The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary is a Roman Catholic religious institute founded by Mother Mary of the Passion (born Helene de Chappotin, 1839-1904) at Ootacamund, then British India, in 1877. The Missionaries form an international religious congregation of women representing 78 nationalities spread over 77 countries on five continents.

Mother Mary had to return to Rome in 1880 to resolve issues about the new foundation. She had to make yet another voyage there in June 1882. This one was to be a turning point in the identity of the Missionaries. Firstly, they were granted permission to open a house in Rome itself. Secondly, Mother Mary came into contact with Bernardino of Portogruaro, the Minister General of the Franciscan friars. Under his guidance, on 4 October that year (the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi), she was admitted to the Third Order of St. Francis, which was a return to the Franciscan vocation to which she had felt called when she was briefly a candidate in a monastery of the Poor Clares early in her life. The new congregation formally adopted the Rule of the Franciscan Third Order Regular on 15 August 1885. At that time they took the name of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

The work of the Franciscan Missionaries quickly spread to other countries, including China. It was there, in 1900, that 7 Franciscan Missionaries of Mary were murdered during the Boxer Rebellion, in which missionaries throughout that country were killed. These Sisters were canonized in A.D. 2000 as among the Martyrs of China.

By the time of Mother Mary of the Passion's death in 1904, there were 88 communities serving in 24 countries around the globe, serving a variety of services for women and children. There was a mission at Fantome Island, near Palm Island, Queensland as well as a leprosarium. Medical care centers have been opened worldwide, including Assunta Hospital in 1957 located at Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

As of 2011, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary formed the fifth largest religious institute for women in the Catholic Church, with 6,698 members.

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