Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!

September 12:  Most Holy Name of Mary

Eight days after the birth of the Blessed Virgin, her holy parents, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, inspired by God, gave her the name of Mary. The name Mary means Lady, and also Star of the Sea. Just to say her holy name is a prayer. It gives everyone who does so favor with God and power over the devil.

Blessed Pope Innocent XI set up the feast of the Holy Name of Mary in 1683 to thank her for the victory which the Catholic army under John Sobieski, King of Poland gained over the Turks (Mohammedans), who were trying to sack Vienna and move in and conquer all the Catholics of the West. Mary’s name occurs in the first part and in the second part of the Hail Mary. In the middle of the Hail Mary, one speaks the Holy Name of Jesus.

Great apostles of the Holy Name of Mary have been Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux says, “O most holy Virgin Mary, your name is so sweet and admirable that one cannot say it without becoming inflamed with love toward God and toward you.” Others of particular note are St. Louis Marie de Montfort, St. Alphonsus Liguori and St. Maximilian Kolbe. The Holy Father, Bl. John Paul II, choose as his motto Totus Tuus which is to say, “I am all yours (Mary).”

- See more at: http://airmaria.com/2011/09/12/thoughts-on-the-holy-name-of-mary/#sthash.5oD6x0jz.dpuf


Let us call on Our Lady to stamp out any evil or temptation that assails us, and give our souls refreshment. We must not hesitate! Inspired by this reality, I wrote some time ago to Our Lady,

You are like aloe on burnt skin;
Fresh spring water upon parched lips;
Honey to sweeten any bitterness..

Indeed. So many saints acclaimed her name as a maternal refuge. St. Therese penned as such in her last poem entitled, Why I love thee of Mary'

 Fain would I sing, O Mother blest! the reasons why I love thee; 
 Why e’en to name thy name, with joy, O Mary! fills my heart; 
And why the glorious thoughts of thee, in greatness far above me, inspire no fear within my soul, so dear and sweet thou art. 
Yet, if I were to see thee now, in majesty stupendous, 
Surpassing all the crowned saints in highest heaven above, 
Scarce could I dream I am thy child, (O truth sublime tremendous!), 
 For I should think myself to be unworthy of thy love. 
 The mother, who desires to be her child’s best earthly treasure, 
Must ever share its grief with it, must understand its pain.