J.M.J.
Just a few days after the Birthday of the Blessed Mother is another Marian Feast on the 12th of this month: The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary. I suggest that you read my previous Post, “Say the Most Holy Name of Mary,” regarding the importance of her Most Holy Name, which is a prayer in itself, and why we must always utter it. When you do, you’ll never see the Name of the Blessed Mother the same way again. You will love her Name so much and learn its role in your salvation.
I dedicate this post to Mary, Mother of God, on behalf of all her namesakes in the world, from the United States to the Philippines – especially the Catholic women with the name “Mary,” and in particular, those who were named in honor of her.
My Reflection:
1. There’s almost always a sort of reason, narrative or inspiration behind a person’s name. Some parents plan a name or two for their baby, only to change their minds once the joy of holding them or seeing them for the first time sets in. It’s probably why a lot of mothers say that you’d know exactly what to name your baby only when they are born.
2. As for my name, I will share with you a personal story. My mother, whom I call Mommy, has always told me that when I was born – almost 30 years ago – she absolutely knew at that very moment that I was a “Mary Kris.” My father, or Daddy, definitely agreed. Mommy has always further emphasized that she chose and formed my complete First Name in honor of Mama Mary– it’s how Filipinos call her, and Kristo– it’s Tagalog (our local dialect in Manila, Philippines) for Christ.
For my nickname, Mommy decided to call me “Maris,” taken again after Our Lady – from her title Stella Maris, which means Star of the Sea.
3. So I was a small kid in the 90’s, having the Name of the Mother of God. Mommy was totally happy and satisfied with the name she gave me. I was constantly reminded by my parents that it’s truly special about me to be named after Our Lady. Whenever I saw the Nativity Scene, it made me feel proud to share the same Name of the Mom of Baby Jesus. As a child, I carried within me that simple joy of knowing that I was named after the Blessed Mother.
4. But just as our core Catholic values are often challenged when we face the secular modern world, that joyful feeling I had got a bit shaken when I went to Elementary School. I must admit that there was a point in my life when I wasn’t too happy to bear the name “Mary.”
5. One reason was that growing up, many of my classmates and neighbors always sounded like they were calling me “Merri Krees” because of our Filipino accent. It sounded funny because they could not pronounce it properly. However, they always used it as an ‘opportunity’ to tease me. My younger self started to feel rather ‘disconnected’ with my name. Previously, I was expecting that people would say it with respect, since its the name of the Blessed Mother and Jesus Christ. But because people always made fun of it, I felt hurt.
6. What really made it worse was how children often teased me, Christmas season or not, by scribbling “Mary Kris-mas!” or saying, “Merrry Kris-mas!” Mind you, they did not tell me that to compliment me. Some adults also did that to me, but not in a friendly greeting. The intention of those kids and adults, was always somehow to make fun of me, or to have a laugh at my name. It would have been acceptable to me if I knew that they were sincerely trying to be ‘sweet.’ However, their tone was obviously the opposite. Now that I’m all grown up, one thing I realize about myself is that I still don’t appreciate it at all and find it very insulting when someone tells me “Meri-Mary–Kris-mas!” even during Christmastime, for the sake of trying to be funny by joking or kidding around with my name, more so, since it is meant to honor the Holy Mother and Child.
7. A few others simply called me “Mary,” but did so in a way that something was either funny, laughable or odd with that name. Even a friend once told me that she’d rather call me by my nickname just because it sounded way “cooler” than Mary. It’s sad when people miss the whole point of why someone is purposely named after the Holy Saints and disregard the idea of it.
8. There are those who dislike their own “holy” names. When I was in school (I’d rather not say whether in High School or College), there was this girl who also had the name Mary. While I was a Mary Kris, she was a Mary something– a name of an ancient goddess. She literally hated her name “Mary,” considering she’s Catholic herself and a regular Mass-goer, and always corrected people, including the teachers, setting it to them straight to just drop it. Each time our instructors would refer to her as such, her friends in class, aware of her disgust, would burst into laughter and mimic saying “Mary” somewhat mockingly.
