The Holy Name of Mary
The Power of Her Name
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
Richard of Saint 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".
The Abbot Francone, speaking on this subject, says, "there is
no other name after that of the Son, in heaven or on earth,
whence pious minds derive so much grace, hope, and sweetness".
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 Saint 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 finé, "thy name, O Mother of God, is filled with divine
graces and blessings", as Saint Methodius says. So much so,
that Saint Bonaventure declares, "that thy name, O Mary, cannot
be pronounced without bringing some grace to him who does so
devoutly" . . . grant, O 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 á 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 Saint
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
Saint 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 Saint 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, O My
Mother, are so sweet and agreeable to Me, that I cannot deny what thou askest".
Saint 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
Saint Bonaventure says "that Mary is the salvation of all who call
upon her". "O most sweet name! O 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 Saint 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. O, 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 á 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, O 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 Saint Germanus: "May the last movement of my tongue be
to pronounce the name of the Mother of God"; O sweet, O 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, O Mary" exclaims
Saint
Bonaventure. "Yes, truly blessed is he who loves thy sweet name,
O 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, "O Mary, O Mary, the
most beautiful of creatures! let us depart together". Let us conclude with the tender
prayer of Saint Bonaventure: "I
ask thee, O 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".
 |
