SFOM-Sep 12

LITANY OF THE
HOLY NAME OF MARY

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. Christ hear us.
Christ 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 Ghost, 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 thy Infant God, Pray for us.
Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom, Pray for us.

Mary, Star of the Sea, Pray for us.
Mary, Ocean of bitterness, Pray for us.
Mary, suffering with thine 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 to 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, Pray for us.
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, Immaculate In Heart, Pray for us.
Mary, Sorrowful in Heart, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 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 Salette, 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 Sorrows, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of Mercy, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of La Trappe, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, Pray for us.
Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus.

V. I will declare thy Name unto my brethren.
R. I will praise thee in the assembly of the faithful.

Let us pray:
O Almighty God, Who beholdest Thy servants earnestly desirous of placing themselves under the shadow of the Name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, 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.
R. Amen.

Triduum of Prayer in honor of the Holy Name of Mary

(For the more formal "Thee, Thou, Thy, Thine" version, please scroll down beyond this version)

DAY ONE

O Mary, Mother of God, your name is most glorious and most powerful. After the most holy and adorable Name of Jesus, there is no name more glorious and more powerful than yours. At the mention of it, the angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through the invocation of your name, sinners obtain grace and pardon.

Your name is the name of the one I love. At the same time, your name brings before me your virtues, your merits and your beauty. Merit and glory attend your name. How I long to repeat it unceasingly, so as to spread its fame, to carry that fame to every shore, to imprint it on every mind. Teach me to utter your name with deep respect, because, after the Name of Jesus, it is most sacred and revered above all others.

When I say, "Hail Mary!", I breathe the name of one who is Virgin and Mother, Mother of God and Mother of men, my Mother.

I need not see you appear, as you did to so many others. I am unworthy of that. But when I say, "Mary," in an instant you are there before me, and I feel in my heart a stirring of joy and comfort.

You see me—smile on me, listen to me, stretch your arms out to me, because you hear my prayer and, like a mother, you are anxious to help your child. After the Name of Jesus, neither Heaven nor earth can utter a name by which my Faith and love receive more abundant grace, reassuring hope, and lasting sweetness.

O Mary, my Mother, as often as your sweet name comes to my lips, you appear to me as a masterpiece of God's power, so perfect and so sublime, that even the hand of Almighty God could not produce anything more perfect in the form of a pure creature. May my soul always find comfort in your holy name! A mother, as she hears her child lisping her name, is thrilled beyond all telling, at all times; and, better than she, you will understand me when I say, "Hail, Mary!"

DAY TWO

O Mary, Mother of God, your name means Lady and Queen. If Jesus is Our Lord, so you are Our Lady. You rule in Heaven and on earth. You are the Queen of your Son's Kingdom. In Heaven, all your subjects are crowned by the King of kings, and they pay homage to you. Here on earth, kings and rulers lay, at your feet, their crowns, their very selves. Hell is forced to bear the weight of your lasting hatred. Satan is more humiliated at seeing himself under the heel of the lowliest of creatures, than at feeling himself crushed by God's almighty arm.

You are my Queen, my Lady. I long for your complete dominion over me—over my body, my soul, my senses, over all that I am and have. I regard that dominion as a shining star, lighting and guiding my life.

O Mary, my Mother, your name means Star of the Sea. You are the morning star—the morning star that announces the arrival of the sun of justice. You are to be our guide toward the haven of salvation. I fix my gaze on that star and wish never to turn from it. I find faith in its light and hope in its help. As a slave of love, I willingly deliver myself to the everlasting service of so wonderful and majestic a Lady.

Your name means Sea of Bitterness. You experienced a sea of bitterness in your life, so that you might be an example to us in our sufferings, and so that we might learn, from your own sorrow, to sympathize with others in theirs. We know that you are ever ready to be our help in trouble, our solace in affliction, and our hope in despair.

DAY THREE

O Mary, Mother of God, your name means "full of light" and "light-giving." How well your name gives expression to your position and your mission in life—your Divine Motherhood! In virtue of this privilege, you reflect, as a spotless mirror, the eternal Light of the Word, which is first poured into you and illuminates you. Being filled with light from Heaven, you have shed brightness upon the whole world, by giving birth to the Eternal Light, Our Lord Jesus Christ, although still remaining in the glory of your virginity.

As Mother of the spiritual and heavenly, you are the mediatrix of the light of grace to mankind. Truly, you are "light-giving", because you have given us Jesus, the Light of the World. Jesus is our Life, and you have given Him to us. He has reconciled us to God. He is, for us, the source of all grace, the cause of our supernatural life. To you, then, we owe the salvation which Jesus brought to us.

To you we owe the life of grace, without which there is no escape from the death of sin. You are our Mother, the Mother of all the living. You are our spiritual Mother in the order of grace. You are our Mother, because you have begotten us to the life of grace. It is to you, after God, that we are indebted for our spiritual life, the life of the children of God.

As breathing is not only a sign but even a cause of life, so your name, which is constantly found on the lips of your servants, both proves that they are spiritually alive, and, at the same time, causes and preserves their life, and gives them every help in their needs. Teach me to utter your most holy name, so that it may fill my heart with hope and burning love for you and that, loving you, I might reach the Light of the World.

O Mary, my Mother, glorious is your name for those who pronounce it at death, for they need not fear all the powers of Hell. As wax melts before fire, so do the devils lose their power against those souls who remember to speak your name and devoutly invoke it. May your name be the last sound that escapes my lips upon this earth and the first I breathe in Heaven.

Mary, the dearest name of all,
The holiest and the best,
The first low word that Jesus lisped
Laid on His Mother's breast.

Mary, the name that Gabriel spoke,
The name that conquers Hell;
Mary, the name that through high Heaven
The angels love so well.

Mary, our comfort and our hope,
—Oh, may that name be given
To be the last we sigh on earth,
The first we breathe in Heaven!

