Every September 12 the feast of the holy and sweet Name of Mary is commemorated. According to tradition, the Mother of God is named after a heavenly mandate. Here are the details.
The Dominican Blessed Santiago de La Vorágine (1230-1298), in his book The Golden Legend, collects a very ancient story. It is said that Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Virgin, had been married for 20 years without being able to have children. For this reason, they promised the Lord that, if he blessed them with a creature, it would be consecrated to his service.
On the Jewish festival of Dedication, Joachim went to the Temple with the other men. When he went to deposit his offering, the priest took him out of there, reproaching him that he had no children. Poor Joaquín, ashamed and sad, retired to the field.
One day, a shining angel appeared to him. The celestial being encouraged him not to be afraid and indicated that the warning that had been given to him in the Temple had been unfair. Furthermore, he pointed out to her that his prayers had been heard and that the merits of his alms to the poor had reached heaven.
Then the angel explained to him that on certain occasions the Lord does not allow children to be had for a time to show his providence in a special way. Then, he gave him examples like that of old Sarah, mother of Isaac; that of Rachel, mother of Joseph (the one from Egypt); and that of the mothers of Samson (the strong one) and Samuel (the prophet). All of them waited many years to conceive.
Later, he told him that his wife Ana would give him a girl, whom he should call “Maria.” Then, he reminded her that they must fulfill her promise to consecrate her to God and prophesied to her that the Savior of the world would be born from her.
To make him believe what he said, the angel told Joachim that he would find his wife Anna at the “Golden Gate” of Jerusalem. And so it was, the saint found her in that precise place.
Ana, who was desperately searching for Joaquín, also received a visit from the angel, who announced to her the same thing that he had communicated to her husband. When the couple met, their happiness was immense. They told each other what had happened to them with the angel and months later they had a beautiful baby girl.
“Anna conceived, in due time she gave birth and found that the child was a girl. According to the angel’s indication, they gave the newborn the name Mary”, points out the Dominican Blessed Santiago de La Vorágine.