The Name of Mary in Times of Darkness

It doesn't matter where you stand on what end of whatever spectrum in orthodoxy or politics, you would have to be blind to say there is not very much darkness in the world right now. When we put our current times alongside other time periods in the world, it isn't necessarily the worst, though some would like to propagate that it is, but it is certainly dark. One reason we feel the darkness so much more intensely than previous time periods, perhaps ( it's hard to speak for those who lived so long ago), is that we are have unlimited access to watch evil. Our phones are an endless stream of unfiltered comments, the unbridled innermost thoughts of millions of human beings spewed out thoughtlessly in threads and threads, videos of evil and sin that we should otherwise never witness while we're paradoxically sitting in the safety and warmth of our own homes (which I can't help but to think is like playing psychological tricks on ourselves regarding our own personal safety, filling us with fear while in the safest places we know). So darkness surrounds us, Christians and innocent people are persecuted and killed, division and rage waft through our relationships, and while this has always been the story of God's people in the face of Satan and his mission from the moment of his own fall, the enemy now has a new foothold: putting it before us almost as a form of "entertainment", tempting us with curiosity to witness, via our tiny little screens, wickedness that we should otherwise never see but in a tragic circumstance, luring us into spewing more combative and hurtful quips at even our own brothers and sisters in Christ. So where do we go from here?

First of all, I highly recommend turning off your phone and being present to your family and community around you. That is where healing or hurt begins in the rest of society. Mute the news channels, have designated hours in the day and days in the week where you set your phone aside and live without it and the noise it brings. Second, I propose the Sorrowful Heart of Mary to you.

These words from the prophet Isaiah have been ringing through my heart these last couple of days:

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned."

Isaiah 9:2

Even as we grieve the tragedies around us, as we feel (as we ought to) the darkness and pain that fills the world these days, in the same breath we cry "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). We know that in all things Christ is and will be victorious.

We see this in the Fall of mankind, the first betrayal. As we sin, God promises redemption. He promises that of The Woman a Savior will be come to redeem and save us from the sting and consequences of sin and death; and He promises that between the Serpent and the Woman He will put enmity. We see this on the Cross. There is no greater crime, no greater sin or evil than to kill the Word made Flesh, God incarnate; and it is all of our sins which led Him to this Sacrifice. And in the same moment of the greatest darkness and evil that could ever touch this earth, it is the very means of our redemption. And we see this paradox again in Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, who we celebrate and remember this month of September. We see her Heart, pierced by seven sorrows, bleeding out in her love for and faith in her Son. By following Him, she dies in her Heart with Him, and yet through her pierced Heart she teaches us the secrets to suffering. "...and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:35). Mary, Our Sorrowful Mother, teaches us how to suffer in the darkness with Christ. Through her pierced, sorrowful Heart our hearts will be revealed; meaning, we will come to understand suffering in the love of and united to Jesus Christ. She teaches us the mysteries of death and resurrection, of woundedness into redemption. I can't write out all that her Heart will teach you, because it is something she wants to teach you herself.

This Sorrowful Mother of ours has another feast day that we celebrate today on September 12th -- the Holy Name of Mary. Once again, I don't want to over explain the significance because I don't want to rob you of discovering the mysteries and depth yourself. So, I will leave you with a few simple quotes from those who have run the race in heroic faith on the power of our Mother's presence in our lives, especially in these days we are living in.

"This most holy, sweet and worthy name was 'eminently fitted to so holy, sweet and worthy a virgin. For Mary means a bitter sea, star of the sea, the illuminated or illuminatrix. Mary is interpreted Lady. Mary is a bitter sea to the demons; to men she is the Star of the sea; to the Angels she is illuminatrix, and to all creatures she is Lady."

Saint Bonaventure

“Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination.”

Saint Bernard

“Your name, O Mary, is a precious ointment,

which breathes forth the odor of Divine grace.

Let this ointment of salvation

enter the inmost recesses of our souls.”

Saint Ambrose

“The devils fear the queen of heaven so much that by just hearing her name pronounced they fly from the person who utters it like from a burning fire.”

Thomas A Kempis

“Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary's maternal intercession."

Saint Thomas Aquinas

"God the Father gathered all the waters together and called them the seas or maria [Latin, seas]. He gathered all His grace together and called it Mary or Maria . . . This immense treasury is none other than Mary whom the saints call the 'treasury of the Lord.' From her fullness all men are made rich."

Saint Louis de Montfort

"Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence."

Saint Francis de Sales