Grant, we beg of You, Almighty God, that Your people, who rejoice in the name and in the protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, may, by her intercession, be delivered from all evil here on earth and be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys in Heaven. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

     THE SAME PRAYER AS ABOVE, BUT USING
   “THEE, THOU, THY, THINE”

Triduum of Prayer in honor of the
           Holy Name of Mary

DAY ONE

O Mary, Mother of God, thy name is most glorious and most powerful. After the most holy and adorable Name of Jesus, there is no name more glorious and more powerful than thine. At the mention of it, the angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through the invocation of thy name, sinners obtain grace and pardon.

Thy name is the name of the one I love. At the same time, thy name brings before me thy virtues, thy merits and thy beauty. Merit and glory attend thy name. How I long to repeat it unceasingly, so as to spread its fame, to carry that fame to every shore, to imprint it on every mind. Teach me to utter thy name with deep respect, because, after the Name of Jesus, it is most sacred and revered above all others.

When I say, "Hail Mary!", I breathe the name of one who is Virgin and Mother, Mother of God and Mother of men, my Mother. I need not see thee appear, as thou didst to so many others. I am unworthy of that. But when I say, "Mary," in an instant thou art there before me, and I feel in my heart a stirring of joy and comfort.

Thou dost see me—smile on me, listen to me, stretch your arms out to me, because you hear my prayer and, like a mother, you are anxious to help thy child. After the Name of Jesus, neither Heaven nor earth can utter a name by which my Faith and love receive more abundant grace, reassuring hope, and lasting sweetness.

O Mary, my Mother, as often as thy sweet name comes to my lips, thou appearest to me as a masterpiece of God's power, so perfect and so sublime, that even the hand of Almighty God could not produce anything more perfect in the form of a pure creature. May my soul always find comfort in thy holy name! A mother, as she hears her child lisping her name, is thrilled beyond all telling, at all times; and, better than she, thou wilt understand me when I say, "Hail, Mary!"

DAY TWO

O Mary, Mother of God, thy name means Lady and Queen. If Jesus is Our Lord, so thou art Our Lady. Thou rulest in Heaven and on earth. Thou art the Queen of thy Son's Kingdom. In Heaven, all thy subjects are crowned by the King of kings, and they pay homage to thee. Here on earth, kings and rulers lay, at thy feet, their crowns, their very selves. Hell is forced to bear the weight of thy lasting hatred. Satan is more humiliated at seeing himself under the heel of the lowliest of creatures, than at feeling himself crushed by God's almighty arm.

Thou art my Queen, my Lady. I long for thy complete dominion over me—over my body, my soul, my senses, over all that I am and have. I regard that dominion as a shining star, lighting and guiding my life.

O Mary, my Mother, thy name means Star of the Sea. Thou art the morning star—the morning star that announces the arrival of the sun of justice. Thou art to be our guide toward the haven of salvation. I fix my gaze on that star and wish never to turn from it. I find faith in its light and hope in its help. As a slave of love, I willingly deliver myself to the everlasting service of so wonderful and majestic a Lady.

Thy name means Sea of Bitterness. Thou hast experienced a sea of bitterness in thy life, so that thou might be an example to us in our sufferings, and so that we might learn, from thy own sorrow, to sympathize with others in theirs. We know that thou art ever ready to be our help in trouble, our solace in affliction, and our hope in despair.

DAY THREE

O Mary, Mother of God, thy name means "full of light" and "light-giving." How well thy name gives expression to thy position and thy mission in life—thy Divine Motherhood! In virtue of this privilege, thou reflectest, as a spotless mirror, the eternal Light of the Word, which is first poured into thee and illuminates thee. Being filled with light from Heaven, thou hast shed brightness upon the whole world, by giving birth to the Eternal Light, Our Lord Jesus Christ, although still remaining in the glory of thy virginity.

As Mother of the spiritual and heavenly, thou art the mediatrix of the light of grace to mankind. Truly, thou art "light-giving", because thou hast given us Jesus, the Light of the World. Jesus is our Life, and thou hast given Him to us. He has reconciled us to God. He is, for us, the source of all grace, the cause of our supernatural life. To thee, then, we owe the salvation which Jesus brought to us.

To thee we owe the life of grace, without which there is no escape from the death of sin. Thou art our Mother, the Mother of all the living. Thou art our spiritual Mother in the order of grace. Thou art our Mother, because thou hast begotten us to the life of grace. It is to thee, after God, that we are indebted for our spiritual life, the life of the children of God.

As breathing is not only a sign, but even a cause of life, so thy name, which is constantly found on the lips of thy servants, both, proves that they are spiritually alive, and, at the same time, causes and preserves their life, and gives them every help in their needs. Teach me to utter thy most holy name, so that it may fill my heart with hope and burning love for thee, and that, loving thee, I might reach the Light of the World.

O Mary, my Mother, glorious is thy name for those who pronounce it at death, for they need not fear all the powers of Hell. As wax melts before fire, so do the devils lose their power against those souls who remember to speak thy name and devoutly invoke it. May thy name be the last sound that escapes my lips upon this earth and the first I breathe in Heaven.

Mary, the dearest name of all,
The holiest and the best,
The first low word that Jesus lisped
Laid on His Mother's breast.

Mary, the name that Gabriel spoke,
The name that conquers Hell;
Mary, the name that through high Heaven
The angels love so well.

Mary, our comfort and our hope,
—Oh, may that name be given
To be the last we sigh on earth,
The first we breathe in Heaven!

Grant, we beg of Thee, Almighty God, that Thy people, who rejoice in the name and in the protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, may, by her intercession, be delivered from all evil here on earth and be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys in Heaven. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

THE HISTORY AND POWER OF THE HOLY NAME OF MARY

Holy Scripture:
“And the virgin' s name was Mary” (Luke 1:27).

