Monday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Saint: Saint Ailbe (6th century); Blessed Apollinaris Franco (d. 1622)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Ch 2:16-22 Qualities of the Abbot

Mass: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33; Resp Ps 40; Lk 7:1-10

May all who seek You, exult and be glad in You.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

MARY, OUR LADY,

MARY, OUR QUEEN,

MARY, TREASURE OF THE FAITHFUL,

PRAY FOR US.

A virgin, betrothed to a man named Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Of Her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

(Mt 1:16)

Welcome to Monday, and on this one we commemorate the Most Holy Name of Mary, in the Month of September dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. As you have heard before, a name is the song you sing when you see someone. "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb"! (Lk 1:41). Mary, the beloved of God, pray for us. 

Yesterday we heard from Saint Rafael Arnaiz, and we hear from him again:

Given Mary, how you not love God!!!

... the soul loses itself thinking about this ... it cannot comprehend it. There's only one thing it can do to keep from going crazy ... and that's love. Loving so, so much. Living on fire with love for Mary, Mother of God, the Most Blessed Virgin, full of grace. She who helps us in time of affliction, covering us in Her blue mantle. Refuge of sinners. She is our hope. She who helps us on earth so that She might later give us Her Son Jesus Christ in heaven. She who is blessed and praised by all the choirs of the heavenly hosts. She who ... lovingly smiles whenever any little monk weeps in La Trapa.*

(Rafael Arnaiz in, The Collected Works: Saint Rafael Arnaiz, p. 581)

And yesterday's words are worth repeating:

Surely we'd go mad if we truly loved Mary. By honoring the Virgin, we will love Jesus more. By placing ourselves under Her mantle, we will understand divine mercy better. When we invoke Her name, it's as if everything becomes lighter. When we turn to Her as our intercessor, what will we not receive from Her Son, Jesus?

(Rafael Arnaiz in, The Collected Works: Saint Rafael Arnaiz, p. 584)

Look to the Litany of the Holy Name of Mary today and invoke Her holy name! Dear Mary, treasure of the faithful, may your Son Jesus find faith in us! Mary, our sweetness, pray for us!

MARY, MOTHER OF THE LIVING GOD,

SAINT AILBE,

BLESSED APOLLONARIS, FRANCO,

PRAY FOR US.

* "La Trapa" is how Rafael referred to the Cistercian abbey of San Isidro de Duenas, Spain.

Today's image: With the kind permission of the Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, OR, here is an icon in their chapel, The Protective Veil of the Mother of God. May Our Lady cover us in Her protective veil. 

© Gertrude Feick 2022