Sept. 12, 2017: Holy Name of Mary

Sept. 12, 2017: Holy Name of Mary

“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.”  –St. Bernard

Pondering the Name of Mary

By Danielle M. Peters, S.T.D.

Mary’s Jewish Heritage

In accordance with Jewish custom, a girl’s name is officially given in synagogue when the father—at the next opportunity after his daughter’s birth—has the honor of reciting the blessings over the Torah (aliyah). This could happen theoretically on the actual birthday of the girl or, as it may have happened in the case of St. Joachim, four days after Mary was born. A boy’s name, on the other hand, is made known eight days after birth during the ritual circumcision (brit milah). The feast of the Holy Name of Mary therefore calls to mind Our Lady’s Jewish heritage (cf. Gal 4:4); the same holds true for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus which follows eight days after Christmas.

What’s in the Name?

We venerate the name of Mary because it belongs to her who is the Mother of God, the holiest of creatures, the Queen of heaven and earth, the Mother of Mercy. Perhaps it is the Annunciation narrative which conveys best the all-embracing range of Mary’s name. Luke’s gospel is the first to tell us that “the virgin’s name was Mary” (Lk 1:26-27). Annunciation to Mary-Salvador DalíFrom the perspective of her people and culture, she is a simple Jewish girl from Galilee. Her parents, family and friends know and call her by name and she is aware of their love and appreciation. She draws no attention in the streets of Nazareth. Like other girls her age, she is engaged. Her life’s course seems to be in harmony with the expectations of her people.

The rendering of the name Mary in Hebrew is Miryam and in Aramaic, the spoken language at Our Lady’s time, it is Maryam—its root, merur, signifies “bitterness.”  Throughout time, saints and scholars alike have produced a mixture of etymology and devotion, proposing an interesting array of meanings for Maryam: “bitter Sea,” “Myrrh of the Sea,” “Light Giver,” “Enlightened One.” Miryam is rendered as “Lady,” “Seal of the Lord,” and “Mother of the Lord.” It is not difficult to appreciate why these and various other interpretations of “Mary” have been emphasized and cherished throughout the ages.

Yet, St. Luke, reveals a second name by which Mary is known and addressed by God. In view of her election, the angel addresses her with “full of grace” (kécharitômenê; Lk 1:28) alluding to the privileges she received before she was born.[1] Saint John Paul II reminds us that “in the language of the Bible ‘grace’ means a special gift, which according to the New Testament has its source precisely in the Trinitarian life of God himself, God who is love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8). …When we read that the messenger addresses Mary as ‘full of grace,’ the Gospel context…enables us to understand that among all the ‘spiritual blessings in Christ’ this is a special ‘blessing.’…In an entirely special and exceptional way Mary is united to Christ, and similarly she is eternally loved in this ‘beloved Son,’ this Son who is of one being with the Father, in whom is concentrated all the ‘glory of grace.’”[2]

Nomen est omen—The Name is a sign

By honoring these two most holy names of Our Lady we may also want to remember that God calls each one of us by two names. They stand for the very personal history, the unique meaning and mission of our life. Both names were given to us at baptism: the name our parents chose for us and the family name “Christian” signaling our membership in Christ; both indicate who we are and to whom we belong. As we ponder Mary’s name may also ponder our own name and ask ourselves:

What does my name mean to me?

Do I know myself called by God?

Do I strive to discover myself in the light of God’s calling for me?

Do I make efforts to listen when God calls me by my name?

And how do I respond?

http://sites.nd.edu/oblation/tag/holy-name-of-mary/