Catholic Caucus: Mary, The Power of Her Name [The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary]

Holy Wounds Apostolate ^ | unknown | Holy Wounds Apostolate

[Salvation]

The Holy Name of

Mary The Power of Her Name By St. Alphonsus de Liguori

	Richard of St. Laurence states "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary." He continues, "that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next."    After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness.    Hence Richard of St. Laurence encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name," because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils; and "there is no disorder, however malignant, that does not immediately yield to the power of the name of Mary." The Blessed Raymond Jordano says, "that however hardened and diffident a heart may be, the name of this most Blessed Virgin has such efficacy, that if it is only pronounced that heart will be wonderfully softened." Moreover, it is well known, and is daily experienced by the clients of Mary, that her powerful name gives the particular strength necessary to overcome temptations against purity.    In fine, "thy name, 0 Mother of God, is filled with divine graces and blessings," as St. Methodius says. So much so, that St. Bonaventure declares, "that thy name, 0 Mary, cannot be pronounced without bringing some grace to him who does so devoutly.". . grant, 0 Lady, that we may often remember to name thee with love and confidence; for this practice either shows the possession of divine grace, or else is a pledge that we shall soon recover it.    On the other hand, Thomas a Kempis affirms "that the devils fear the Queen of heaven to such a degree, that only on hearing her great name pronounced, they fly from him who does so as from a burning fire." The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget "that there is not on earth a sinner, however devoid he may be of the love of God, from whom the devil is not obliged immediately to fly, if he invokes her holy name with a determination to repent." On another occasion she repeated the same thing to the saint, saying, "that all the devils venerate and fear her name to such a degree, that on hearing it they immediately loosen the claws with which they hold the soul captive." Our Blessed Lady also told St. Bridget, "that in the same way as the rebel angels fly from sinners who invoke the name of Mary, so also do the good angels approach nearer to just souls who pronounce her name with devotion." Promises    Consoling indeed are the promises of help made by Jesus Christ to those who have devotion to the name of Mary; for one day in the hearing of St. Bridget, He promised His most holy Mother that He would grant three special graces to those who invoke that holy name with confidence: first, that He would grant them perfect sorrow for their sins; secondly, that their crimes should be atoned for; and, thirdly, that He would give them strength to attain perfection, and at length the glory of paradise. And then our Divine Savior added: "For thy words, 0 My Mother, are so sweet and agreeable to Me, that I cannot deny what thou askest."    St. Ephrem goes so far as to say, "that the name of Mary is the key of the gates of heaven," in the hands of those who devoutly invoke it. And thus it is not without reason that St. Bonaventure says "that Mary is the salvation of all who call upon her." "0 most sweet name! 0 Mary, what must thou thyself be, since thy name alone is thus amiable and gracious," exclaims Blessed Henry Suso.    Let us, therefore, always take advantage of the beautiful advice given us by St. Bernard, in these words: "In dangers, in perplexities, in doubtful cases, think of Mary, call on Mary; let her not leave thy lips; let her not depart from thy heart." Names of Jesus and Mary    In every danger of forfeiting divine grace, we should think of Mary, and invoke her name, together with that of Jesus; FOR THESE TWO NAMES ALWAYS GO TOGETHER. 0, then, never let us permit these two most sweet names to leave our hearts, or be off our lips; for they will give us strength not only not to yield, but to conquer all our temptations.    "The invocation of the sacred names of Jesus and Mary," says Thomas a Kempis, "is a short prayer which is as sweet to the mind, and as powerful to protect those who use it against the enemies of their salvation, as it is easy to remember." Hour of Death    Thus we see that the most holy name of Mary is sweet indeed to her clients during life, on account of the very great graces that she obtains for them. But sweeter still will it be to them in death, on account of the tranquil and holy end that it will insure them.    Let us then, 0 devout reader, beg God to grant us, that at death the name of Mary may be the last word on our lips. This was the prayer of St. Germanus: "May the last movement of my tongue be to pronounce the name of the Mother of God;" 0 sweet, 0 safe is that death which is accompanied and protected by so saying a name; for God only grants the grace of invoking it to those whom He is about to save.    Father Sertorius Caputo, of the Society of Jesus, exhorted all who assist the dying frequently to pronounce the name of Mary; for this name of life and hope, when repeated at the hour of death, suffices to put the devils to flight, and to comfort such persons in their sufferings.    "Blessed is the man who loves thy name, 0 Mary" exclaims St. Bonaventure. "Yes, truly blessed is he who loves thy sweet name, 0 Mother of God! for," he continues, "thy name is so glorious and admirable, that no one who remembers it has any fears at the hour of death." Such is its power, that none of those who invoke it at the hour of death fear the assaults of their enemies.    St. Camillus de Lellis urged the members of his community to remind the dying often to utter the holy names of Jesus and Mary. Such was his custom when assisting people in their last hour.    Oh, that we may end our lives as did the Capuchin Father, Fulgentius of Ascoli, who expired singing, "0 Mary, 0 Mary, the most beautiful of creatures! let us depart together."     Let us conclude with the tender prayer of St. Bonaventure:    "I ask thee, 0 Mary, for the glory of thy name, to come and meet my soul when it is departing from this world, and to take it in thine arms." Copies of “MARY THE POWER OF HER NAME” available in leaflet form from: Holy Wounds Apostolate, Inc.

