Hail, Full of Grace! The Lord Is With You!

Hail, Full of Grace! The Lord Is With You! Today the Church celebrates The Most Holy Name of Mary (September 12th). Have you ever imagined what the world would be like if we did not have names? Silly, perhaps, but an interesting image. Names brings order. Names gives us an identity. And names also carry for us a history. In another country, people are given two names when they are born. There is a name a person uses during Baptism, and a name for casual use signifying the condition when the baby was born. Hear more within the Homily. Scripture tells us about Mary. We know that wherever Mary is, Jesus is there as well. We also know that wherever Jesus is, Mary is there as well. Whenever We Honor Mary . . . Montfort, in his writings, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (TD #225), says We never think of Mary, without Mary thinking of God! Montfort goes on to tell us when we honor Mary, Mary joins us in honoring God. Every time we mention the name of Mary, Mary echoes back by mentioning the name of God. We hear this in the Gospel (the account of the Mystery of the Visitation) today. Mary travels in haste to see her cousin Elizabeth. The word Haste is important. When the angel appears to Mary, she is excited to share the news with her cousin Elizabeth. Why? Because Mary has discovered something within herself. The angel tells her, Hail, Full of Grace. The Lord is With You! Our Lady would like to share this news with her cousin. Hear more in this Homily given on the Most Holy Name of Mary. Listen to this Meditation. Listen to: Hail, Full of Grace! The Lord Is With You! ----------------------------- Image: Our Lady: Saint Patrick’s Parish, Victor, NY ----------------------------- Gospel Reading: Luke: 1: 39-47 First Reading: Galatians: 4: 4-7