By Leon Bent –
The feast of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin is a counterpart, to the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.
The feast originated in Spain and was approved in 1513. In 1683, Pope Innocent XI extended the celebration of the feast day to the Universal Church, to be celebrated on September 12th, four days after the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Mother.
The name Mary is rooted in various ancient languages: in Hebrew Myriam; in Aramaic Maryam; in the Greek Old Testament, Mariam; and in Greek and the Latin New Testament, Maria. Other ancient sources render the meaning of the Name as: “high, lofty, exalted, or august”, “lady, beautiful one, or well-beloved”. The message of the Archangel Gabriel puts it this: “Hail, Mary, full of grace [or Rejoice, O highly favoured daughter]! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women” (Luke 1:28).
The name “Mary,” being the name of the Blessed Mother, deserves special respect and devotion, and, is celebrated in four ways: First, Mary is a name of honour, since the faithful praise Mary as the Mother of our Divine Saviour; she is rightfully called “Mother of God,” for Jesus is true God, Second person of the Holy Trinity, become “Incarnate” through Mary, who had conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Second, Mary is a most Holy Name, because the very mention of her name, reminds us she is full of grace, and has found favour with God, and is blessed among all women. Third, Mary is a maternal name, because she is our Mother, whom our Lord gave to us, when he was on the Cross (cf. John 19:26-27). Finally, Mary is a name of the mother who responds to all of our needs, protects us from evil, and prays “for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”
The Holy Name of Mary has been revered in many ways. St. Louis de Montfort (d. 1716) said, “The whole world is filled with her glory, and this is especially true of Christians, who have chosen her as guardian and protector of kingdoms, provinces, dioceses, and towns. Many cathedrals are consecrated to God in her Name. There is no church without an altar dedicated to her, no country or region without, at least, one of her statues, placed for devotees to venerate her. Many are the confraternities and associations honouring her as Patron; there are Religious Orders under her name and protection; many members of Sodalities and Religious of all Congregations, voice her praises and make compassion known. Many children praise her by lisping a ‘Hail Mary.’ There is scarcely a sinner, however hardened, who does not possess some spark of confidence in her. The devils in hell, while fearing her, show her respect.”
Pope Innocent XI declared September 12th as a date to honour Mary, whose maternal intercession had saved Christendom from the 3,00,000 Moslem Turk army, just as it had over 100 years earlier, at the Battle of Lepanto.
The Punch lines! Thomas a Kempis affirms that, “Satan fears the Queen of heaven to such a degree that, on hearing her great Name pronounced, fly away, as one who runs away from a raging fire”.
Now, this gold nugget! On this day dedicated to the Holy Name of Mary let us repeat that wonderful prayer of Saint Bernard, responding to Pope Benedict XVI’s invitation to “invite everyone to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did. Saint Bernard says, and we say with him: ‘Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination”’ (Benedict XVI, address at Heiligenkreuz Abbey, September 9, 2007).
And, this final flourish! As we celebrate this feast day, let us remember the opening prayer for the Mass: “Lord, our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the Cross, He gave us as our Mother, the one He had chosen to be His own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the Holy Name of Mary, our Mother, with confidence in her protection, receive strength and comfort in all our needs, and may our Blessed Mother continue to protect us, in our trials and tribulations”!
Leon Bent is an ex-Seminarian and studied the Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Philosophy, from St. Pius X College, Mumbai. He holds Masters Degree in English Literature and Aesthetics. He has published three Books and have 20 on the anvil. He has two extensively “Researched” Volumes to his name: Hail Full of Grace and Matrimony: The Thousand Faces of Love. He won The Examiner, Silver Pen Award, 2000 for writing on Social Issues, the clincher being a Researched Article on Gypsies in India, published in an issue of the (worldwide circulation) Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, New Delhi. On April, 28, 2018, Leon received the Cardinal Ivan Dias Award for a research paper in Mariology.