[Pyro7480]

Like me, Mary is temporal, temporary, bearing God's image, but mortal

Very true. She was a creature. Catholics make no claim that she is divine. There is only one God, and there are three persons in one God.

[Salvation]

**Like me, Mary is temporal, temporary, bearing God's image, but mortal. Destined for resurrection on the last day.**

You are aware, aren't you, of the Catholic Church's teachings that Mary was assumed into heaven bodily? Hence we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven.

[NormB]

Are you actually comparing the Mother of God to gift wrapping? May God have mercy on you.

Oh, so it is a sin now to compare Mary to gift wrapping? Such extreme devotion! You invent sin like an anti-Christ!

[Desdemona]

Oh, so it is a sin now to compare Mary to gift wrapping?

It certainly isn't charitable to compare ANYONE to gift wrapping no matter who they are.

[biblewonk]

Catholic Church's teachings that Mary was assumed into heaven bodily?

Where does the bible say this?

[armydoc]

From the article:

Hence Richard of St. Laurence encourages sinners to have recourse to this great name," because it alone will suffice to cure them of all their evils; and "there is no disorder, however malignant, that does not immediately yield to the power of the name of Mary."

So the name of Mary will "cure evils" when Christ's name won't?

The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget "that there is not on earth a sinner, however devoid he may be of the love of God, from whom the devil is not obliged immediately to fly, if he invokes her holy name with a determination to repent."

OK, help me here. I'm taking "devoid of the love of God" to mean "someone that God does not love". Or, could it mean "someone that does not love God"? I'm thinking the former, as someone with a "determination to repent" obviously loves God. So, we're left with someone who is determined to repent, yet is not loved by God. Does that happen? And can Mary change God's mind about loving someone??

[Salvation]

This answers better than I could. Why not believe that Mary was assumed into heaven? There are references in the Bible.

The Assumption of Mary

[ELS]

It appears that you skipped the first two paragraphs:

Richard of St. Laurence states "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary." He continues, "that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next."

After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness.

[biblewonk]

This answers better than I could. Why not believe that Mary was assumed into heaven? There are references in the Bible.

I've trudged through RC writings before and I prefer a simple straight answer as to where the bible teaches that she, specifically, was assumed into heaven.

[Tax-chick]

Is that how you feel about your own mother, too? Now that you're here, she's trash?

[Pyro7480]

So the name of Mary will "cure evils" when Christ's name won't?

Where does Richard of St. Laurence say that Christ's name won't do something that Mary's name will?

I'm thinking the former, as someone with a "determination to repent" obviously loves God.

I think the statement is an "if, then" statement of sorts. If the person is a sinner, and if that person invokes the name of Mary with the determination to repent, then the devil must flee from that sinner.

[Claud]

In both cases, you have a self-aware spiritual entity putting on a mask in order to hijack devotional energies that properly should be directed to God.

Stop kissing your wife. Stop saying "I love you" to your mom.

Those relationships just hijack love that should be going to Almighty God.

