The Holy Name of Mary: meaning and feast (September 12)
The Holy Name of Mary is the object of its own liturgical feast, celebrated on September 12, four days after the Nativity of Mary. Devotion to the name of the Mother of God is ancient in the Church.
The meaning of the name “Mary”
The name “Mary” corresponds to the Hebrew Miriam. Its etymology is debated, and tradition has gathered several meanings: “lady,” “beloved of God,” and above all “Star of the Sea” (Stella Maris) – an interpretation spread by Saint Jerome and made famous by Saint Bernard, who invites us to invoke Mary as the star that guides us in the storm of life.
The feast of the Holy Name of Mary
The feast spread from the seventeenth century onward and was extended to the whole Church by Pope Innocent XI in 1683, in thanksgiving for the deliverance of Vienna (September 12, 1683), attributed to the intercession of Mary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the feast of the Holy Name of Mary?
On September 12.
What does “Mary” mean?
It comes from the Hebrew Miriam; among the traditional meanings, “Star of the Sea” (Stella Maris) stands out.
See also
Would you like to study Mariology seriously?
This article grows out of the works in the Locus Mariologicus library. The Postgraduate Program in Mariology takes you to the same source, with academic guidance: Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, and the Magisterium, from the first dogma to contemporary questions.
Responses