MARY - THE MEANING OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S NAME

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Mary, the most blessed Virgin and Mother of God - the mother of Jesus Christ and Queen of all the saints - shares in the prehistory of the Redeemer, as she is his mother. She is included, either implicitly or explicitly, in all the prophecies concerning him. The name Mary (Maria - Hebrew: Miryam) is interpreted by some as meaning "exalted," "strong," or "powerful" - or even "lady" and "mistress." Others suggest an Egyptian origin, meaning "beloved of Yahweh" (the Hebrew name for God); according to modern exegetes, this latter interpretation is the more probable one. Other explanations - such as "star of the sea," "enlightener," or "bitterness" - serve only devotional or homiletic purposes. Her life story, as recounted in the Holy Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, is well known. The final events of Mary’s life, as well as the time and circumstances of her death are unknown.

In Italy, France, and Spain, certain feasts of the Virgin Mary gave rise to specific baptismal names - such as Annunziata, Dolores, and Immaculata - because, out of reverence for the Holy Mother of God, people there long refrained from using the highly blessed name "Maria" as a given name. Naturally, her name also appears in the Canon of the Mass.

Source: Franz von Sales Doyé, Saints and Blesseds of the Roman Catholic Church: Their Identifying Attributes, Patronages, and Biographical Notes, Volume 1, Vier Quellen Verlag, Leipzig, 1929

➡️ Church art featuring the Blessed Virgin Mary

➡️ Places under Our Lady's special patronage

➡️ Marian feasts - detailed list (pre Vatican II)

➡️ Marian feast days - contemporary list

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