Assumption of Mary, August 15
The Church celebrates Mary being taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven at the end of her earthly life, a dogma defined by Pius XII in 1950. In the U.S. it is usually a holy day of obligation. In many countries it is a public holiday and the name day of every Mary.
On the General Roman Calendar, August 15 is a solemnity: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Name days on August 15
In countries that keep name days, August 15 is the day for people named Mary, Marie, Molly, Marion, Miriam, Maureen, Mia, and Mae. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Mary | August 15 |
| Marie | August 15 |
| Molly | August 15 |
| Marion | August 15 |
| Miriam | August 15 |
| Maureen | August 15 |
| Mia | August 15 |
| Mae | August 15 |
August 15 on the calendar
August 15 is the 227th day of the year (the 228th in a leap year), with 138 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping August 15
August 15 falls in summer. As a solemnity, it ranks among the highest celebrations of the year: the Mass includes the Gloria and the Creed, and some solemnities are holy days of obligation. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Mary, Marie, Molly, and Marion, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around August 15
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| August 12 | St. Jane Frances de Chantal |
| August 13 | Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus |
| August 14 | St. Maximilian Kolbe |
| August 16 | St. Stephen of Hungary |
| August 17 | St. Hyacinth |
| August 18 | St. Helena |
The day before, August 14, is the day of St. Maximilian Kolbe. The day after, August 16, belongs to St. Stephen of Hungary. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.