The Holy Name of Mary

 

From Newman Ministry

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, on September 12th in honour of the name of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This feast day has been celebrated since 1684 when Pope Innocent XI officially included it in the General Roman calendar, but it actually dates back to 1513 as local celebrations were held in Spain.

The entry in the Roman Martyrology about the feast speaks of it in the following terms, “The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the which Commemoration the Supreme Pontiff Innocent XI ordered to be made in thanksgiving for the famous victory gained over the Turks at Vienna, in Austria, under the protection of the same Blessed Virgin.”.

Before the Battle of Vienna in 1683, John III Sobieski placed his troops under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the following year, to celebrate the victory, Pope Innocent XI inserted the feast into the General Roman Calendar, assigning to it the Sunday within the octave of the Nativity of Mary, which falls on September 8th.

To honour the name of Mary, this Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus our Savior – we continue the tradition set many centuries ago, by our forefathers. There is wisdom in honouring the mother of Jesus, the virgin named Mary – as she is our spiritual mother as well. She will lead you to her Son.