The Holy Name of Mary

Tomorrow is the 15th Sunday after Pentecost. We hear about the widow who is on her way to bury her only child, a son. Jesus takes pity on her and brings him back to life. Our lesson is this: How many of us have been brought back to life by Jesus. We either escape death, or have been given a second chance to repent and confess our sins before we die a second death. Let us all make good on the promise to forsake our past, and return to living as our blessed Lord wishes, so that we may be with Him and His Mother in the eternal life.

Now, on to a second thought for this day. Apparently, in times past, the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary was on the Sunday within the octave of her nativity. That would be this Sunday. This is what I would like to concentrate on. we won't hear about it otherwise. St. Bernard says the following, concerning Our Blessed Mother:

"And the Virgin's name was Mary. Let us speak a little about this name, which signifies star of the sea, and which so well befits the Virgin Mother. (Her name also signifies 'Mistress of the world'.) Rightly is she likened to a star: for as a star emits its ray without being dimmed so the Virgin brought forth her Son without receiving any injury; the ray takes nought from the brightness of the star, nor the Son from His Mother's integrity. This is the noble star risen out of Jacob, whose ray illumines the whole world, whose splendor shines in the heavens, penetrates the abyss, and, traversing the whole earth, gives warmth rather to souls than to bodies, cherishing virtues, withering vices. Mary, I say, is that bright and incomparable star, whom we need to see raised above this vast sea, shining by her merits, and giving us light by her example.

Oh! whosoever thou art that seest thyself, amid the tides of this world, tossed about by storms and tempests rather than walking on the land, turn not thine eyes away from the shining of this star if thou wouldst not be overwhelmed by the hurricane. If squalls of temptations arise, or thou fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary. If thou art tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary. If anger or avarice or the desires of the flesh dash against the ship of thy soul, turn thine eyes towards Mary. If, troubled by the enormity of thy crimes, ashamed of thy guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, thou beginnest to sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary. In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her be ever on thy lips, ever in thy heart;and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life. Following her, thou strayest not; invoking her, thou despairest not; thinking of her, thou wanderest not; upheld by her, thou fallest not; shielded by her, thou fearest not; guided by her, thou growest not weary; favoured by her, thou reachest the goal. And thus dost thou experience in thyself how good is that saying: And the Virgin's name was Mary.'

Holy Mary, Mother of God and our mother, pray for us.