Feast of the Holy Name of Mary

September 12th is the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. It is not by mere chance that the Mother of God would receive this name. Joachim and Ann, Mary’s parents, were devoted to God in a most holy manner. It must be assumed that God would have played a part in the inspiring of Mary’s name. This beautiful designation brings with it three possible meanings.  Sovereignty, bitterness and resistance. No doubt Mary is sovereign. She suffered bitterly at the foot of her Son Jesus’ cross. And for us, she will resist Satan.

Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

On September 15, we celebrate the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady. On this day, we remember the sorrowful events in Our Lady’s life, when she suffered greatly, especially during the passion and death of her beloved son Jesus Christ. In 1233, the Servite Order, or Order of the Servants of Mary, in France, made Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows their principal devotion. It was later popularized by St. Bridget of Sweden in the 14th century. We meditate on these 7 key sorrowful events:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon, 2. The Flight into Egypt, 3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple, 4. Mary’s Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary, 5. Jesus’ Death on the Cross, 6. Mary Receives the Dead Body of Jesus in Her Arms, 7. Jesus is Placed in the Tomb.

Each of the sorrows in Mary’s life pierced her heart with profound grief. Meditating on the Gospel passages that are central to each sorrow brings us closer to Our Lady, and to Jesus.