January, the month dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus

[Dawn Marie]

January, the month dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus

J.M.J.

From:

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's

"The Church's Year"

For the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

Who instituted this festival?

Pope Innocent XIII in the year 1721 commanded that the most Holy Name of Jesus should

be solemnly honored throughout the Catholic world. St.Bernard, with the sanction of

the Apostolic See, had established the solemn veneration of this most Holy Name in

his order a few centuries before. In the Introit of this day's Mass, the Church

proclaims the glory of this name:

INTROIT. In the name of Jesus let every knee bow of those that are in heaven, on

earth, and under the earth; and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ

is in the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:10-11). O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is

thy name in the whole earth! (Ps. 8:2). Glory be

to the Father.

COLLECT. O God, Who didst ordain Thine only-begotten Son to be the Savior of mankind,

and didst command that he should be called Jesus: mercifully grant that we may enjoy

in heaven the blessed vision of him whose holy name we venerate upon earth. Through

our Lord .

EPISTLE (Acts 4:8-12). In those days, Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said: Ye

princes of the people and ancients, hear: If we this day are examined concerning the

good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole, be it known

to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by

him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by

you the builders; which is become the head of the corner: neither is there salvation

in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must

be saved.

EXPLANATION. This Epistle speaks of the omnipotent power of the name of Jesus,

through which miracles are not only performed, but also on which our salvation

depends. Jesus alone can give us redemption and happiness; He alone under heaven has

been given to man by God, that through Him happiness could be reached; He alone can

break the fetter of error and sin in which all mankind lies captured. He alone is the

truth, He alone, as the Son of God, has power to render perfect satisfaction for sin,

and to make us truly good; and the good alone can be saved. Cling, therefore, ever

faithfully and firmly to Jesus, and depart not from Him; without Him you can

accomplish nothing; with Him, through Him, you can accomplish all things.

GOSPEL (Lk. 2:21). At that time, after eight days were accomplished that the child

should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel

before he was conceived in the womb.

REMARKS OF ST. BERNARD ON THE SWEET NAME OF JESUS

The sweet name of Jesus produces in us holy thoughts, fills the soul with noble

sentiments, strengthens virtue, begets good works, and nourishes pure affections. All

spiritual food leaves the soul dry, if it contain not that penetrating oil, the name

Jesus. When you take your pen, write the name Jesus: if you write books, let the name

of Jesus be contained in them, else they will possess no charm or attraction for me;

you may speak, or you may reply, but if the name of Jesus sounds not from your lips,

you are without unction and without charm. Jesus is honey in our mouth, light in our

eyes, a flame in our heart. This name is the cure for all diseases of the soul. Are

you troubled? think but of Jesus, speak but the name of Jesus, the clouds disperse,

and peace descends anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin? so that you fear

death? invoke the name of Jesus, and your fears will vanish. Never yet was human

being in urgent need, and on the point of perishing, who invoked this help-giving

name, and was not powerfully sustained. It was given us for the cure of all our ills;

to soften the impetuosity of anger, to quench the fire of concupiscence, to conquer

pride, to mitigate the pain of our wounds, to overcome the thirst of avarice, to

quiet sensual passions, and the desires of low pleasures. If we call to our minds the

name of Jesus, it brings before us His most meek and humble heart. And gives us a new

knowledge of His most loving and tender compassion. The name of Jesus is the purest,

and holiest, the noblest and most indulgent of names, the name of all blessings and

of all virtues; it is the name of the God-Man, of sanctity itself. To think of Jesus

is to think of the great, infinite God Who, having given us His life as an example,

has also bestowed the necessary understanding, energy and assistance to enable us to

follow and imitate Him, in our thoughts, inclinations, words and actions. If the name

of Jesus reaches the depths of our heart, it leaves heavenly virtue there. We say,

therefore, with our great master, St. Paul the Apostle: If any man love not our Lord

Jesus Christ, let him be anathema (I Cor. 16:22).

The above is taken from "The Church's Year" online:

http://www.sspxasia.com/Documents/The_Church_Year/index.htm.

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Read "The Wonders of the Holy Name" by Fr. O'Sullivan -

available online at http://www.olrl.org/pray/wonders.shtml

and in print from TAN Books (www.tanbooks.com).

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Available in our Store (http://olrl.org/mm5/merchant.mvc) :

"Respect His Holy Name" cards (http://olrl.org/pray/holyname.shtml - 3 cents ea.) and

"The Holy Face of Jesus" leaflet (http://olrl.org/pray/holy_face.shtml - 4 cents

ea.);

distribute widely to help prevent and make reparation for the sins of blasphemy.

We wish you all God's blessings for this New Year.

--

Sincerely in Christ,

Our Lady of the Rosary Library

"Pray and work for souls."

http://olrl.org

[Charibel R Hilario]

Invoking the Name of Jesus with deep love and reverence saved me from so many pickles, dangers and troubles the practice has become the default prayer when I am unable to easily recall appropriate prayer formulas.  Calling His Glorious Name with humility and poverty of spirit, to me, is a cry for help He answers very quickly.  Blessed and praised forever more be the Name of Jesus.    †Amen†   

[Flavia Talladen Schott]

Thank you for posting, Dawn Marie.