The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. // Luke 1:49 (from the Gospel for the Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary)
Our Lady, Blessed Mother, New Eve, Star of the Sea, Queen of Heaven, Cause of our Joy, Mother of Mercy, Immaculate Conception, Full of Grace, Queen of Heaven, Seat of Wisdom, Mystical Rose, Refuge of Sinners, Gate of Heaven, Queen of Peace, Mary. Today the Church invites us to honor the Most Holy Name of Mary. No matter where we might find ourselves, Mary will encounter us right where we are.
Ten years ago, I attended the canonization of Pope Saint John Paul II with nearly one million Catholics. As I waited overnight with thousands in Saint Peter’s Square, my eyes kept gazing at the beautiful mosaic of Mary Mater Ecclesiae, Mother of the Church. John Paul II commissioned this mosaic following the assassination attempt on his life. He attributed his survival to Mary’s protection.
John Paul II’s devotion to our Lady started at a young age. After his mother died, shortly before his ninth birthday, Karol Wojtyła experienced Mary’s spiritual motherhood in a deeper way. Wojtyła was consoled again by Our Lady of Sorrows at the age of twelve when his older brother died and at the age of twenty-one when his father died.
During World War II, Wojtyła studied as a clandestine seminarian in Poland. After the war, Wojtyła was ordained to the priesthood in the hidden chapel of the bishop’s residence. The only relative present at his priestly ordination was Maria, his godmother and aunt.
Father Wojtyła wrote part of Mary’s Magnificat on his homemade ordination holy cards: “Fecit mihi Magna.” How could this orphan, who experienced the devastating loss of his entire immediate family, echo Mary’s Magnificat on his ordination day with the words “The Almighty One has done great things for me”?
He could because he had consecrated his life completely to Mary, saying to her, “Totus Tuus!” All Yours!
As we honor the Most Holy Name of Mary today, consider praying with Henryk Gorecki’s Totus Tuus. The sweet melody with Mary’s name transports me to the memory of Saint John Paul II’s canonization. May the Most Holy Name of Mary always be our protection.
Rose Coleman is an elementary school teacher with a heart for pilgrimage. She traveled the globe on a ship during college and spent some years in the convent as a religious sister. She was a contributing author to All She Had, Blessed Conversations: Rooted, and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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