Memorial of the Holy Name of Mary

How beautiful it is that we honor our Blessed Mother’s holy name today! Who could ask for a more perfect model of perseverance and love for our Lord? Who could ask for a more perfect example of self-emptying for the good of humankind? True, all of those qualities and more were embodied by our Savior, but he was divine as well as human. Mary, the greatest of all the Saints, was merely human and nothing more, tempted just like the rest of us. But she said, “Yes”, to the greatest call of all time. She emptied herself completely, accepting the call to carry the Son of God, our Savior, in her own womb, allowing for the redemption of humankind. Through this “Yes”, Mary passed up the opportunity to ever experience the physical act of love and have multiple children. One may think this to be a tough decision, but in actuality, what more could one really want? What could be better than to give birth to the Son of God?

But what amazes me even more about this woman is that she responds in such a self-emptying manner. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Lk 1:46-49). In these words to her sister Elizabeth, Mary glorifies the Lord and thanks him for his blessing upon her as she expresses her unworthiness for the call she has received; a call that she would stay true to through many joys as well as pains and anguishes.

We truly do have a perfect model of how to live life in our Blessed Mother, Mary. This tree which bore the fruit of Christ truly is one worth honoring every single day.