I was doing some research for a spotlight on Jacob, which I’ll post later this morning, and came across this bit from our dear Pope Emeritus Benedict, regarding the incident in the bible when Jacob fights the unknown assailant (Genesis 32:23-33):
“His rival, who seems to be held back and therefore defeated by Jacob, rather than giving in to the Patriarch’s request, asks him his name: “What is your name?”. And the Patriarch replies: “Jacob” (v. 28). Here the struggle takes an important turn. In fact, knowing someone’s name implies a kind of power over that person because in the biblical mentality the name contains the most profound reality of the individual, it reveals the person’s secret and destiny. Knowing one’s name therefore means knowing the truth about the other person and this allows one to dominate him. When, therefore, in answer to the unknown person’s request Jacob discloses his own name, he is placing himself in the hands of his opponent; it is a form of surrender, a total handing over of self to the other.”
It’s commentary like this that reinforces for me that our interest in names isn’t frivolous at all — names are so important!
Sancta Nomina 
[…] name from him. Pope Benedict discussed the name change in one of his public addresses, including the significance of names in general, awesome stuff. (As a side note, Jill Duggar named her baby Israel.) It’s also got the […]
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I love Papa Benny! He was a major force in my conversion! Recently I’ve been reading the daily meditations in CoWorkers for the Truth, all written before his papacy, and just being blown away again by his sensitivity, clarity, gentleness, and love, both for God and his fellow co-workers. I was always so blown away by his erudition and scholarship that I am only just now beginning to appreciate the depth of his holiness.
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I love him too!! I love what you wrote here, and I love that his “sensitivity, clarity, gentleness, and love” are being recognized and appreciated now … I felt terrible that so many people were negative about him during his papacy.
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I keep meaning to send you some stuff we use in the marriage prep course, quotes from Papa Benny on names!
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Ohmygosh yes, please do!
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I think there is also probably a connection to be had with taking your husband’s last name- “a total handing over of self to the other.”
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