holy Cross Catholic Church. These church’s titulars, in order, would be St. Joseph, St. Michael, The Trinity, and The Most Holy Cross.

2. Do I have to go to a church with the word “Assumption" in it?

Yes and No, in order to get this plenary indulgence for this feast, going to a church with the word “Assumption" in it is going to be the best way to know that the Mystery of the Assumption is that church’s titular.

Sometimes a church may not be named after it’s titular, or parts of it’s name may be dropped (ex: The Assumption of Mary Catholic Church may be refereed to as simply ‘St. Mary’s Catholic Church’). If this is the case, you can go into that parish’s records to see who they listed as their Titular and Feast, which should have been named at the point of its establishment. However, looking at records is more time consuming so I would personally suggest that you rely heavily on a parish’s name.

3. Why can’t I do this indulgence at any church?

The reason is because this is specific type of indulgence, which comes with specific rules on how to attain the indulgence. The Manuel of Indulgences has this to say: A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit, and there devoutly recite an Our Father and the Creed, / [at] a minor basilica, cathedral church, a parish church, an international, national, or diocesan shrine established by competent authority / on the solemnity of its Titular. So, because not every church’s titular is the Assumption, not just any church fits the criteria of the indulgence.

BUT, some information that you may find interesting is that this indulgence is not limited to the Mystery and Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. What I mean is, for example, the feast (solemnity) of St. Stephen of Hungary is on August 16^th, the day after the Feast of the Assumption. St. Stephen of Hungary is the titular of some parishes, so this indulgence would be offered again but only at church's whose patron saint/namesake is St. Stephen of Hungary.

And remember when I mentioned above: St. Joseph, St. Michael, The Trinity, and The Most Holy Cross as titulars… on each of their respective feast days (solemnities) this indulgence is offered again and again. Not at every church, but at their own respectively named churches.

4. What if there are no churches by me that have 'Assumption' in its title, I can’t travel, or I am home bound?

If you can’t go to an ‘Assumption’ parish on the feast of the Assumption, you probably can’t gain this plenary indulgence, unless you are given special permission (for a good reason) or are homebound. Those who are legitimately impeded or who may find it impossible (or at least very difficult) to gain certain indulgences may speak to their priests [ecclesial authorities] and sometimes exceptions or accommodations can be made.

But, even if you are not approved for these special accommodations, it is okay if you can’t gain this particular titular indulgence. Something you may not know is that there are other indulgences you can do, on any day, which also offer plenary indulgences. Reading Sacred Scripture for a half an hour (G30), praying a Rosary in a group or church (G17), Doing the Stations of the Cross at church (G13) and Adoring the Eucharist for a half an hour (G7) are four ways that you may gain a plenary indulgence. These ways of gaining a plenary indulgence are available daily, just so long as you complete the conditions that go with plenary indulgences.

5. I went to a church named “Mary, Help of Christians.” Does this count?

No. That Marian feast day is celebrated on May 24^th. Many Marian titles have their own feast day, like

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of the Rosary, and Mary Mother of God. If a parish has a title along with Our Lady’s name, and that title has a feast day of its own, then that Church follows the rules of a titular indulgence on those days instead.

Some churches have a Marian name that does not have a feast day. For example, Our Lady of the Lake does not have a feast day. When this is the case, usually a different, associated feast day is chosen. The Assumption, Queenship of Mary, and the Most Holy Name of Mary are common alternative feast days. But, again, unless this alternative feast is common knowledge or you have looked back into a church’s records, you probably don’t know which feast day is that church’s designated titular celebration.

6. What if I did this indulgence at a church that is not named after the Assumption?

In this case, you would still (presumably) gain a partial indulgence. Under indulgence Norm 20: “If the full disposition [of a plenary indulgence] is lacking, or if the work and the three prescribed conditions are not fulfilled, saving the provisions given in Norm 24 and in Norm 25 regarding those who are “impeded,” the indulgence will only be partial.

This means that if some of the necessary conditions are not met for any plenary indulgence (just so long as you are contrite for your sins) you could still gain a partial indulgence.