The Holy Name of Mary
from the Mystical City of God by the Ven. Mary of Agreda

The petitions of the holy Joachim and Anne reached the throne of the holy Trinity, where they were accepted and the will of God was made known to the holy angels. The three divine Persons, according to our way of expressing such things, spoke to them as follows:

“We have resolved, that the Person of the Word shall assume human flesh and that through Him all the race of mortals shall find a remedy. We have already manifested and promised this to Our servants, the Prophets, in order that they might announce it to the world. The sins of the living, and their malice are so great, that We are much constrained by the rigor of justice. But Our goodness and mercy is greater than all their evil-doing, nor can it extinguish our love toward men. We will look with mercy upon the works of Our hands, which We have created according to Our image and likeness, so as to enable them to become inheritors and participators of Our eternal. And above all have We before Our eyes her, who is to be the Chosen One, who is to be acceptable above all creatures and singled out for Our delight and pleasure; because she is to conceive the person of the Word in her womb and clothe Him with human flesh. Since there must be a beginning of this work, this shall be the acceptable and opportune time for its execution. Joachim and Anne have found grace in Our eyes; We look upon them with pleasure and shall enrich them with choicest gifts and graces. They have been faithful and constant in their trials and, in simplicity and uprightness their souls, have become acceptable and pleasing before Us. Let Gabriel as Our ambassador bring tidings of joy for them and for the whole human race; let him announce to them, that in Our condescension We have looked upon them and chosen them.”

Thus the celestial spirits were instructed in regard to the will and the decree of the Almighty. The holy archangel Gabriel humbled himself before the throne of the most blessed Trinity, adoring and revering the divine Majesty in the manner which befits these most pure and spiritual substances. From the throne an intellectual voice proceeded, saying: “Gabriel, enlighten, enliven and console Joachim and Anne, Our servants, and tell them, that their prayers have come to Our attention and their petitions are heard in clemency. Promise them, that by the favour of Our right hand, Anne shall conceive a Daughter, to whom We give the name of MARY.”

Together with this command of the Most High many mysteries and sacraments pertaining to this message were revealed to saint Gabriel. With it he descended from Heaven and appeared to holy Joachim, while he was in prayer, saying to him:

“O Just and upright man, the Almighty has taken notice of thy desires and has heard thy sighs and prayers, and has made thee fortunate on earth. Thy spouse Anne shall conceive and bear a Daughter, who shall be blessed among women. The nations shall know her as the Blessed. The eternal God sends me to thee, because thy works and alms have been acceptable. Love has softened the heart of the Almighty, and has hastened his mercies, and, in His generosity, He wishes to enrich thy house and thy family with a Daughter, whom Anne shall conceive; the Lord Himself has chosen for her the name of MARY. From her childhood, let her be consecrated to the Temple and to God, as thou hast promised. She shall be elect, exalted, powerful and full of the Holy Ghost; on account of the sterility of Anne her conception shall be miraculous; she shall be a Daughter wonderful in all her doings and in all her life. Praise the Lord, Joachim, for this benefit, and magnify Him, for in no other nation has He wrought the like. Thou shalt go to give thanks in the Temple of Jerusalem and, in testimony of the truth of this joyful message, thou shalt meet, at the Golden Gate, thy sister Anne, who is coming to the Temple for the same purpose.”

All this happened to St. Joachim during his prolonged prayer and in a miraculous sleep, into which he fell for the purpose of receiving this message. He experienced something similar to that which happened to St. Joseph, the spouse of the most holy Mary, when it was made known to him, that her pregnancy was the work of the Holy Ghost. The most fortunate St. Joachim awoke in great joy of soul and with solicitous and ingenuous prudence he concealed within his heart the sacrament of the King. With a lively faith and hope he poured forth his soul in the presence of the Most High, and full of tenderness and gratitude, he thanked and praised Him for his inscrutable judgments. In order to do this more fittingly, he hastened to the Temple as he had been ordered.

Mary in the Hail Mary
Ave Maria! This name was inserted into the Hail Mary, not by the Angel, but by the devotion of the faithful. The Evangelist Luke says significantly, “And the name of the Virgin was Mary." This most holy, sweet, and worthy name was eminently fitting to so holy, sweet, and worthy a virgin.

If many of God's servants received their names from God, the Mother of the Redeemer, surpassing them all in dignity, surely received her name directly from God. He was supremely interested in the name of His Daughter, Mother, and Spouse. There can be no doubt that the name of Mary must possess, as much as the name of the Redeemer, a meaning by virtue of divine inspiration, which corresponds to the dignity and position of her who bears it. The ancients considered the Hebrew "Miryam" as a compound of two words: jam (more) and marah (to be bitter). The best and richest explanation is the one that St. Jerome gives; namely, "enlightening." It characterizes Mary's own position and activity, that is, her Divine Motherhood. In virtue of this privilege, according to the expression of the Church, she reflects as a spotless mirror the Eternal Light of the World, which is first poured into herself and illuminates her; as Mother of the spiritual and heavenly life she is the mediatrix of the light of grace to mankind. In this way the meaning of "Stella Maris" (star of the sea) is also associated with the name "Mary." Mary is the "woman clothed with the sun" of the Apocalypse. Others have interpreted it to mean "Lady." As we call Jesus "Our Lord," we call Mary "Our Lady." Whenever we pray the Hail Mary, we mention both of these holy names.

The most holy names of Jesus and Mary possess a hidden power which puts to flight the demon and fills the soul of him who utters them in loving faith with consolation and hope. It is certain that God has attached a wonderful power of sanctification and life to the devout uttering of these two names by the faithful, because Jesus and Mary are the desired objects of His love. Hence one of the reasons why we should pray, like little Francisco of Fatima, many Rosaries daily—to shield ourselves from the attacks of the devil and to repel those attacks.

The saints derived much consolation from the name of Mary. St. Francis of Assisi exclaimed: "When I pray 'Hail Mary,' the heavens smile, the angels rejoice, the earth is happy and the devils tremble." St. Bernard writes: "O great, O holy, O ineffable Virgin, thy name is so sweet and lovely that it cannot be pronounced without our becoming inflamed with love for thee and for God Who gave this name to thee!"

