23rd Week of Ordinary Time C – Friday – Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary

Of course, He knew her from all eternity. But when it comes to Mary, we speak of her holy name. First of all, her name: Mary—Miriam in Hebrew, the same name as Moses’s sister, Miriam. What does the name Miriam mean in Hebrew? There are actually four meanings.

The first can mean bitter from the root, which connects with the sufferings of Israel in Egypt. In our Blessed Mother, of course, we can associate the bitter with her pierced heart at the Cross and her seven sorrows.

The second meaning for the name Mary in Hebrew can be beloved or wished-for child. This is very fitting for Our Blessed Mother, because we know that her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, so yearned to be able to bring forth a child. They prayed to God for many years, and finally an angel appeared to Saint Anne and told her that she would bring forth a child who would be spoken of throughout the entire world until the end of time. Thus, the second meaning of the name Miriam—Mary—is beloved or longed-for child.

The third meaning of the name comes from Saint Jerome, who interpreted Miriam as related to ma, “the sea,” or drop of the sea, which in Latin translation became Stilla Maris. A later copyist changed it to Stella Maris, or “Star of the Sea,” one of Mary’s most popular titles.

Finally, the fourth meaning of the name Miriam in Hebrew is Exalted One, Lady. From Egyptian influence, Mari could mean beloved or exalted. Some scholars think it means the Exalted One, which is very fitting for the one who would be exalted above all other creatures in heaven, yet also blessed here on earth to be the Mother of Heaven and Earth.

So that is the name of our Blessed Mother. But then we have the word holy. We celebrate the Holy Name of Mary. What makes something holy? Something is holy when it is set apart for God’s service—when it is consecrated.

So, we have cups, but then we have chalices that are consecrated cups. We have tables, but then we have altars—altars reserved for the service of God, for the sacrifice. We have houses, but then we have the house of God—the churches—consecrated buildings wherein we pray. And of course, we have people. But then we have consecrated people: priests, nuns, and all Christians, all the baptized. Above all, we have the Mother of God, who was set apart for a singular mission in this world that nobody else ever had, or will ever have: to be the Mother of the Son of God, the Mother of Jesus, and also our Mother.

So many of the saints tell us how powerful the name of our Blessed Mother is—the name of Mary.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, for example, says: O Most Holy Virgin Mary, your name is so sweet and glorious. No one who utters it with devotion will experience the torments of hell. Your very name is a gift of joy to those who love you.

Saint Bonaventure said: Men do not fear a powerful, hostile army as much as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary. This gives us an indication of how much we should invoke our Blessed Mother in our battle against evil.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori taught: The invocation of the Sacred Names of Jesus and Mary is a short prayer which is easy to remember, and yet it is most powerful. It has the power to free us from all temptations. Just think of that! Whenever you are tempted, call upon the sacred names of Jesus and Mary.

Saint Louis de Montfort said: The devils fear the Queen of Heaven to such a degree that merely hearing her name pronounced, they fly from the person who utters it as from a burning fire.

My brothers and sisters, our Blessed Mother is so holy, so blessed by God, that anything she prays for—anything we place before her, if it be in keeping with the will of God—He will grant to her.

Let us ask our Blessed Mother to continue to bless us with her maternal love and to be with us this day. Amen.