The Most Holy Name of Mary

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Mary was a common name among the Hebrews because it recalled the memory of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. For this reason some scholars think this name is related to an old Egyptian word meaning beloved. This understanding certainly fits Mary of Nazareth. She was so beloved by God that she was always in the right relationship with Him. Out of love God chose her to be the mother of Jesus. Love is about the whole person, the entirety of her being, one whose very name is beautiful.

 Every September 12 we honor the Holy Name of Mary in our liturgical calendar. St. Bonaventure prayed, “Your name, Mary, cannot be spoken devoutly without bringing with it some grace." We honor Mary’s name because it is a sacrament of the person. To know Mary’s name is to know her. To speak her name with reverence is to be familiar with her who was most familiar with God. In some Asian countries she is known by names that mean one who hears our cries.

May we always honor the name of Jesus’ mother and our spiritual mother. When in need, call on Mary.

 -- Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

“Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother."

An article worth reading today: Catholic Culture's Most Holy Name of Mary: What's In a Name?

The following Litany of the Holy Name of Mary is also from Catholic Culture.

Prayer:

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

Heavenly Father, of Whom Mary is the Daughter, have mercy on us.
Eternal Word, of Whom Mary is the Mother, have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, of Whom Mary is the spouse, have mercy on us.
Divine Trinity, of Whom Mary is the Handmaid, have mercy on us.

Mary, Mother of the Living God, pray for us
Mary, daughter of the Light Eternal, pray for us
Mary, our light, pray for us
Mary, our sister, pray for us
Mary, flower of Jesse, pray for us
Mary, issue of kings, pray for us
Mary, chief work of God, pray for us
Mary, the beloved of God, pray for us
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, pray for us
Mary, all fair, pray for us
Mary, light in darkness, pray for us
Mary, our sure rest, pray for us
Mary, house of God, pray for us
Mary, sanctuary of the Lord, pray for us
Mary, altar of the Divinity, pray for us
Mary, Virgin Mother, pray for us
Mary, embracing your Infant God, pray for us
Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom, pray for us
Mary, ocean of bitterness, pray for us
Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us
Mary, suffering with your only Son, pray for us
Mary, pierced with a sword of sorrow, pray for us
Mary, torn with a cruel wound, pray for us
Mary, sorrowful even unto death, pray for us
Mary, bereft of all consolation, pray for us
Mary, submissive to the law of God, pray for us
Mary, standing by the Cross of Jesus, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady, pray for us
Mary, Our Queen, pray for us
Mary, Queen of glory, pray for us
Mary glory of the Church Triumphant, pray for us
Mary, Blessed Queen, pray for us
Mary, advocate of the Church Militant, pray for us
Mary, Queen of Mercy, pray for us
Mary, consoler of the Church Suffering, pray for us
Mary, exalted above the angels,
Mary, crowned with twelve stars, pray for us
Mary, fair as the moon, pray for us
Mary, bright as the sun, pray for us
Mary, distinguished above all, pray for us
Mary, seated at the right hand of Jesus, pray for us
Mary, our hope, pray for us
Mary, our sweetness, pray for us
Mary, glory of Jerusalem, pray for us
Mary, joy of Israel, pray for us
Mary, honor of our people, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Dolors, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Victory, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of La Trappe, pray for us
Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence, pray for us

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus.

Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

I will declare your name unto my brethren.
I will praise you in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Us Pray (Oremus) 
O Almighty God, Who beholds Thy servants earnestly desiring to place themselves under the shadow of the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, grant, we beseech You, that by her charitable intercession, we may be delivered from all evil on earth, and may arrive at everlasting joys in Heaven, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.

- from the Divine Praises

The Holy Name of Mary

Our Lady of Fatima, Adoration Chapel, Blue Army, Washington, NJ

"The holy name of Mary has always been so highly honored in the Church, that, according to Surius, St. Gerard  Bishop of Pannonia, ordered the people of his diocese to prostrate themselves on the ground at the mention of her holy name.  Blosious reports that in his time it was the universal custom in the Church that, whenever the holy name of Mary was pronounced, everyone knelt, and all the faithful prayed, sighed and wept with most extraordinary devotion and fervor.  This devotion is not dead, because the feast of the Holy Name of Mary is celebrated in number of churches, especially in the Order of the Redemption of Captives, where the office of her holy name is recited on all Saturdays not assigned to an office of nine lessons.  If the venerable name of Mary be worthy of such great veneration, what honor should we not render to her Admirable Heart?"

St. John Eudes' The Admirable Heart of Mary

Holy Name of Mary

"And the Virgin's name was Mary." - Luke 1:28

"Mary is our hope during life and at death. The name of Mary, the Mother of God is filled with divine graces and blessings.

"The name of Mary cannot be pronounced without bringing some grace to him who does so devoutly." - St. Bonaventure

"The sweet name of Mary...is a precious ointment, which breathes forth the odor of divine grace." - St. Ambrose

"...the name of Mary is the key of the gates of heaven in the hands of those who devoutly invoke it. - St. Ephrem

"...As we rejoice today under the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, may we learn to hope in God as she always did, especially in the great affair of our eternal salvation - The Glories of Mary.

"Hope has been called the forgotten virtue. A large number of Catholics do not place a high esteem on hope...Some Catholics are not completely convinced that we cannot be saved without hoping. During this meditation, it is helpful to impress on our minds that these virtues (theological virtues of faith, hope and charity) are an indissoluble trinity. All three go together. You cannot have one without the other. Hope is a theological virtue and we have an obligation to practice it...

Source: Conference by the Servant of God Terence Cardinal Cooke: Meditations on Mary.