For many years, about 200 years actually in our own country,
Mary was the most, or nearly the most popular name for baby girls. Around 1970
the name slipped out of the top 10, and starting in about 2009, Mary is no
longer even in the top 100. Certainly, this is an indicator of a loss of
reverence for the mother of Jesus; no doubt it corresponds to a decline in the
practice of the Catholic faith. To our modern culture, there is little
reverence for the name of Jesus, the name of Mary, the name of God is
blasphemed on nearly every television show.
In Scripture, names reflect the type of person, aspects of
their character. The name Jacob means trickster. Prophesying about the
consolation of Israel, Isaiah’s name means “May God save”. Sometimes names are
changed to indicate a change of personality or vocation: Abram’s name is
changed to Abraham after God promises that he will be the father of a great
nation. Of course, God, too, has many names in Scripture, and reveals his own
mysterious name to Moses.
Calling upon the name of God in Scripture is always
connected with adoring him and worshiping him rightly. God reveals his name so
that we might love Him.
Though, Mary, her name meaning ‘beautiful’, and truly she is
the most beautiful soul ever created by God, Mary was a truly humble woman,
living a hidden life in the poor Judean countryside. If not for the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, her name may never have been preserved, recorded in
Scripture, or passed down through the generations of Christians. But her is name
is known and loved. We are meant to invoke her by name, to honor her, and love
her.
When we speak her name with love, we imitate our Lord Jesus;
for did Jesus not call upon her with love, with filial devotion? We are
faithful to Jesus, who told us, “take her as your own mother” when we love Mary
as our mother.
When we invoke the name of Mary, we implore the aid of the
woman who nursed, cared for, nurtured the Savior of mankind, who must have
brought him so much consolation as he carried his cross; we place ourselves
under her protection.
We do well to call upon her in times of temptation, for God
has made humble Mary “full of grace”—powerful in His victory over the powers of
evil, sin, and death. We do well to call upon her in times of trial asking her
help to carry our own crosses. And like a child pointing out something
delightful or beautiful to his mother, pronouncing her name in times of joy and
thanksgiving throughout the day.
May her name truly be "undying on our lips". We call upon the Holy name of Mary to help us become Holy,
to help us to be faithful, to be humble instruments of God’s grace, for the
glory of God and salvation of souls.
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