Eight days after the birth of Mary, according to the custom of the Jews, her parents, Joachim and Anna, gave her the name of Mary. Wherefore, during the Octave of her Nativity, the liturgy keeps a feast in honor of this holy name. Spain with the approval of Rome, in 1513, was the first to celebrate it; in 1683 it was extended to the whole Church by Innocent XI to thank Mary for the victory which John Sobieski, King of Poland, had just gained against the Turks who besieged Vienna (see below).

The Name of Mary is a source of power, consolation and hope. Prove your love for your heavenly Mother by often uttering her holy name with loving confidence. If you do so frequently in life, you will surely do so at the hour of your death, when you will need her most. After receiving the Last Sacraments of the Church, you cannot be better prepared to meet your Divine Judge than with the names of Jesus and Mary upon your lips.

The Background to the Feast
In 1513, a feast of "The Holy Name of Mary" was granted, by the Papal indult of Pope Julius II, to the diocese of Cuenta in Spain. It was given its very own liturgical Office, assigned to September 15th, the octave day of Our Lady's Nativity. When Pope St. Pius V reformed the Breviary, the feast was abolished, but made its comeback under St. Pius V’s successor, Pope Sixtus V, who changed the feast day to September 15th to the 17th. Later, the feast was taken on-board by the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain [1622] and, eventually, by all of Spain and also the Kingdom of Naples [1671].

Throughout this time, permission to celebrate the feast was also given to various religious orders in a prudent manner, as has been the custom throughout Church history regarding feast-days, their dates, offices, liturgical expression, etc. However, this Feast of the Holy Name of Mary would one day happily find itself extended to the Universal Church, and this came about by some very dramatic events, which revolves around one of Poland's great military heroes, John Sobieski [1629-1696].

John Sobieski
While acting as field-marshal under King John Casimir, Sobieski had raised a force of 8,000 men and enough provisions to withstand a siege of invading Cossacks and Tartars, who were forced to retreat at great loss. In 1672, under the reign of King Michael Wisniowiecki, Sobieski engaged and defeated the Turkish army, who lost 20,000 men at Chocim.

When King Michael died, Sobieski, a beloved hero at that point, was crowned King of Poland. But, even before his coronation could take place, he would again engage and drive back the Turkish hordes in separate battles including the raising of the siege at Trembowla. Once crowned, he advanced to the Ruthenian provinces, where, having too few soldiers to attack the Turks, who outnumbered his men—ten to one, he literally wore out the enemy, garrisoning his troops at Zurawno. Because of this heroic effort, he was able to regain, by treaty, a good portion of the Ukraine. With both Turks and Poles weary from battle, peace reigned for a time, until the Turks set their sights on Austria, setting out through Hungary with an army of approximately 300,000 men.

Into Battle With Mary
Fleeing from Austria, Emperor Leopold asked for Sobieski's assistance, a plea which was seconded by the Papal Nuncio. In July 1683, the Turkish Grand Vizier, Kara Mustapha, had reached Vienna and laid siege to the city, which was being defended by only 15,000 men. Sobieski set out for Vienna in August, his forces marching behind the banner of the Blessed Virgin. Passing by the Sanctuary of Mary in Czestochowa, they implored Our Lady's help and blessing. Writing centuries later, to the bishops of Poland, Pope Pius XII recalled the supplications of Sobieski to Mary, at the Sanctuary on Jasna Gora [i.e., "Bright Hill"], the site of the Shrine: "To the same Heavenly Queen, on Clear Mountain, the illustrious John Sobieski, whose eminent valor freed Christianity from the attacks of its old enemies, confided himself." [Letter, Cum iam lustri abeat, 1951].

In September, the Sobieski’s men joined with the German troops, who were led by John George, Elector of Saxony, and Prince Charles of Lorraine. On the eighth day of the month, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Sobieski prepared himself for the forthcoming battle by the reception of Holy Communion. Battle was engaged before the walls of Vienna on September 12th, 1683, with Sobieski seemingly put to flight by the fierce Turkish forces. However, this retreat was only a minor setback. The Hussars renewed their assault and charged the Turks, this time sending the enemy into a retreat. The combat raged on, until Sobieski finally stormed the enemy camp. The Turkish forces were routed, Vienna was saved, and Sobieski sent the captured Moslem "Standard of the Prophet" to Pope Innocent XI, along with the good news. In a letter to the Pontiff, Sobieski summed up his victory with a play upon Julius Caesar’s famous words Veni, vidi, vici, meaning “I came, I saw, I conquered!” which Sobieski changed to: Veni, vidi, Deus vicit — "I came, I saw, God conquered!"

To commemorate this glorious victory, render thanksgiving to God and give honor to Our Lady, for their help in the struggle, Pope Innocent XI extended the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary to the Universal Church. The feast was to be celebrated on the Sunday after the Nativity of Mary, but, in the 20th century, Pope St. Pius X decreed that it be celebrated on September 12th, the day of the victory of the Catholic forces under John Sobieski. The history of this feast reminds us in some ways of that of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was instituted to celebrate and commemorate the victory of the Catholic forces over the Turkish navy at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571: "And thus Christ's faithful warriors, prepared to sacrifice their life and blood, for the welfare of their Faith and their country, proceeded undauntedly to meet their foe, near the Gulf of Corinth; while those who were unable to join them, formed a band of pious supplicants, who called on Mary and, as one, saluted her again and again in the words of the Rosary, imploring her to grant victory to their companions engaged in battle. Our sovereign Lady did grant her aid." (Pope Leo XIII, encyclical Supremi Apostolatus, 1883).