[NormB]

It certainly isn't charitable to compare ANYONE to gift wrapping no matter who they are.

I have seen some very nice gift wrapping. Some with Gold foil even. As far as I am concerned everybody in this thread is gift wrapping, so there.

[TomSmedley]

Is that how you feel about your own mother, too? Now that you're here, she's trash?

My relationship with my mother is ethically different from my relationship with Mary. I owe my mother honor, support, care, respect. In comparison, I owe that other mother zip. Zero. Nothing.

You make an interesting arguement. A friend of mine is married to an incredible woman -- brilliant, beautiful, bilingual, and 20-some years yonger than my wife. If I start cultivating an affection towards my friend's wife that comes anywhere near the affection I have for my own wife, will God be pleased? Think about it ...

Knew a young guy once upon a time who cultivated elderly widows. He assumed that these other guys' mothers would enrich him, if he played them right. At the expense of the legitimate heirs.

Unless Mary has been magically transformed into a prayer-hearing goddess, the mother/son/stepson relationships have already fulfilled their purposes, already played out. Since my mother is still alive, this story is still being written.

[Claud]

I've trudged through RC writings before and I prefer a simple straight answer as to where the bible teaches that she, specifically, was assumed into heaven.

The Church teaches it, she who is the fountainhead and wellspring of the Bible--its author, its compiler, its editor, its publisher, and its official interpreter.

I think you've been around these threads long enough to know that we entirely reject the notion that every single article of the faith *must be explicitly taught* in the Bible. "The pillar and foundation of all truth" for the Christian is not Holy Scripture, it is the Church, as 1st Timothy says.

[Claud]

My relationship with my mother is ethically different from my relationship with Mary. I owe my mother honor, support, care, respect. In comparison, I owe that other mother zip. Zero. Nothing.

Would you call yourself "a beloved disciple" of Christ? Do you stand faithfully at the foot of His cross?

[TomSmedley]

In both cases, you have a self-aware spiritual entity putting on a mask in order to hijack devotional energies that properly should be directed to God.

Stop kissing your wife. Stop saying "I love you" to your mom.

Those relationships just hijack love that should be going to Almighty God.

You are missing the point. If God puts on a mask to receive my legitimate care and affection, it's in the person of my wife, my family, my fellow parishioners, the poor. Under the aegis of the Almighty, I owe an appropriate and condign love to each of these stated parties. I show my love for God by loving my family, my neighbor, my parents. Folks here on earth.

It is Satan, the fallen angel, who needs to show up in supernatural disguise to embezzle worship.

[Tax-chick]

To me, it seems that, at the most basic human level, we respect the parents of those we love. Even if those parents are egregious sinners, we ought to at least respect their bringing into the world the person we love. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. If Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob "live to Him," then so does the mother of Jesus. "Dead" (from an earthly standpoint) is just a materialist obfuscation, if we believe in eternal life.

Your gift-wrap analogy suggests that you do not believe Jesus is a human being. If He is, then He takes His human nature, His human body, His human genetics from His human mother. Where else would His humanity come from?

The belief that Jesus only appeared human, but in reality had only the nature of divinity, is the Monophysite heresy, and is related to the Manichean belief that created matter, including humanity, is so evil that the Divine would not be associated with it.

[Claud]

Under the aegis of the Almighty, I owe an appropriate and condign love to each of these stated parties.

PRE-CISELY. And that is *exactly* what we demand for Our Lady. Not to be adored as an uncreated Divinity, but to be honored with "hyperdulia" as the most blessed among women because it was in her AND (as people seem to forget) through her totally obedient will and permission that Christ came into the world.

Our argument is solely this--that we all owe Mary "under the aegis of the Almighty" a certain amount of appropriate and condign love because she willingly brought the Christ Child into the world. That love is most certainly not expressed by those who impiously regard the Holy God-bearer with little more affection than if she were a disposable Tupperware container.

You may well think our affection for Our Lady as exaggerated. You won't be the first. But to go the other extreme and say that she does not deserve *any* higher praise than, say St. Peter, is nonsense and easily refuted by the smallest glimpse throughout Christian history. Christian history, I might point out, *including* Luther and Calvin.