Ave Maria!

Today is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary.

Mary, Maria, Marie, Mariam…the name of Mary is beautiful. Whenever I feel miserable I find that just saying her name makes me feel better. When struggling with temptations especially against purity, the name of Mary dispels them. I can’t help smiling when I hear her name.

St. Louis de Montfort wrote:

Lastly, you never think of Mary without Mary thinking of God for you. You never praise or honour Mary without Mary joining you in praising and honouring God. Mary is entirely relative to God. Indeed I would say that she was relative only to God, because she exists uniquely in reference to him.

She is an echo of God, speaking and repeating only God. If you say “Mary” she says “God”. When St. Elizabeth praised Mary calling her blessed because she had believed, Mary, the faithful echo of God, responded with her canticle, “My soul glorifies the Lord.” What Mary did on that day, she does every day. When we praise her, when we love and honour her, when we present anything to her, then God is praised, honoured and loved and receives our gift through Mary and in Mary.

True Devotion to Mary (#225)

More info on the Holy Name of Mary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Name_of_Mary

http://www.catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2007-09-12