What’s in a Name?
Pondering the Meaning of "Mary" we see that, in Hebrew, the name Mary is Miryam. In Our Lady's time, Aramaic was the spoken language, and the form of the name then in use was Mariam. Derived from the root, merur, the name signifies "bitterness." Miryam was the name of the sister of Moses; and the ancient rabbinical scholars seeing in it a symbol of the slavery of the Israelites at the hands of the Egyptians, held that Miryam was given this name, because she was born during the time of the oppression of her people—a time of “bitterness”. The Old Testament, being the chronicle of the "Time of Expectation" of the Redeemer, is filled with various "types," or foreshadowings of people and events which would be made manifest during the "Time of Redemption," when Christ walked the earth. Yet we can only look at them "through a glass darkly," so to speak, under the guidance of the Catholic Church, which alone possesses the authority to interpret the sacred texts. Miryam, the sister of Moses is a "type" or prefiguration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Miryam was a prophetess, who sang a canticle of thanksgiving, after the safe crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh's army; Mary prophesied in her canticle, the Magnificat, that all generations would honor her by calling her “blessed”, and she sang of how God would overturn the proud and raise-up the humble. Miryam supported her brother, Moses, the liberator of his people; just as Mary, as the Co-Redemptrix, united her sufferings to those of Jesus on Calvary, for Mary labored alongside the Redeemer, the true Liberator of His people. Just as Jesus was the "antitype" [i.e., the fulfillment] of Moses, so was Our Lady the "antitype" of Miryam, the fullest realization of the courageous woman standing beside, and laboring with, the one who comes to free captives.

Saintly Explanations
Throughout the centuries, Saints and scholars have put forth different interpretations for the name "Mary." A mixture of etymology and devotion has combined to produce an interesting array of meanings:

"Mary means enlightener, because she brought forth the Light of the world. In the Syriac tongue, Mary signifies Lady" (St. Isidore of Seville +636).

"Let me say something concerning this name also, which is interpreted to mean Star of the sea, and admirably suits the Virgin Mother." (St. Bernard +1153).

"Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary's maternal intercession." (St. Thomas Aquinas +1274)

"This most holy, sweet and worthy name was 'eminently fitted to so holy, sweet and worthy a virgin. For Mary means a bitter sea, star of the sea, the illuminated or illuminatrix. Mary is interpreted Lady. Mary is a bitter sea to the demons; to men, she is the Star of the sea; to the angels, she is Illuminatrix; and to all creatures, she is Lady." [St. Bonaventure +1274]

"God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas or ‘maria’ [Latin for’ sea’]. He gathered all His grace together and called it Mary or Maria ... This immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the Saints call the 'treasury of the Lord.' From Her fullness all men are made rich" (St. Louis de Montfort +1716)

The hallowed title, "Star of the Sea," dates back to St. Jerome (+420). It has been said that the great Doctor had originally used the phrase Stilla Maris to describe Mary as a "drop of the sea," the sea being God. A copyist's error, then, could have resulted in stilla [drop] being written down as stella [star]. Maybe it was God’s Providence that brought about the copyist’s error, for, of course, the hallowed title, "Star of the Sea," suits Our Lady perfectly:

"'And the Virgin's name was Mary.' Let us say a few things about this name, which can be interpreted to mean Star of the sea, an apt designation for the Virgin Mother. She is most beautifully likened to a star, for a star pours forth its light without losing anything of its nature. She gave us her Son without losing anything of her virginity. The glowing rays of a star take nothing away from its beauty. Neither has the Son taken anything away from His Mother's integrity.

"She is that noble star of Jacob, illuminating the whole world, penetrating from the highest heavens to the deepest depths of Hell. The warmth of her brilliance shines in the minds of men, encouraging virtue, extinguishing vice. She is that glorious star lighting the way across this vast ocean of life, glowing with merits, guiding by example.

"When you find yourself tossed by the raging storms on this great sea of life, far from land, keep your eyes fixed on this Star to avoid disaster. When the winds of temptation or the rocks of tribulation threaten, look up to the Star, call upon Mary!" (St. Bernard, Second Homily on the Missus Est)

The interpretation "Lady" for Mary was also proposed by St. Jerome, based on the Aramaic word, mar, meaning "Lord". This would render the meaning "Lady" in the regal or noble sense, as in "Lord and Lady." Catholic sensibility, however, recognizing in Mary the simple dignity of a Mother, as well as the grandeur of a Queen, did not hesitate to add an affectionate touch to this majestic title. Mary is not just "Lady", she is "Madonna" or “Notre Dame” meaning, she is Our Lady. This aspect of Mary —"Lady" or "Mistress" — is close to Our Lord's Heart. We read in the Scriptures how, for a time, the youthful Christ made Himself "subject" to her and St. Joseph, an act of Divine condescension which caused St. Bernard to wonder:

"Which shall we admire first? The tremendous submission of the Son of God, or the tremendous God-given dignity of the Mother of God? Both are marvels: both amazing. When God obeys a woman, it is humility without precedent. When a woman commands her God, it is sublime beyond measure" (First Homily on the Missus Est)

There is No Mary Without Sorrow
It is not difficult to see why these various interpretations of the name "Mary" should have been proposed and cherished, for they encapsulate many of our Marian doctrines and beliefs. "Bitter sea” (mara = bitter; yam = sea), for instance, in addition to the interpretation given by St. Bonaventure, also calls to mind Our Lady's Seven Sorrows and the sword which "pierced" Her soul on Calvary, recalling the lamentation of the mother-in-law of Ruth, who had lost a husband and two sons: "Call me not Noemi [meaning, beautiful], but call me Mara, [meaning, bitter] for the Almighty hath quite filled me with bitterness: (Ruth 1:20). Maror are "bitter herbs," such as are found on the seder plate at a Passover meal.

Mary the Guiding Light
The "Illuminated" points us to St. John's apocalyptic image of the "Woman clothed with the Sun," a dual image encompassing both the Catholic Church and Mary, the Mother and Image of the Church. In addition, the "Illuminated" has also been rendered as the "Enlightener" and, like St. Bernard, St. Aelred (+1167) combines this meaning with that of the Stella Maris in a powerful passage:

"Therefore a certain Star has risen for us today: Our Lady, Saint Mary. Her name means Star of the sea; no doubt the Star of this sea which is the world. Therefore, we ought to lift up our eyes to this Star that has appeared on earth today in order that she may lead us, in order that she may enlighten us, in order that she may show us these steps so that we shall know them, in order that she may help us so that we may be able to ascend. And therefore it is a beautiful thing that Mary is placed in this stairway of which we are speaking, there where we must begin to climb. As the Evangelist says, Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, so immediately at the very moment of our conversion she appears to us and receives us into her care and enlightens us in her light and accompanies us along this laborious path" (Sermon 24, For the Nativity of Holy Mary).

