One of the first gifts we ever received was the gift of our name. Long before that, however, our name was known and cradled within the bosom of the Father, fully reverenced and enveloped by Love. So whether your name is Anne or Claire or Lucy or Sarah, your name, in all its beauty and uniqueness, eternally connects you to the God of the Universe. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “God calls each one of us by name. Everyone’s name is sacred. The name is the icon of the person” (§ 2158).
Hello, My Name Is . . .
When I was younger, I really disliked my name. To me, “Cathy” was commonplace and boring, and I used to imagine how much cooler I would be if my parents had named me [insert name that’s not mine here].
When I got older, however, and learned how closely linked the meaning of my name was to my vocation as a consecrated virgin, not to mention the spirituality of my Confirmation saint, Saint Catherine of Siena (the OG bride of Christ), I grew to appreciate it as the gift it was intended to be, not only from my parents, but from Him. Now, my name becomes sweeter day by day as I hear it continually spoken in love by the One Who calls me deeper.
“Mary!”
Can you imagine how sweet it must have been for Saint Mary Magdalene to hear her beloved Lord call her by name on Easter morning (see John 20:16)? Father Sean Davidson gives us a glimpse into the delight and transformative grace of this moment outside the tomb in his book, Saint Mary Magdalene, Prophetess of Eucharistic Love. Father writes this:
In all human history was there ever as much joy transmitted by one single word? It was the full joy of the Resurrection in an instant. It was hope for a world that thought it was destined to hopelessness. It was indescribable peace and joy to the soul of Magdalene. Life was worth living again. This one word brought beauty back to the world [. . .] But above all, when her name was pronounced, it was the love in his voice that she could feel penetrating into the depths of her being. In that one word he said, “Mary I love you. I will never forget you and I personally wanted to come and bring you my peace. Everything is going to be all right. You can rejoice now and nothing will ever take that joy from you again [. . .] The evil of the world is conquered! Death is nothing but transition! It has no real power over you anymore [. . .] Your future is full of hope. I have prepared a happiness for you that you cannot even begin to imagine.” (p. 187-188)
More Than Words
As I ponder the stunning beauty of this passage, I can begin to understand what I once heard a priest say a few years ago during a homily for Mary Magdalene’s feast day. Father shared that when Mary’s name crossed our Risen Lord’s sacred lips, it became a sort of Baptism for her. If you are as mind blown as I was when I heard that statement, think about the very first question asked during the Baptismal Ceremony: “What name do you give your child?” This question initiates the beginning of new life that is about to be conferred by the Sacrament and the sharing in God’s own life as we receive our name, eternally linked with His Name, from the Church. Just so, Jesus’ pronouncement of Mary’s name elicited her entry into and sharing in His resurrected life as His living lungs breathed out her name anew and inseparably joined it to His Heart.
Immersed and Restored
The word “baptism” means to “plunge” or “immerse.” Through the infusion (pouring) or immersion of water, sin and the spiritual emptiness it accords totally disappears as God comes into the soul to transform it and make it holy. In this precious Sacrament, the wounds inherited from our first parents are left in the grave, and the darkness of spiritual death is obliterated by the light of sanctifying grace. In the same way, Mary’s spirit, crushed and darkened by the consequences of sin displayed on Calvary, is plunged into the light as soon as the resurrected Christ speaks her name. With that one word, her Beloved takes up a personal and intimate dwelling in her soul, and the spiritual emptiness left by His Death is forever dissipated by the light of His love.
Claimed and Called
I was recently reminded of the depth of that love during one of Father Mike Schmitz’s homilies. He said that by coming into contact with Jesus, we become His.
Sister, this is exactly what happens in holy Baptism. Claimed as God’s children, we become members of the Church marked by an indelible seal or “character.” This sacred seal conforms us to Christ and manifests the truth of who we are: beloved daughters tasked with fulfilling our divine mission of making Him known.
Mary was privy to this baptismal mission as well. Her burning love for the Lord afforded her the privilege of being the first to see the Risen Christ. Claimed as a witness of love, she is called to witness to that love as Jesus commissions her to announce the joyful news of the Resurrection (see John 20:17-18). Heart sealed with this sublime message, Mary becomes the first missionary of the Risen Lord, or as Saint Thomas Aquinas christened her, the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Bathed in sacramental grace, we are called and chosen by name, just like Saint Mary Magdalene, to witness to the world that we have seen the Lord (see John 20:18). And “[w]hat a heavenly joy it is to hear the Risen Lord call us by name” (source)! With this in mind, recall the beautiful words of Father Sean Davidson, but this time, hear Jesus speak them directly to you:
“[Your name], I love you. I will never forget you. The evil of the world is conquered. Death has no real power over you anymore. Your future is full of hope. I have prepared a happiness for you that you cannot even begin to imagine.”
Can you hear Him, dear sister? Recognize the tender voice of the Savior as He takes your face in His hands and says once more, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us!
Cathy Webb is a consecrated virgin for the Diocese of Wilmington and the creator of the Sacred Heart to Heart prayer journal. A full-time Library Assistant, she finds joy in embracing the sacrament of the present moment and spreading the fragrance of Love everywhere she goes. She also treasures large cups of tea; her Chihuahua, Lucy; and anything Saint Therese. When she’s not writing and creating for the Kingdom, she can be found wearing a pretty dress while adoring the Heart of her Divine Spouse in the Eucharist. She is a contributing author to Blessed Conversations: Home. Find out more about her here.
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