Behold Your Mother

TITLES OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

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 Copyright 2021 by EWTN Publishing, Inc.

5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, Alabama 35210 USA

Tel.: 1.205.271.2900 • [Link]
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Copyright © 2021 by EWTN Publishing, Inc.

5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, Alabama 35210 USA

Tel: 1.205.271.2900 • [Link]
Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................page 1

Theotokos.......................................................................page 2

The New Eve..................................................................page 3

Mystical Rose..................................................................page 4

Refuge of Sinners............................................................page 5

Our Lady of Guadalupe..................................................page 6

Morning Star..................................................................page 7

Queen of Peace...............................................................page 8

The Litany of Loreto.......................................................page 9

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Introduction
The Blessed Virgin Mary. Mother of God. Our Lady of Grace. Through the
centuries, Christians have called Mary by many different names.

Each name reminds us of a different aspect of our Mother, opening our hearts
and drawing us closer to her maternal arms and also to her Son, Jesus Christ.

Eight of her titles come from Marian apparitions. For example, in the 16th
century, Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego and became known as “Our
Lady of Guadalupe.” In the 19th century, she appeared to St. Bernadette in
Lourdes, France, thus known by the title “Our Lady of Lourdes.” Just over
one hundred years ago, she appeared to three shepherd children in Fátima,
Portugal, becoming known by the title of “Our Lady of Fátima.”

Titles that come from typology are present in Sacred Scripture. Mary is a
“type” of certain Old Testament people and objects, such as Eve and the Ark
of the Covenant. This is why she is called the “New Eve” and the “New Ark
of the Covenant.”

Also, you'll find names given to Mary that refer to the dogmas concerning her
life. Titles such as “Mother of God,” “Immaculate Conception,” and “Blessed
Virgin” all stem from the Church’s growing understanding of Mary. ✴
Each name helps us to grow in the love of the Blessed Mother. So we hope
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that the following pages will bring your heart closer under her mantle, as we
share a few of the beautiful and befitting names bestowed upon the Blessed
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Virgin Mary.
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✴ Theotokos
“Mary of Nazareth is the Theotokos, the One who ‘gave birth to the King of
✴ Heaven and earth forever’ (Entrance Antiphon; cf. Sedulius). … Let us place
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ourselves with docility at the school of Mary. We want to learn from her, the
Holy Mother, how to accept in faith and prayer the salvation that God never
ceases to offer to all who trust in his merciful love.”
~ Pope St. John Paul II

Theotokos is a special name of Our Lady that comes from Greek “Theos” (God)
and “tiktein” (to give birth). Instead of only being called the mother of Jesus, she
is called the Mother of God, or Theotokos. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
(paragraph 509) says, “Mary is truly ‘Mother of God’ since she is the mother of
the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself.”

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More names that reflect Mary’s Divine Motherhood:
Blessed Mother
Mother of God
Mother of Divine Grace
Mother of Our Redeemer
Mother of the Word
Mother of Sorrows

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New Eve
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“[T]he knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience
✴ of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this

✴ did the virgin Mary set free through faith.”

~ St. Irenaeus, 2nd century

“The New Eve” is perhaps the Church’s first doctrinal title of Mary. We can see
the Church Fathers speaking about Mary being the New Eve, and this is also
present in the New Testament. Jesus refers to Mary as “Woman” (See John 2:4
and John 19:26), which brings to mind the first woman, Eve.

More names that reflect theological teachings on Mary:

Ark of the Covenant
Blessed Virgin Mary
The Immaculate Conception
Mary, Most Pure
Our Lady of the Annunciation
Immaculate Heart

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Mystical Rose
“Mary is the most beautiful flower ever seen in the spiritual world. It is by the
✴ power of God’s grace that from this barren and desolate earth there ever sprung
✴ up at all flowers of holiness and glory; and Mary is the Queen of them all.
She is the Queen of spiritual flowers; and therefore, is called the Rose,
for the rose is called of all flowers the most beautiful. But, moreover, she is the
Mystical or Hidden Rose, for mystical means hidden.”
- St. John Henry Newman

Mary’s title the Mystical Rose brings to mind the verse from the Song of
Solomon (also known as the Song of Songs or Canticle of Canticles): “I am a
rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys” (Song 2:1).

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More names that reflect Mary’s beauty, love, and wisdom:
Our Lady of Grace
Our Lady of the Rosary
Seat of Wisdom
Mater Amabilis
Tower of Ivory
Lily Among Thorns
Rose Ever Blooming

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Refuge of Sinners
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"Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into
✴ her arms with a perfect confidence.”
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~ St. Francis de Sales

Mary is our Mother, and as a mother she loves and guides us even when we fall
from grace. This title “Refugium Peccatorum” (Refuge of Sinners) dates to the
8th century and Saint Germanus of Constantinople.

