A Mother's Name

September 12, Holy Name of Mary (Optional Memorial)

A Mother’s Name

Today we celebrate the HOLY NAME of MARY. This celebration began in 1513 and originated as a local feast in Cuenca, Spain and was celebrated in September 15. Later it was extended to the whole Archdiocese of Toledo, Spain. After the Battle of Vienna in 1683, in which the Christians’ victory was gained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Innocent XI made the feast open to the universal church. The reform of the Roman Calendar in 1954 set the date to September 12. The Roman Calendar of 1962 made the commemoration an optional memorial, due to its proximity to a more important feast, the Birth of Mary in September 8.

Although the latest Roman Calendar does not emphasize the celebration that much, it would still be helpful to celebrate this day, especially this year, when it falls on a Saturday, the day of our Lady, and given the help Our Mother offers us in our way to her Son, our Lord.

“The Hebrew name of Mary, Miryãm, (in Latin Domina) means lady or sovereign;
this Mary is in virtue of her Son's sovereign authority as Lord of the World. We
call Mary our Lady as we call Jesus our Lord, and when we pronounce her name we
affirm her power, implore her aid and place ourselves under her protection.” (Catholic Culture.org)

In the Divine Praises we pray, “Blessed be the great Mother of God, Virgin and Mother…. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.”

As these are prayerful invocations, these are also affirmations of our faith. We honor Mary, not because of Mary, but because of her Son Jesus. Mary is the Mother of Jesus. And this is Our Lady’s surest hope – that we honor and follow her Son Jesus. At the Wedding at Cana, her instruction was, “Do whatever Jesus tells you.” In this same Gospel episode, we see the motherly attentiveness of Mary. She saw that the new couple was in danger of embarrassment since the wine had ran out. Our Mother sees our needs, and she fervently prays for us to her Son.

The celebration of Mary’s name is a celebration of the greatness of God, for having raised our broken humanity to wholeness, through his Son. This is also a grateful celebration of Jesus our Lord’s graciousness and providence, for having given us a Mother who has constantly helped us and guided us in our journey in this life, “an exile in a valley of tears” – like a Star of the Sea to weary seafarers.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary Most Holy. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.