The Holy Name of Mary

The Litany of Blessed Virgin Mary, as we know it today, was first prayed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto in Italy, where its usage was recorded as early as 1558. At the time, there were also many other litanies in existence throughout the world. In 1587, Pope Sixtus V approved the Litany of Loreto for the faithful use by the Church and suppressed all the other Marian litanies. The Litany of Loreto contains many titles used formally and informally for Mary, and it set before us Mary's exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty. I hardly ever paid any attention to any of these titles in the Litany while praying the Rosary, and often mumbled "Pray for us" without ever thinking who is it that actually praying for us. So it is certainly a good idea to examine each one of these titles to learn and meditate more about its origins, their relationship to the Scriptures, and more importantly, how it is connected to Jesus and points us to the kingdom of God.

#1 - Holy Mary
Choosing the right name was very important for ancient Jews. And with Mary being pre-destined to be the mother of the Word Incarnate, there is no doubt that God would have inspired her parents to name her appropriately. Yet, even after two thousand years, there are so many interpretations and mystery surrounding the meaning of the name Mary. One of the reasons for all the confusions is the fact that the name Mary or any variations of it is hardly ever used by the Hebrews of the Old Testament. The only significant Mary in the Old Testament is Moses' sister, Miryam. Since Moses, Aaron and Miryam were all born in Egypt, many have claimed that Miryam is not a Hebrew name, but rather Egyptian. This could also explain why none of the Old Testament women bore that name. But this theory falls apart in the New Testament where we see many women with the name Mary. It suggests that the name Mary was not an unusual name and was in wide use among the Jews. It is also very unlikely that the parents of Mary, illiterate and poor peasants, would choose a sophisticated and exotic name for their daughter. They must have picked a suitable name that was common at the time. 

The most popular and widely accepted interpretation to the meaning of the name Mary comes from St. Jerome, the 4th century Doctor of the Church. He regarded Miryam as a contracted form of two Hebrew words, m e'or and yam, which is translated as stella maris in Latin, or star of the sea in English. Though many have argued against the literal accuracy of this interpretation, for the faithful devotees, Mary was/is indeed the Star of the Sea. This title emphasizes the Holy Mother's role as a sign of hope - one that gives direction to those who are lost in a dark sea of sin. This title also exemplifies the fact that Mary is never the destination, she merely points those who look up to the right direction. 

The biblical and/or theological foundation of this title (Mary, Star of the Sea) may be based on 1 Kings 18:41-45. This text refers to a little cloud appearing above the sea as a sign of hope, implying that rain will come and free the land from drought. The little cloud (small as a man's hand) seen from Mt. Carmel is believed to be the 'Star of the Sea' and Mary, thus, the sign of hope which announces freedom and renewal.

The radiance of the graces with which Mary is filled with illumines the dark world, enabling its inhabitants to see the filth and the wretchedness that surrounds them and within them. "Then we shall see clearly that what the world pursues with eagerness and affection is mere vanity and illusion; that ambition and pleasure are dreams which, once shattered, are succeeded by sorrow and regret" (The Spiritual Combat, Dom Scupoli). The holy name of Mary is venerated all over the world not because she has commanded the kings, defeated entire armies or conquered famous cities. Nor did she possessed immense knowledge in the field of Science or raised the dead. She knew that everything she has came as a gift from the merciful and loving God. So she humbled herself and submitted herself to the will of God. Mary never searched for glory, but rather found  joy amidst the trials and tribulations of her life as the mother of Whom even "his own people did not accept" (John 1:11).