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More names that reflect Mary’s protection and intercession:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted
Mary, Help of Christians
Mother of the Poor
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
Salus Populi Romani 
Our Lady of Good Counsel

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Our Lady of Guadalupe
“Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten
✴ or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor

✴ any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not
under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my
fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything.”
~ Our Lady to St. Juan Diego

When in December 1531 the Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego she spoke
to him in his native language, Nahuatl. When she answered his question about
what she wished to be called she said “Coatlaxopeuh” in that language, which
means “the one who crushes the feathered serpent.” This mythical creature plays
a significant role in the pre-Christian religion of Mexico. Its pronunciation prov-
identially sounded like Guadalupe to the Spanish, a popular Marian image and
pilgrimage site in Spain, especially for sea-farers. Thus, her title Our Lady of
Guadalupe conveys both meanings, presaging the spiritual and cultural melding
of two peoples.

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More names of Mary’s apparitions:
Our Lady of Akita
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Fátima
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Our Lady of Knock
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The Morning Star
“God who made the sun, also made the moon.  The moon does not
✴ take away from the brilliance of the sun.  All its light is reflected from the sun. 
The Blessed Mother reflects her Divine Son; without Him,
she is nothing.  With Him, she is the Mother of men.” 
~ Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

The title “Stella Matutina” (Morning Star) probably dates from the 14th century,
when it appears in a version of the litanies of Loreto. Its use was formalized when
Pope Sixtus V formally approved the Litany of Loreto in 1587. It draws our
attention to the fact that like the natural “morning star” (the planet Venus)
reflects the light of the Sun, Mary reflects the Light of Her Divine Son.

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More names that reflect Mary’s maternal guidance:
Our Lady, Star of the Sea
Our Lady of Confidence
Our Lady of Consolation
Our Lady of Good Success
Our Lady of Guidance

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Queen of Peace
“And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with
✴ the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
✴ Revelation 12:1

Our Lady Queen of Peace is a title of Mary that is usually represented with
her holding a dove and an olive branch, both items representing peace. Like
her Queenship generally, Queen of Peace derives from her being the Mother of
Jesus, who brings peace between God and man, and to the human heart.

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More names that reflect Mary’s spiritual love:
Queen of Heaven
Cause of our Joy
Blessed Mother
Mother of Christians
Mother of Divine Grace

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The Litany of Loreto
The Litany of Loreto, also known as the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
dates to the 16th century. It is one of only five litanies, among dozens used
for private devotion, whose use in the liturgy is approved by the Church. This
litany lists some of the most common names of the Blessed Virgin as well as
many lesser known titles. Together, they set before us Mary's exalted privi-
leges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and
queenly majesty.

V. Lord, have mercy.

R. Christ have mercy.

V. Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.

R. Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. ✴ ✴

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Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Mother of Mercy, pray for us.
Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us.
Mother of Hope, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us. 
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us. 
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.  ✴
Virgin most renowned, pray for us. 
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Virgin most powerful, pray for us.  ✴
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.  ✴
Virgin most faithful, pray for us. 
Mirror of justice, pray for us.  ✴
Seat of wisdom, pray for us. 
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Cause of our joy, pray for us.  ✴
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Spiritual vessel, pray for us. 
Vessel of honor, pray for us. 
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us. 
Mystical rose, pray for us. 
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Solace of migrants, pray for us.
Comfort of the afflicted, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of Angels, pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
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Queen of Martyrs, pray for us. ✴
Queen of Confessors, pray for us. ✴ ✴
Queen of Virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, pray for us. ✴
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us. ✴
Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us. ✴
Queen of the most Holy Rosary, pray for us. ✴
Queen of families, pray for us.
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Queen of peace, pray for us. ✴
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V. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord.

V. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,

R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.

V. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,

R. Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we your servants may
enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of
the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow, and
obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
The versicle and prayer after the litany may be varied by season. Thus, during
Advent (from the fourth Sunday before Christmas to Christmas Eve):
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray. O God, who hast willed that by the message of an Angel, thy
Word should receive flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary: grant unto thy
suppliants, that we who believe that she is truly the Mother of God, may be ✴
assisted by her intercession before Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
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From Christmas to Candlemas (the Feast of the Presentation), that is through
February 1:
V. Thou gavest birth without loss of thy virginity.
R. Intercede for us, O holy Mother of God.
Let us pray. O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast offered
unto the human race the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech thee,
that we may know the effects of her intercession, through whom we have
deserved to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son.
R. Amen.

From Candlemas to Easter (through Holy Week), AND from the day after
Pentecost (or from Trinity Sunday, if Pentecost is celebrated with octave) to
the beginning of Advent:
V. "Pray for us" and prayer "Grant unto thy servants," as above:

During Eastertide (from Easter day through Pentecost, and throughout the
octave of Pentecost if it is celebrated):
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord is truely risen, alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, Who by the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, hast vouchsafed to make glad the whole world, grant, we beseech
Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His mother, we may ✴
attain the joys of eternal life, through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen. ✴ ✴
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