Mary as a Beautiful Mountain of God
There is another interpretation for the name "Mary" which is quite interesting in that it relates to the Church as well. This supposes the name to be derived from the Hebrew verb mara, meaning "to be fleshy or robust.” In the East, such descriptions were used to indicate beauty and fecundity. Here, then, Our Lady's name would indicate "The Beautiful One," quite fitting for the Immaculate Conception, as the liturgy from that feast says--Tota Pulchra Es, Maria!, meaning, "You are all beautiful, Mary!" The Psalms, prophetically describe the Church in this manner, all alluding to the fruitfulness and spiritual gifts of the Holy Ghost: "The mountain of God is a fat mountain. A curdled mountain, a fat mountain ... A mountain in which God is well pleased to dwell" (Psalm 67:16-17). This immediately brings to mind Mount Carmel, which could be easily seen from Mary’s home in Nazareth, which is known as the fruitful, beautiful garden of the Holy Land.

This image resonates with the prophecy of Isaias concerning the New Dispensation [and the Church], and with the words of Our Lord: "And in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all the nations shall flow unto it” (Isaias 2:2) ... “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a mountain cannot be hid" (Matthew 5:14). Mount Carmel, the mountain Mary saw daily, could not be hid either, and neither should devotion to the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel be hidden.

It is here that the Psalms intersect with St. John's Apocalyptic vision, to present the maternal function of the Church, a virginal maternity, mirroring that of Our Lady, which begets new "brethren" of Christ, new sons and daughters of Mary ("the rest of Her seed," as Catholics are called by St. John in his Apocalypse) and new children of God the Father: "But as many as received Him, He gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in His name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13).

High Above All Others
"The foundations thereof are in the holy mountains: The Lord loveth the gates of Sion above all the tabernacles of Jacob. Glorious things are said of Thee, O city of God . . . Shall not Sion say: This man and that man is born in her? And the Highest Himself hath founded her" (Psalm 86:1-3, 5).

The inspired texts prophesy that the Church will be "exalted"—It shall be exalted above the hills, and all the nations shall flow unto it. So, too, will be the Mother of the Church, she who prophesied that "all generations shall call me blessed." Another proposed meaning for the Blessed Virgin's name reflects this exaltation, the majesty of the Queen of Heaven. It derives from ancient Canaanite literature, where the word mrym (pronounced a little like Maryam) means "height" [sharing the same derivation as marom, the Hebrew word for "height"). This would render Mary's name as "Highness" or "The Exalted One." In the end times, Our Lord tells us to flee to the mountain—which also signifies fleeing to Our Lady, for she has said that only she can help us now!

This fascinating—and very, very Catholic—desire to explore the meaning and depths of the holy name of "Mary" is not merely a pious pursuit, unrelated to any theological concerns. In the various interpretations set forth, a wealth of Marian doctrine is made manifest, not in the clinical language of theology, but in rich, colorful meditations on Our Lady's name, and sacred truths are explored and taught in language easily comprehended and appreciated by all.

In his book, The Wondrous Childhood of the Most Holy Mother of God, St. John Eudes (+1680) offers meditations on seventeen interpretations of the name "Mary," taken from the writings of "the Holy Fathers and by some celebrated Doctors." Among these various interpretations are "God born of my race," (St. Ambrose); "Rain of the sea, falling at convenient time and season," (St. Peter Canisius); "Myrrh of the Sea," (St. Jerome); and "The hope of those who voyage on the stormy sea of this world." (St. Epiphanius) It is quite clear—from Scripture, Tradition and history—that the Church owes so much to Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer and our Mother "in the order of grace." How does the gratitude and affection of her spiritual children manifest itself in the beautiful Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, and what does this cherished name mean to those who love and venerate the Mother of God?

The Power of Our Lady's Name
A balanced view of salvation history, will grant to the Blessed Virgin her proper place in, both the Incarnation of the Second Divine Person and in the Kingdom won by Him on Calvary. Therefore, she is venerated with thanksgiving as, both the one who, in union with the Blessed Trinity, gave Jesus to the world, and as the one who stood by Him during His Passion, uniting Her "Com-Passion" to His Salvific Passion, for the restoration of fallen mankind to the friendship of God.

Power Through Suffering
It was prophesied in Eden that the Mother of Christ would be given a share in the work of the One Mediator and, because of this, a unique share in His glory. As had been prophesied by Simeon in the Temple, the soul of the Co-Redemptrix was pierced beneath the Cross on Calvary. The Mother of the Church, who experienced no physical labor pains during the birth of the Incarnate God at Bethlehem, did undergo unimaginable spiritual 'labor pains' as her Son hung on the Cross, dying the cruelest death imaginable. And God, in His wisdom, has decreed that these sufferings of Mary count for something, and something indescribably precious, in the economy of salvation. They were not the sufferings which redeemed humanity, like those of Jesus. They were not needed in order to augment or complete the superabundant Sacrifice of Jesus, which alone could and did atone for all the sins of the world. Yet, God decreed that Our Lady unite Her Sufferings to those of Jesus, the Woman of Genesis standing beside her Seed during the restoration of the world.

Our Lady did this—suffered as she did—for us, for the spiritual children left to her by Jesus in the person of St. John: "Woman, behold Thy son!" Therefore, we truly are brethren of Jesus, "the rest of Her seed."