9. But here’s what happened. Her severe repulsion toward the Name of the Blessed Mother became a blessing for me. After years of being classmates with them and repeatedly hearing their mockery, God touched my heart. I suddenly felt this overwhelming sadness and pain. This time, it was not for my sake, not for my own name; but for the sake of the Mother of God, for the sake of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin.
10. I realized that whenever people joke around, mock or loathe the name Mary, it is not just us, her namesakes, who they are making fun of. It is actually the Blessed Mother herself and her Son Jesus Christ that they are hurting in doing so. And it’s really sad that some people do not revere the name that God Himself has chosen for His Mother. It is a form of irreverence, and a sin against the Second Commandment: “You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.”
11. Ever since that realization, I began to love my name, and thankfully acknowledged Mommy for giving me such a sweet name- that of the Blessed Mother. With a proper sense of pride, I use my Full Name in my signature, keeping in mind all my love and honor for the Blessed Mother and Jesus Christ as I write it.
12. The innocent joy I had as a young child that waned from the unkindness and irreverence of unholy people found its way back to me. Now, I fully embrace bearing the Name of Mama Mary. Whenever I hear my name, its sweetness is like music to my ears that touches my soul. Unlike those mean people who mock her Holy Name, there remain good people around me who have told me that my name is the most beautiful name because it is the Holy Name of the Blessed Mother herself. I have also been told that I would be in their thoughts, as they pray during each Mass they ever go to, because Mary is mentioned in every single Mass.
13. I also realized that those of us whose name includes “Mary” must give justice in bearing the Name of the Mother of God. Since I rediscovered the love for my name, it eventually became my desire to live up to the nature of the Blessed Mother’s Name. I must admit that it is never easy to imitate every virtue that the Blessed Mother has. This reminds me of how my parents encouraged me to refrain from being a stubborn child – Honestly, they’d say, it’s not cute when you’re a Mary, but you don’t resemble the goodness of Our Lady. That’s why it is sad when there are Marys out there who are not a reflection at all of the Blessed Mother; who do evil deeds or live in immorality. Being named Mary, don’t let ourselves become like the lass in the nursery rhyme, which goes, “Mary, Mary quite contrary.” All of us “Mary” should desire to give justice to her Most Holy Name. While it can be quite hard to do, it must be one of our spiritual goals. Truthfully, I think that in the last couple of years, I have worked even harder myself to be a better woman, so that I would be worthy of being a “Mary.”
14. My advice to those who are named Mary – surely there are so many of us. First, we must love our name. Doing so is a means of expressing much love and giving honor to Our Lady.
15. Yes, there might be names for girls out there that sound ‘cooler’ by secular standards. But what else could be sweeter than being a namesake of Mama Mary? So my next advice is that we must all feel it in our hearts. Cherish it!
16. I’m giving you another advice: Pray the Hail Mary each and everyday. Actually, it is the prayer that I love the most. It is the humblest, yet most meaningful salutation that we can all offer to the Holy Mother of God. One of my favorite quotes says:
“When I pray ‘Hail Mary,’ the Heavens smile, the Angels rejoice, the Earth is happy.”
– Saint Francis of Assisi
17. Most importantly, may the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Mother be a constant reminder for you to be the woman that you are supposed to be in God’s glorious plan; the person that God has called you to become – a woman who has the virtues of the Blessed Virgin – faith, hope, love, kindness, mercy, compassion, and purity of body, mind and heart. I keep reminding myself of these qualities that I must always try to live by. Being a modest reflection of the Blessed Mother and a woman of God are what make you and me truly attractive – an unfading beauty that shines from within.
18. I commend all the “Mary” in the world, who live up to this Most Holy Name by being loving, caring people and striving to stay in the path to holiness – whether you are a child, a teenager, a single woman, a married person, or a consecrated religious. You are in my prayers. May God bless you and your family.
***
I invite you all to take a moment to read and feel these beautiful words of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. This passage is from his Homilies, In laudibus Virginis Matris (In Praise of the Virgin Mary). As we sail through this life’s journey, the great Marian Saint reminds us to entrust ourselves to the Mother of God, the Stella Maris.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
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