THE NAME OF MARY
2. The Greatness of This Name.
In order to surmise its greatness it is enough to see that God is the Author of this name. God gave this name to Our Lady as a sign of what She was going to be. When the Lord chose anyone for some extraordinary mission, He would first of all change the name of the person so chosen and the new name would reflect the highest aim to which He was calling that person. So He changed the name of Abraham; He choose the name of Issac; through an angel He instructed Zacharias that the Precursor should be called John; and Christ Himself changed the name from Simon to Peter, when He founded His Church and appointed amongst His apostles the one who was going to be its head and foundation. Now, how compare the dignity and importance of the mission entrusted to Abraham, to Issac, to the Baptist and to Peter with the dignity and mission of Mary? Who then could but God Himself give Her a worthy name?
The name we bear was imposed at the choice of our parents, although, of course, a very different one could have been given to us. But with Our Lady it was not so. She was called Mary nor could She have any other name, because God Himself would find no better. How great and sublime is that most holy and sweet name. That is why the Gospel, which has so little about Our Lady, does not pass over this so important detail, but expressly states: And the name of the Virgin was Mary. ( St Luke 1:27)
So St. Peter Damian [1007-1072] says that the name of Mary was from eternity drawn from the divine Treasury when redemption through the incarnation of the Word was decreed in Heaven. [From 'Marian Meditations' Book]
In order to surmise its greatness it is enough to see that God is the Author of this name. God gave this name to Our Lady as a sign of what She was going to be. When the Lord chose anyone for some extraordinary mission, He would first of all change the name of the person so chosen and the new name would reflect the highest aim to which He was calling that person. So He changed the name of Abraham; He choose the name of Issac; through an angel He instructed Zacharias that the Precursor should be called John; and Christ Himself changed the name from Simon to Peter, when He founded His Church and appointed amongst His apostles the one who was going to be its head and foundation. Now, how compare the dignity and importance of the mission entrusted to Abraham, to Issac, to the Baptist and to Peter with the dignity and mission of Mary? Who then could but God Himself give Her a worthy name?
The name we bear was imposed at the choice of our parents, although, of course, a very different one could have been given to us. But with Our Lady it was not so. She was called Mary nor could She have any other name, because God Himself would find no better. How great and sublime is that most holy and sweet name. That is why the Gospel, which has so little about Our Lady, does not pass over this so important detail, but expressly states: And the name of the Virgin was Mary. ( St Luke 1:27)
So St. Peter Damian [1007-1072] says that the name of Mary was from eternity drawn from the divine Treasury when redemption through the incarnation of the Word was decreed in Heaven. [From 'Marian Meditations' Book]
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