On this day, September 12, the Church directs our gaze to the Blessed Mother. The Church in her liturgy focuses our attention on the Holy Name of the Blessed Mother.
The name of Jesus is the name in which "in no other name is there salvation" at "his command every knee must bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth."
There is power in the name of Jesus,a power that brings us freedom and guides us in Love.
All names find there strength and beauty in His name.
Why do we celebrate the Holy name of Mary?
Mary finds honor because of her unique role in salvation history. The first person to be greeted in the inauguration of Jesus into history was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
As the gospel of Luke recounts this momentous occasion in the history of humanity:
"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary."
"Upon arriving, the angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favored daughter. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.'"
What a moment in the life of Mary.
Every life does not consist of one defining moment. Every life consist of numerous moments that are defined by the choices we make.
Each moment demands an equally impressive choice.
In honoring the name of Mary, we honor the choice she made in embracing the moment, and allowing love to direct her choice.
The honor due the name of Mary revolves around the answer she gave when called upon. In the words of St. Bernard,
"Answer quickly, O virgin. Reply in haste to the angel. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak you own word, conceive the divine Word...Why do you delay. Believe, give, praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator..."
"Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word."
And all creation rejoices. Every mouth shall give honor to the name of the one who is to bear the Child whose name means God is with us.
Mary, is the name which leads us to the Name of Him by whom every knee shall bend. Her name is a name of honor for it is a holy name because it is a maternal name, because it is the name of the first disciple to give everything for Jesus.
Every time we invoke her name we retell salvation history and we enter into the joy of discipleship and we allow the joy of the kingdom to enter into us.
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