"And a great sign appeared in Heaven: A Woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under Her feet, and on Her head a crown of twelve stars: And being with child, She cried travailing in birth, and was in pain to be delivered ... And She brought forth a man Child, Who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and Her son was taken up to God, and to His throne ... And the dragon was angry against the Woman: and went to make war with the rest of Her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." [Apocalypse 1-2, 5,17]

“And the Virgin’s Name was Mary”
The Woman prophesied in Eden ... The Virgin prophesied by Isaias ... The Beautiful One of the Canticles ... When the time had finally come, the world knew her name at last: "And the Virgin's name was Mary." This woman uniquely honored with the title, Co-Redemptrix, was rewarded by her Lord and Redeemer with a queenly crown in His Kingdom . . . and with the role of Mediatrix of All Graces, to dispense those graces which had cost her Son so dearly on the Cross.

And so, we call out to this Mother and Queen in confidence: Ave Maria . . . Salve Regina . . . Ave Maris Stella . . . Ave Regina Caelorum. Because of this, we honor, respect and set aside in our hearts a special place for her Holy Name, "Mary," for it was the beacon of our redemption. During the nine months that Jesus rested in His Mother's womb, no one encountered Christ except through Mary, as did the infant St. John the Baptist in the womb of St. Elizabeth. Men and women still, and always will, go to Jesus through Mary: "Considering things as they are, because God has decided to begin and accomplish His greatest works through the Blessed Virgin ever since He created her, we can safely believe that He will not change His plan in the time to come, for He is God and therefore does not change in His thoughts or His way of acting." (True Devotion to Mary)

Not Just a Statue or a Story
Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Anne ... She is not a goddess, not a mythological warrior-queen, not a curious, elusive character recalled through the mists of antiquity. She is a person, a uniquely blessed and honored individual, but a person still. "When you approach the time for reading about Mary Immaculate," wrote St. Maximilian Kolbe, "always remember that you are entering into contact with a living, loving person." No wonder, then, that Catholics should hold their Blessed Mother's name in such esteem. It reminds us of God's goodness, of His mercy and generosity to struggling mankind: "The name of Mary is a name of salvation for those who are regenerated; it is the insignia of virtue, the honor of chastity, the sacrifice agreeable to God, the virtue of hospitality, the school of sanctity, a name altogether maternal" (St. Peter Chrysologus).

Name of Salvation
Of course, in a proper understanding of doctrine and Scripture, such a declaration will not be misinterpreted as any contradiction to the words of St. Paul concerning Our Lord and His sacred Name: "For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a Name which is above all names: that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

St. Peter Chrysologus did not say that the name of Mary is a "name of salvation." He wrote that "the name of Mary is a name of salvation for those who are regenerated." A person who wishes to follow Christ, yet denies the Mother given to him by Jesus on Calvary, is fooling himself. Through the inspired Gospels, Our Lady has been presented to the world as Advocate and Mediatrix in the Visitation and Wedding at Cana, and as Spiritual Mother on Calvary. Because there are no empty shows or meaningless displays with God, then we are bound to understand Mary's advocacy and spiritual maternity as active, vital components in the life of the soul, for it is the good of souls that moved God to ordain the Incarnation: "For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting (John 3:16) ... For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10).

The Blessed Virgin, then is a Divine bestowal, a gift bequeathed to the Church by Her dying Savior. And her name? Her name will become more than a name. It will be a sign of Our Lord's solicitude, a pledge of His love ... and a prayer unto itself: "We scarce remember now that once this name was spoken softly in a time before the Aves rang. Perhaps across some threshold it was said, so casually, by one who called to her, 'Mary.' Then, she might have turned and come, obedient from where the children played together in the dusk: and no one knew that more was said than just a young girl's name." (Fr. John W. Lynch, A Woman Wrapped in Silence).

The Introit for the Mass of the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, taken from Psalm 44, is an eloquent testimony to the reason we celebrate this beautiful name: "All the rich among the people shall entreat Thy countenance: after Her shall virgins be brought to the King: Her neighbors shall be brought to Thee in gladness and rejoicing . . . My heart hath uttered a good word: I will speak my works to the King."

Have Confidence in Her Name
We are presented to Christ by His Mother. She presents our needs and petitions to Him; she is the instrument of His mercy and of the disposition of the "Treasury of Grace" won by Him for us on Calvary; she consoles our hearts and through her maternal care, imparts to her children whatever peace or happiness we can know in this vale of tears—nothing less than the peace of Christ. We may struggle to maintain this peace in our bruised and weary hearts, but Our Lady is always ready and eager to share it with us again and again. Yes, the name of Mary, this brief, simple name, speaks volumes to us. "There is hidden in that Divine name [of Mary] a spell so potent," wrote Abbé Orsini, "and of such marvelous sweetness, that merely to pronounce it softens the heart, merely to write it beautifies the style." St. Bonaventure declared that the name of Mary "cannot be pronounced without bringing some grace to him who does so devoutly."

The Holy Name of Mary - The Power of Her Name
By St. Alphonsus de Liguori

Richard of St. Laurence states "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary." He continues, "that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name, leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next."

After the most sacred Name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in Heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness.

Hence Richard of St. Laurence encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name, "because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils;" and "there is no disorder, however malignant, that does not immediately yield to the power of the name of Mary." The Blessed Raymond Jordano says, "that however hardened and diffident a heart may be, the name of this most Blessed Virgin has such efficacy, that if it is only pronounced that heart will be wonderfully softened." Moreover, it is well known, and is daily experienced by the clients of Mary, that her powerful name gives the particular strength necessary to overcome temptations against purity.

In fine, "thy name, O Mother of God, is filled with divine graces and blessings," as St. Methodius says. So much so, that St. Bonaventure declares, "that thy name, O Mary, cannot be pronounced without bringing some grace to him who does so devoutly." Grant, O Lady, that we may often remember to name thee with love and confidence; for this practice either shows the possession of divine grace, or else is a pledge that we shall soon recover it.

