Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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The Madonna of the Roses (1903) by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905).

The Feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an

Vatican II but restored by Pope John Paul II in 2002, along with the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
.

Meaning of the name

In Hebrew, the name Mary is "Miryam". In

Aramaic, the language spoken in her own time, the form of the name was "Mariam". Based on the root "merur", the name signifies "bitterness".[2] This is reflected in the words of Naomi, who, after losing a husband and two sons lamented, " “Do not call me Naomi (‘Sweet’). Call me Mara (‘Bitter’), for the Almighty has made my life very bitter."[3]

Meanings ascribed to Mary's name by the early Christian writers and perpetuated by the Greek Fathers include: "Bitter Sea," "Myrrh of the Sea", "The Enlightened One," "The Light Giver," and especially "Star of the Sea." Stella Maris was by far the favored interpretation. Jerome suggested the name meant "Lady", based on the Aramaic "mar" meaning "Lord". In the book, The Wondrous Childhood of the Most Holy Mother of God, St. John Eudes offers meditations on seventeen interpretations of the name "Mary," taken from the writings of "the Holy Fathers and by some celebrated Doctors".[4] The name of Mary is venerated because it belongs to the Mother of God.[5]

Veneration

Mary's name occurs in the first part and in the second part of the Hail Mary.

At Rome, one of the twin churches at the Forum of Trajan is dedicated to the Name of Mary (Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano).[5]

Promoters of veneration of the Holy Name of Mary include: Saint

Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. A number of religious orders such as the Cistercians and the Servites, customarily give each member "Mary" as part of his/her name in religion as a sign of honor and of entrustment to her.[6]

Feast day

The feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3).[7] Its object is to commemorate all the privileges bestowed upon Mary by God and all the graces received through her intercession and mediation.[2]

The entry in the Roman Martyrology about the feast speaks of it in the following terms:

The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day on which the inexpressible love of the Mother of God for her Holy Child is recalled, and the eyes of the faithful are directed to the figure of the Mother of the Redeemer, for them to invoke with devotion.[8]

History

The feast day began in 1513 as a local celebration in

Kingdom of Spain. From there, the feast spread, and soon extended to the Kingdom of Naples.[2]

In 1683, the Polish king

octave of the Nativity of Mary.[10]

The reform of

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,[12] but it did not cease to be a recognized celebration of the Roman Rite, being mentioned in the Roman Martyrology on 12 September. In 2002 Pope John Paul II restored the celebration to the General Roman Calendar.[1]

Legacy

Blessed William Joseph Chaminade chose the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary as the patronal feast of the Society of Mary (Marianists) rather than a day commemorating a particular dogma or devotion in order to focus on the person of Mary.[13] For similar reasons another religious congregation with a similar name, the Society of Mary (Marists), though unrelated in its history, was to adopt the same patronal feast.

A number of parishes and schools are dedicated in honor of the Holy Name of Mary.

The cathedral of

Hagåtña, Guam, is called the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica
.

See also

  • Ave Maris Stella

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-87973-910-X
    page 242
  2. ^ a b c Peters, M. Danielle. "The Most Holy Name of Mary", Marian Library, University of Dayton
  3. ^ Ruth 1:20, NAB
  4. ^ Alessio, Mark. "The Most Holy Name of Mary", Catholic Family News. September 2001
  5. ^ a b c Holweck, Frederick. "Feast of the Holy Name of Mary." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 7 Aug. 2013
  6. ^ "The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary", Archdiocese of Sydney
  7. ISBN 978-0-86716-887-7
  8. ISBN 88-209-7210-7
    )
  9. ^ "Foley O.F.M., Leonard. Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons and Feast, (revised by Pat McCloskey O.F.M.) Franciscan Media". Archived from the original on 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  10. ^ "Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary".
  11. ^ 1920 typical edition of the Roman Missal
  12. ^ "Calendarium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 138
  13. ^ "The Promised Woman", North American Center for Marianist Studies

External links

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