THE CHILD RECEIVES THE NAME MARY

September 22nd–23rd

The following account is taken from the recorded private revelations of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a 19th-century Catholic mystic. It is shared here for devotional reflection within the Catholic tradition.

In her visions, Anne Catherine Emmerich described the preparations made in the house of Saint Anne for a great feast. The furniture had been moved aside, and the dividing screens removed so that several small rooms became one large hall. Along both sides of this space stood long, low tables arranged for a celebratory meal.

On the tables were delicate vessels with openwork tops resembling baskets, possibly intended for flowers. On a side table lay small white rods, which appeared to be made of bone, and spoons shaped like deep shells with ringed handles. There were also small curved tubes, perhaps used for sipping liquid.

At the center of the hall stood a type of altar table covered in red and white cloths. Upon it rested a small trough-shaped cradle woven of red and white wickerwork and covered with a sky-blue cloth. Nearby stood a lectern draped with fabric, upon which parchment prayer scrolls were placed.

Five priests from Nazareth were present, one vested more prominently than the others. Joachim stood close to them. Behind the altar gathered relatives of Anne and Joachim, dressed in festive garments. Among them were Anne’s sister Maraha from Sephoris and other family members.

Although Anne was no longer confined to bed, she remained in her room behind the hearth and did not appear at the ceremony.

Elizabeth’s sister, Enue, brought forth the infant Mary, wrapped in red swaddling clothes covered with a transparent white veil. She placed the child into Joachim’s arms. The priests approached the altar and prayed aloud from the scrolls.

Joachim then presented the child to the high priest. Lifting her as an offering while reciting prayers, he gently placed her in the cradle upon the altar. The priest took a pair of scissors designed to catch what was cut and trimmed three small locks of hair from the child’s head — one from each side and one from the top — which he then burned in a brazier.

He next anointed the child with oil, touching her ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and breast as part of the ritual blessing. The name Mary was written upon a parchment and laid upon her breast.

After the ceremony, the child was returned to Joachim, who gave her back to Enue to bring her again to Saint Anne. Hymns were sung, and the celebratory meal began. The account concludes at this point.

---

Reflection

This traditional devotional account highlights the reverence and solemnity surrounding the early life of the Blessed Virgin Mary as understood within Catholic spirituality.