Celebration: September 12

The evangelist Saint Luke reveals the name of the maiden who will be the Mother of God: “And her name was Mary.” The name Mary, translated from the Hebrew “Miriam”, means Maiden, Lady, Princess.

Star of the Sea, happy Gate of heaven, as the hymn Ave maris stella sings. The name María is related to the sea because the three letters of sea bear a phonetic similarity to María. It is also related to “myrrh”, which comes from a Semitic language. Myrrh is an African herb that produces incense and perfume (Jesús Marí Ballester).

In the book “Month of Mary” by Father Eliecer Salesman, it is explained that

Mary in popular language means: “The Illuminator.” (S. Jeronimo M 1.23.780). In the Aramaic language it means: “Lady” or “Princess” (Bover). The scientific meaning of Mary in the Hebrew language is: “Beautiful” (Banderhewer).

In the Egyptian language, which was where this name was first used, it means: “The favorite of Yahweh God.” (Exodus 15, 20). Mar or Myr, in Egyptian, meant the most favorite of daughters. And “Ya” or “Yam” meant: The true God -Yahweh-. So MAR-YA or MYR-YAM in Egyptian would mean: “God's Favorite Daughter” (Zorell).

Celebration

Her beauty, beloved of God, star of the sea, lady and also illuminated. It all depends on the multiple interpretations made of the words that make up the name, both in Greek and Hebrew.

There are even those who believe that it can mean “bitter sea”, due to the situation of bitterness in which the people of Israel lived. Remember that many Israelites gave their children names that best expressed the social and economic situations in which they lived.

It is also important to note that in 1683, Pope Innocent

It is said that the first diocese to officially celebrate the festival was that of Cuenca. But, the name day of the “Sweet name of Mary” has its own date, and it is September 12. It is good that you know that there are many “Marys” who celebrate their feast day on this day and not on August 15.