Breaking News: Triple Novena coincides with Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary!!!

Blessed Mother of those whose names you can read in my heart, watch over them with every care. Make their way easy and their labors fruitful. Dry their tears if they weep; sanctify their joys; raise their courage if they weaken; restore their hope if they lose heart, their health if they be ill, truth if they err, and repentance if they fall. Amen.

There! You're in! You just said today's prayer for our triple novena, and how happy Our Lady is to answer that prayer!

The super exciting thing is that it turns out that the first part of our tri-partate novena passes through this day of September 12th (on our way to September 14, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross). And that means, since 2002, the re-instated Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary! Thank you, beloved Holy Father St. John Paul II!!!

Turns out this was the day in 1683 when the Polish king, John Sobieski, pushed back the Ottoman/Turks and kept them from overtaking Vienna. I've been to Vienna, so I can see why it was a place everyone wanted, but thanks to good King John's putting everything into Mary's hands that morning at Mass (offered by a priest who is now a Blessed!), the Christians carried the day and didn't lose the West to the bad guys. Whew! That was a close one, and yet . . . and yet how could Mary not, as always, respond when her children called?

So now what shall we say on September 12, 2019 about the Most Holy Name of Mary? I came across a book called Virgin Wholly Marvelous, and in it the editor, one kind Peter Brookby, has pulled together quotes on Mary, including a section on her Holy Name. How about that!! Sort of a "give us this day our daily bread" moment when I spied the book on a shelf in my home this morning, and so, for your joy on this feast, here are some of my favorite quotes:

The name of Mary is the key of the gates of Heaven. - St. Ephrem the Syrian, Doctor of the Church 

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. - St. Ambrose, Doctor of the Church

O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of her devout clients! - St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church

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. - St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church

O Mary, what must you yourself be, since your very name is so loving and gracious? - Blessed Henry Suso

After the most  holy and adorable Name of Jesus, there is no name more glorious or more powerful than the name of Mary. At the mention of this name, the angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through this invocation of this name, sinners obtain grace and pardon. - St. Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church

When I pronounce the name of Mary, I feel myself inflamed with such love and joy, that between the tears and happiness with which I pronounce this beautiful name, I feel as though my heart might leave my breast! For this sweet name is like a honeycomb dissolving in the innermost recesses of my soul. - Blessed Henry Suso

Ah, good Blessed Henry! You weren't the only one to feel this way! Little Jacinta of Fatima used to ask her cousin Lucia, "Don't you feel your heart on fire when you say the sweet name of Mary?"

I don't know what Lucia answered, but I think it may have been just like we might answer. "No, Jacinta, we are not as blessed as you . . . and yet we are more blessed, for just as Jesus said to Thomas on that first Divine Mercy Sunday, 'Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe,' so we can take Him to mean also, 'Blessed are those who have not felt, and yet believe!'"

What a privilege that we can - even without our hearts set on fire - utter, shout, sing, pray, say, and mentally pronounce the Holy Name of Mary!!! Thank You, Jesus, for giving Your Mother to be ours too! And thank you, Mary, for always hearing us when we call you. Please heed our prayers and attend to all our intentions in this novena. You are our Mother, and as we trust in Jesus' infinitely solicitous love, so too we trust in your tenderly maternal compassion!

Ah, little Jesus on the lap of Mary, You who daily heard good St. Joseph call Mary by her Most Holy Name:
Draw me, we will run!!!

p.s. If you want more info or a reminder on how our triple novena will proceed, feel free to mosey on down to the post below this one! And remember, little one, your prayers and intentions, your heart's desires and the needs of all those you love are totally covered even if you miss a day or 26! God is really that good, and if you don't believe me, get out a copy of Marcel Van's Conversations (the reason for every season over here at Miss Marcel's Musings) and let Jesus, Mary, and St. Therese fill you in on all the good stuff!
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