Mary Help of Christians: The title, the feast on May 24th, and St. John Bosco

**Mary Help of Christians** – Our Lady of Assistance to Christians – is one of the most widespread Marian invocations, especially through the efforts of Saint John Bosco and the Salesian family. Her feast day is celebrated on **May 24th**. This guide explains the origin of the title and devotion.

## The Title “Help of Christians”
The invocation “Help of Christians” (Auxilium Christianorum) is part of the **Loreto Litany**. It was added by Saint Pius V as a thanksgiving for the victory at Lepanto (1571), attributed to the intercession of Mary invoked with the **Rosary**.

## The Feast on May 24th
Pope **Pius VII** established the feast day of Mary Help of Christians on **May 24th** as a thanksgiving for her liberation and return to Rome in 1814 after captivity imposed by Napoleon.

## Saint John Bosco and the Salesians
**Dom Bosco** (1815-1888) made Mary Help of Christians the patroness of his work and built her a grand basilica in Turin. Through the Salesians, devotion spread worldwide – particularly in Brazil, where Mary Help of Christians is immensely beloved. Dom Bosco often said that Mary “did everything” in his work.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### When is the feast day of Mary Help of Christians?
**May 24th**.

### What is Dom Bosco’s connection to her?
Saint John Bosco was the primary promoter of the devotion and made Mary Help of Christians the patroness of the Salesians.

### See Also
– **Mary’s Royalty**
– **The Loreto Litany**