Name of the Virgin Mary

A name indicates an individual, means a particular being, and represents a person. This is especially evident from the Bible: The name of the Lord be glorified means God be glorified. Whoever knows the name of God knows God himself. Even in the prophet Isaiah, the Lord says to Israel: Do not be afraid, I have redeemed you, called you by your name, you are mine. And in another place, it is said: The Lord called me from my Mother’s womb; already in my Mother’s life, he thought of my name. And to the one who fears that his name will be forgotten after all, he is reminded: Can a woman forget her infant and not have pity on the son of her womb?

Even if she forgets him, I will never forget you. I carved you into my palms. Here, I will present two episodes from the New Testament that are connected with the name. God sends his messenger to a young girl in Nazareth. The Virgin’s name was Mary. The angel Gabriel was to announce to the recently betrothed Virgin that she would have a child. We don’t want to consider the surprise of Mária, Jozef, and perhaps the whole neighborhood. According to Luke, this surprise disappears behind the questions Mary asked the angel. Although the election of God to become the Mother of the Son of God was difficult for Mary to understand for some time, the announcement of the name was still tricky for the young woman to believe.

What young couple expecting a child doesn’t have a thousand thoughts about a name? Sometimes, the search for a name goes without controversy. Kinship often interferes, and traditions must also be taken into account. Sometimes, a movie, a book, a star, or a blockbuster plays a role, and saints play their part too. Frustrated that they couldn’t agree, the young father picks up a magazine, and a name is born. Everyone likes an inscription: Sabina. That’s just how it goes sometimes. The small but subtle joy of searching is denied to Maria. She didn’t have to look anymore. Mary is chosen to be the Mother of Jesus. This name is to be given to him. Jesus, God saves. God gives the name; the name is the program. This happened so many times in the Old Testament.

At the dawn of the New Testament, both mothers experience the God of their people. Elizabeth names her son John, a testament to God’s kindness. In obedient reverence, Mary names her son Jesus, a declaration of God’s saving grace. When God associates a person’s name with a purpose, or a mission, it prompts us to question whether this is the case when parents name their children. Regardless of the chosen name, parents hope their child will one day become a person of significance, leaving a lasting legacy.

Most often, a person does not say: my name is, but only: I am Kristina, I am Tomáš. Name and personality have something in common. People grow according to their name. We celebrate birthdays because we are happy to be alive. We celebrate name days because we rejoice that we are an unmistakable person, born for eternity. I called you by name. You belong to me, says God, according to Isaiah. This idea has something to do with the second event from the New Testament. Jesus is on his way and is facing a new, incomprehensible life for us. Many of his disciples cannot understand this. Even so, Mary Magdalene is very desperate. He runs to the grave on Easter morning, searches, cries, and lets the imaginary gardener talk.

And then one of the New Testament’s most beautiful, mysterious, moving events happens. Jesus speaks only to Mary. She recognizes the one who addressed her by the voice as the harpist’s hand brings the strings to sound, so the sound of Jesus’ voice brings Magdalene’s soul to exaltation. Only words like friendship, love, and affection can indicate why Mary Magdalene now recognized Jesus. We could also know something similar. Whoever pronounces our name as our name, perhaps in a hurry, is not insignificant to us. We feel love for him; we listen to him. When we are insecure, we feel biased. If we are afraid, the sound of our name burdens us. That sound shows the connection between me and you.

With our name, we have both a personal future and an entirely personal eternity. At the beginning of our life, we ​​are given two names: Christian, one given to us by our parents, and the other we receive as a result of the sacrament of baptism. With this name, we will survive all dying and humiliation and be called to the home of God. Only love gives a name. This also applies to us humans; it also applies to the mystery of God. Names are:

Gifts of the heart and kindness.

A sign of favor.

Statements of belonging.

A promise of God’s future.

We wish you joy from your first and Christian names, from the daily certainty of the living God who calls us all by name. The Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene tell us that God gives a name and calls by name. He gave us the name of the man and the task to be. He calls us by name: you are mine. That is our calling; you are not born to become dust and ashes but for life and eternity. We are told this twice a year, on birthdays and name days.