What’s in a name?
Of all the saints, Mary has the most feast days. There’s her birth, the Annunciation, her visit with Elizabeth, the Assumption, and more. Even her name is a feast day! This is no small feast either because names are a big deal in the church and in many spiritual traditions.
Giving or taking a name can symbolize a new moment in one’s life. In everyday living our name captures who we are and is often the first thing we share with another person.
On this feast of Mary’s holy name let us remember that we can always call her by name and be reminded of what it means to live fully as followers of Christ.
“Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!”
Luke 6:20-26 (439)
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" quoth Juliet as she was falling in live with Romeo; they both knew their families were enemies to one another.
Interesting about names....... about The Name that God Himself gives..... I have been wondering about mine, if I have one, aware that God gives that name to someone at a moment of change, of calling.... and that the name has meaning and purpose, speaks of that meaning and purpose, destiny.
That is, for example, what happened to Jude (from the Haven in Woonsocket). In some ways it doesn't seem a total change, as her name was Judith, some called her Judy (which she did not care for) but JUDE was specific, time, place, and calling.....
Dvorah is MY birth name and confirmation name. I have thought much about the Biblical Deborah through the years, sitting under that tree, judging the people of God, mediating disputes. I am mediating disputes and like that now as an ombudsman sometimes..... "Bee" as in busy. Productive. (And funny that my adoptive name of Beverly refers to the Beaver, which is also seen as "busy")
Have always admired the Biblical Abigail. Always had a notion that once David took her as one of his wives, she was one equal to him somehow in shrewdness and intellect, one he could confide in, not just for playing games with. "My father is joy" is what Abigail means.
Hannah is a personal favorite of mine. I was godmother to a Hannah, long time ago. Things have not been good for that little girl, now a young adult. She has several psychiatric diagnoses, many issues.... no real surprise, considering her heritage and upbringing, Sicilian and generational strega, which means Witch in Italian. And yet..... Grace. Wonderful quality, wonderful name.
My most beloved kitty cat is Gracie; she had been given to me by Jude at the Haven in 2003 when she was six months old, for my birthday. A most unusual cat, she's been my companion, resident pet therapist at the Haven, companion and comforter for my mother when she lived with me, and now getting fairly "senior" herself, she is my "baby".
Ruth. Love the name, love the story in the Bible, one of my personal favorites. And Ruth means "friend", also a favorite word, concept, actuality. Once upon a time God said I was "a friend, a true friend". (Had an aunt Ruth, the most unpleasant, most negative person I have ever known.... unfortunately. Married to Ingvar, also unpleasant, negative, they were two of a kind. From the adoptive family. Now I've met so many of the birth family, there's an aunt Ruth there too, also unpleasant, negative. What's with that?)
Don't know the Hebrew for Rose, but that is also a favorite--- the beauty, the time of year it blooms, the scent, the thorns.... Thinking of an old Swedish hymn one line translated as "Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!" If my son Carl had been a girl we were going to name her Lina Rose. Lina is for a Swedish hymn writer who lived 1832-1903. As a Covenanter I grew up with her songs, in English and Swedish. And Rose... is Rose.
Sort of a stream of consciousness going on here.... I love words and names and meanings.
As to my adoptive name Beverly--- a tribal name, it is from the Anglo Saxon and means "Beaver Meadow". Birth name Deborah, from the Hebrew meaning "Bee". But I'm not convinced either is my "real" name, the one from God.
I love gardens, so maybe my Real Name has to do with a gardens or gardening. Wish I had some dirt, which living in an apartment and now a condo I do not. Wish I had a porch at least, as I'd have buckets and hangings as a garden. Oh well, maybe someday. I mean in this life, as I believe we'll be going Back to the Garden, so to speak, one day.
I've gotten quite plump and middle-aged. No surprise that I'm a "Nana" to someone, and hope to be to more. Hey, Nana is another name!