On the other hand, Thomas a Kempis affirms "that the devils fear the Queen of Heaven to such a degree, that only on hearing her great name pronounced, they fly from him who does so, as from a burning fire." The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget "that there is not on earth a sinner, however devoid he may be of the love of God, from whom the devil is not obliged immediately to fly, if he invokes her holy name with a determination to repent." On another occasion she repeated the same thing to the saint, saying, "that all the devils venerate and fear her name to such a degree, that, on hearing it, they immediately loosen the claws with which they hold the soul captive." Our Blessed Lady also told St. Bridget, "that in the same way as the rebel angels fly from sinners, who invoke the name of Mary, so also do the good angels approach nearer to just souls, who pronounce her name with devotion."

Promises
Consoling indeed are the promises of help, made by Jesus Christ, to those who have devotion to the name of Mary; for one day in the hearing of St. Bridget, He promised His Most Holy Mother that He would grant three special graces to those who invoke that holy name with confidence: first, that He would grant them perfect sorrow for their sins; secondly, that their crimes should be atoned for; and, thirdly, that He would give them strength to attain perfection, and at length the glory of paradise. And then our Divine Savior added: "For thy words, O My Mother, are so sweet and agreeable to Me, that I cannot deny what thou askest."

St. Ephrem goes so far as to say, "that the name of Mary is the key of the gates of Heaven," in the hands of those who devoutly invoke it. And thus it is not without reason that St. Bonaventure says "that Mary is the salvation of all who call upon her." Blessed Henry Suso exclaims: "O most sweet name! O Mary, what must thou thyself be, since thy name alone is thus amiable and gracious!"

Let us, therefore, always take advantage of the beautiful advice given us by St. Bernard, in these words: "In dangers, in perplexities, in doubtful cases, think of Mary, call on Mary; let her not leave thy lips; let her not depart from thy heart."

Names of Jesus and Mary
In every danger of forfeiting divine grace, we should think of Mary, and invoke her name, together with that of Jesus; for these two names always go together. O, then, never let us permit these two most sweet names to leave our hearts, or be off our lips; for they will give us strength, not only not to yield, but to conquer all our temptations.

"The invocation of the sacred Names of Jesus and Mary," says Thomas a Kempis, "is a short prayer, which is as sweet to the mind, and as powerful to protect those who use it against the enemies of their salvation, as it is easy to remember."

Hour of Death
Thus we see that the most holy name of Mary is sweet indeed to her clients during life, on account of the very great graces that she obtains for them. But sweeter still will it be to them in death, on account of the tranquil and holy end that it will insure them.

Let us then, O devout reader, beg God to grant us, that, at death, the name of Mary may be the last word on our lips. This was the prayer of St. Germanus: "May the last movement of my tongue be to pronounce the name of the Mother of God;" O sweet, O safe is that death, which is accompanied and protected by so saying a name; for God only grants the grace of invoking it to those whom He is about to save.

Father Sertorius Caputo, of the Society of Jesus, exhorted all, who assist the dying, frequently to pronounce the name of Mary; for this name of life and hope, when repeated at the hour of death, suffices to put the devils to flight, and to comfort such persons in their sufferings.

The Most Holy Name of Mary said Devoutly is a Prayer
St. Bonaventure exclaims: "Blessed is the man who loves thy name, O Mary! Yes, truly blessed is he who loves thy sweet name, O Mother of God! For, thy name is so glorious and admirable, that no one, who remembers it, has any fears at the hour of death." Such is its power, that none of those, who invoke it at the hour of death, fear the assaults of their enemies. St. Camillus de Lellis urged the members of his community to remind the dying often to utter the holy names of Jesus and Mary. Such was his custom when assisting people in their last hour.

Oh, that we may end our lives as did the Capuchin Father, Fulgentius of Ascoli, who expired singing, "O Mary, O Mary, the most beautiful of creatures! Let us depart together."

Let us conclude with the tender prayer of St. Bonaventure: "I ask thee, O Mary, for the glory of thy name, to come and meet my soul, when it is departing from this world, and to take it in thine arms."

Excerpts from the Breviary for the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary (September 12th)

“It is said: And the Virgin's name was Mary. Let us speak a few words upon this name, which signifieth, being interpreted, Star of the Sea, and suiteth very well the Maiden Mother, who may very fittingly be likened unto a star. A star giveth forth her rays, without any harm to herself, and the Virgin brought forth her Son without any hurt to her virginity. The light of a star taketh nothing away from the Virginity of Mary. She is that noble star, which was to come out of Jacob, whose brightness still sheddeth lustre upon all the earth, whose rays are most brilliant in Heaven, and shine even unto Hell, lighting up earth midway, and warming souls, rather than bodies, fostering good and scaring away evil. She, I say, is a clear and shining star, twinkling with excellencies, and resplendent with example, needfully set to look down upon the surface of this great and wide sea.

“O thou, whosoever thou art, that knowest thyself to be here, not so much walking upon firm ground, as battered to and fro by the gales and storms of this life's ocean, if thou wouldest not be overwhelmed by the tempest, keep thine eyes fixed upon this star's clear shining. If the hurricanes of temptation rise against thee, or thou art running upon the rocks of trouble, look to the star, call on Mary. If the waves of pride, or ambition, or slander, or envy toss thee, look to the star, call on Mary. If the billows of anger, or avarice, or the enticements of the flesh beat against thy soul's bark, look to Mary. If the enormity of thy sins trouble thee, if the foulness of thy conscience confound thee, if the dread of judgment appall thee, if thou begin to slip into the deep of despondency, into the pit of despair, think of Mary.

“In danger, in difficulty, or in doubt, think on Mary, call on Mary. Let her not be away from thy mouth, or from thine heart, and that thou mayest not lack the help of her prayers, turn not aside from the example of her conversation. If thou follow her, thou wilt never go astray. If thou pray to her, thou wilt never have need to despair. If thou keep her in mind, thou wilt never fall. If she lead thee, thou wilt never be weary. If she help thee, thou wilt reach home safe at the last — and so thou wilt prove, in thyself, how fittingly it is said: ‘And the Virgin's name was Mary.’”