The Royal Road of the Holy Cross (5)

[Weedy]

The Royal Road of the Holy Cross (5)

Either you will experience bodily pain or you will undergo
tribulation of spirit in your soul. At times you will be forsaken by
God, at times troubled by those about you and, what is worse, you
will often grow weary of yourself. You cannot escape, you cannot be
relieved by any remedy or comfort but must bear with it as long as God
wills. For He wishes you to learn to bear trial without consolation,
to submit yourself wholly to Him that you may become more humble
through suffering. No one understands the passion of Christ so
thoroughly or heartily as the man whose lot it is to suffer the like
himself.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 12

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SEP 12 – MOST HOLY NAME OF MARY

“O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the
ear of her devout clients!”
-St. Anthony of Padua +1231

In 1513, a feast of “The Holy Name of Mary” was granted by Papal
indult [Pope Julius II] to the diocese of Cuenta in Spain. It was
assigned with proper Office on September 15, the octave day of Our
Lady’s Nativity. With the reform of the Breviary undertaken by Pope
St. Pius V, the feast was abolished, only to be reinstituted by his
successor, Pope Sixtus V, who changed the date to September 17. From
there, the feast spread to the Archdiocese of Toledo [1622] and,
eventually, to all of Spain and to the Kingdom of Naples [1671].

Throughout this time, permission to celebrate the feast was given to
various religious orders in a prudent manner as has been the custom
throughout Church history regarding feast-days, their dates, offices,
liturgical expression, etc. However, this Feast of the Holy Name of
Mary would one day be joyfully extended to the Universal Church, and
this on account of rather dramatic circumstances involving one of
Poland’s great military heroes, John Sobieski [1629-1696].

While acting as field-marshal under King John Casimir, Sobieski had
raised a force of 8,000 men and enough provisions to withstand a siege
of Cossacks and Tartars, who were forced to retire unsuccessfully and
at a loss. In 1672, under the reign of Michael Wisniowiecki, Sobieski
engaged and defeated the Turkish army, who lost 20,000 men at Chocim.

When King Michael died, Sobieski, a beloved hero at that point, was
crowned King of Poland. But, even before his coronation could take
place, he would again engage and drive back the Turkish hordes in
separate battles including the raising of the siege at Trembowla. Once
crowned, he advanced to the Ruthenian provinces, where, having too few
soldiers to attack the Turks, who outnumbered his men ten to one, he
literally wore out the enemy, garrisoning his troops at Zurawno.
Because of this heroic effort, he was able to regain, by treaty, a
good portion of the Ukraine.

With both Turks and Poles weary from battle, peace reigned for a time
. . . until the Turks set their sights on Austria, setting out through
Hungary with an army of approximately 300,000 men. Fleeing from
Austria, Emperor Leopold asked for Sobieski’s assistance, a plea which
was seconded by the Papal Nuncio. In July 1683, the Grand Vizier Kara
Mustapha had reached Vienna and laid siege to the city, which was
being defended by only 15,000 men. Sobieski set out for Vienna in
August, his forces marching behind the banner of the Blessed Virgin.
Passing by the Sanctuary of Mary in Czestochowa, they implored Our
Lady’s help and blessing.

Writing centuries later to the bishops of Poland, Pope Pius XII
recalled the supplications of Sobieski to Mary at the Sanctuary on
Jasna Gora [i.e., “Bright Hill”], the site of the Shrine: “To the
same Heavenly Queen, on Clear Mountain, the illustrious John Sobieski,
whose eminent valor freed Christianity from the attacks of its old
enemies, confided himself.” [Letter, Cum iam lustri abeat, 1951]

In September, the men joined with the German troops under John George,
Elector of Saxony, and Prince Charles of Lorraine. On the eighth day
of the month, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, Sobieski prepared
himself for the ensuing conflict by the reception of Holy Communion.

Battle was engaged before the walls of Vienna on September 12, 1683,
with Sobieski seemingly put to flight by “the fierce Turkish forces.
However, this retreat was a minor setback only. The Hussars renewed
their assault and charged the Turks, this time sending the enemy into
a retreat. The combat raged on, until Sobieski finally stormed the
enemy camp. The Turkish forces were routed, Vienna was saved, and
Sobieski sent the “Standard of the Prophet” to Pope Innocent XI along
with the good news.

In a letter to the Pontiff, Sobieski summed up his victory in these
words: Veni, vidi, Deus vicit —–“I came, I saw, God conquered!” To
commemorate this glorious victory, and render thanksgiving to God and
honor to Our Lady for their solicitude in the struggle, Pope Innocent
XI extended “The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary” to the Universal
Church. Although the feast was originally celebrated on the Sunday
after the Nativity of Mary, Pope St. Pius X [+1914] decreed that it be
celebrated on September 12, in honor of the victory of the Catholic
forces under John Sobieski.

The history of this feast reminds us in some ways of that of “Our Lady
of the Rosary,” which was instituted to celebrate and commemorate the
victory of the Catholic forces over the Turkish navy at the Battle of
Lepanto in 1571: “And thus Christ’s faithful warriors, prepared to
sacrifice their life and blood for the welfare of their Faith and
their country, proceeded undauntedly to meet their foe near the Gulf
of Corinth; while those who were unable to join them formed a band of
pious supplicants, who called on Mary and, as one, saluted Her again
and again in the words of the Rosary, imploring Her to grant victory
to their companions engaged in battle. Our sovereign Lady did grant
Her aid.” [Pope Leo XIII, Supremi Apostolatus, 1883]

“Lord our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, He
gave us as our mother the one He had chosen to be His own mother, the
Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of
Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive
strength and comfort in all our needs”
-Marian Sacramentary, Mass for the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Matthew


Reflection: Endeavor so to act as you would wish to have acted when
you stand before the Judge of your eternity. This is the rule of the
Saints, and the only safe rule for all.

Bible Quote:
11 Let him decline from evil, and do good: let him seek after peace
and pursue it: 12 Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and
his ears unto their prayers: but the countenance of the Lord upon them
that do evil things. (1 Peter 3:11-12) DRB


When the appointed time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman.….Galatians 4:4

REFLECTION
“This most holy, sweet and worthy name was eminently fitted to so
holy, sweet and worthy a virgin. For Mary means a bitter sea, star of
the sea, the illuminated or illuminatrix. Mary is interpreted Lady.
Mary is a bitter sea to the demons; to men she is the Star of the
sea; to the Angels she is illuminatrix and to all creatures she is
Lady.” … St Bonaventure (1217-1274)


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Whenever I say Hail Mary
By Bl Alan de la Roche (1428-1475)

Whenever I say Hail Mary
The court of heaven rejoices
And the earth is lost in wonderment
And I despise the world
And my heart is brimful
Of the love of God.
When I say Hail Mary;
All my fears wilt and die
And my passions are quelled.
If I say Hail Mary;
Devotion grows within me
And sorrow for sin awakens.
When I say Hail Mary
Hope is made strong
In my breast
And the dew of consolation
Falls on my soul
More and more
Because I say Hail Mary.
And my spirit rejoices
And sorrow fades away
When I say Hail Mary.