# Prayer to the Holy Name of Mary
*2016-09-11*

> Bill Young reflects on Mother Teresa’s words and leads a heartfelt prayer to the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, reminding listeners of forgiveness and mercy.

## Mother Teresa’s Call to Compassion

Bill begins by sharing a powerful quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta: “When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.” He thanks Father Terry from Australia, who gave him this passage, and emphasizes the need to give generously, even to the point of personal sacrifice.

## Prayer to the Holy Name of Mary

Bill leads a prayer invoking the Blessed Virgin:

“Holy Mother of God, Mother of mine, though I feel unworthy, you love me and desire my salvation. Grant that, even though my tongue is unclean, I may always call upon your most holy and powerful name for protection, for your name is the help of the living and the salvation of the dying. May your name become the breath of my life. Do not delay in rescuing me; may I invoke you continually, especially at the hour of my death, that I may praise your beloved name eternally in heaven. O Clement, loving, sweet Virgin Mary, the comfort, sweetness, trust, and tenderness I feel when I pronounce your name fills my soul. I thank God for giving us this admirable and powerful name for our benefit. Help me to call on you not only occasionally but often, with all my love, that my heart may prompt me to exclaim, ‘O Name of the Mother of God, you are my love, my dear Mary.’ May your sweet name live in my heart and in all hearts, that I may invoke it forever.”

He concludes with a petition for the moment of death: “May my last words be, ‘Jesus and Mary, I love you.’”

## Reflection on Mercy and Forgiveness

Bill recalls the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and a striking image of a Bible found among the wreckage, opened to the Old Testament law of “eye for an eye.” He notes how Jesus taught to turn the other cheek, urging listeners to love enemies, forgive, and seek mercy. He encourages finding a Holy Door in one’s diocese—a symbol of God’s forgiveness—and reminds us to extend that forgiveness to others.

## Additional Mother Teresa Sayings

Bill shares more of Mother Teresa’s wisdom: “I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others, even until it hurts; otherwise there is no true love in me.” He also cites her reminder that what we build may be destroyed overnight, yet we must keep building out of love and faith.

## Closing Blessing

Bill ends with a simple blessing: “God loves you. Jesus loves you. Mary loves you. The Father and the Holy Spirit love you. Remain with them every day, pray to our Lord, to His Mother, and to the Holy Trinity for guidance.”

*Calling upon Mary’s holy name continually draws us into God’s mercy and strengthens our resolve to love and forgive.*