Dedication of the Month
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Say this prayer many times throughout the day this month:
Invocation of the Holy Name
“Blessed be the most holy name of Jesus without end!”
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January
The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Feast Day - January 3
Matthew 1:21 she will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
Psalms: 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, my soul; all my being,
bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, my soul;
and do not forget all his gifts, who pardons all your sins,
and heals all your ills, who redeems your life from the pit,
and crowns you with mercy and compassion, who fills
your days with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
IHS is a Christogram - a combination of letters that represent the holy name "Jesus." Early scribes would abbreviate the sacred names of Jesus by using the first two letters of the name, or the first and last letters, with a line over the letters. For example, the Greek letters Chi-Rho (which looks like our English X and P) was an abbreviation for the name "Christ." Likewise, I (iota) and H (eta) are the first two Greek letters for "Jesus." Sometime in the second century, the third letter, S (sigma), was added, thereby rendering IHS. These Christograms, such as XP or IHS, served as secret codes, whereby inscribed on a tomb, they indicated a deceased Christian, or on a doorpost, a Christian home. Due to the decline of Greek and predominance of Latin, IHS was viewed as an acronym for the Latin Iesus Hominum Salvator,meaning "Jesus Savior of Mankind."
We observe the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd each year as a formal way and appointed time to give honor to the Name of Jesus. It is a special feast among Franciscans because of the mission and ministry of the Franciscan friar St. Bernardine of Siena (b.1380 – d.1444). St. Bernardine and his student St. John of Capistrano (1386-1456) used the Christogram IHS to promote devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. In their preaching missions throughout Italy, they carried wooden placards with the IHS surrounded by rays. St. Bernardine and St. John blessed the faithful with this monogram, invoking the name of Jesus, and many miracles were reported. They also encouraged people to have the monogram placed over the city gates and the doorways of their homes, instead of a family crest, to show their devotion and allegiance to the Lord. Countering the objections of some who considered this veneration superstitious, Pope Martin V in 1427 approved the proper veneration to the Holy Name and asked that the cross be included in the monogram IHS.
The name Jesus means “God saves”; "Yahweh saves;" or "Yahweh is salvation". Just as a name gives identity to a person, the name of Jesus reminds us of who He is and what He has done for us.
What is most important is that each of us shows proper respect, reverence and devotion for the name of Jesus. It is with great reverence that we bow our head when we hear or say the name of JESUS. The name of Jesus reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer.
Philippeans 2:8-10 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth
The Name stands as a complete summary and description of our Lord's character and office, and it is under this aspect that it has been regarded by thousands of saints, whose hearts have melted at its mere sound. To them Jesus is their God, Jesus is their King, Jesus is their Redeemer, Jesus is their Mediator, Jesus is their Saviour, Jesus is their great Priest, Jesus is their Intercessor, Jesus is the Captain under Whom they fight, Jesus is the Leader Whom they follow, Jesus is their Teacher, Jesus is the Giver of their law, Jesus is the Spouse and Shepherd of their souls, Jesus is their Light, Jesus is their Life, Jesus is the Judge before Whom they rejoice to think that they must one day stand, Jesus is their final and eternal Reward, for which alone they live.
His Name tells us that He is, unbounded Charity, infinite Mercy, extremest Kindness, deepest Humility, most devoted Piety, transparent Simplicity, uttermost Poverty, Chastity without a stain.
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
is deeply rooted in the Sacred Scriptures.
The devils were powerless because of his name (Luke 10:17). The demons were cast out in his name (Mark 16:17-18). Healing occurred in his name (Acts 3:6, 3:16, 4:10). Salvation comes in his name (Acts 4:12, Rom. 10:13). We are to baptize in his name (Matt. 28:19). We are justified in his name (1 Cor. 6:11). Everything we do and say is done in his name (Col. 3:17).
Praying in Jesus Name
When you pray in Jesus' name you come boldly before God because of the power of his name. In invoking Our Lord's name with reverential faith, one is turning to Him and imploring His divine assistance. Jesus gives us His authority to make requests of the Father. When we ask in His name, it is as though Jesus Himself were making the request. In that name there is absolutely awesome power.
John 14:13-14 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask
anything of me in my name I will do it.
John 16:23 On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my
name he will give you.
To pray in his name is to ask by his authority; and to ask by his authority is to ask in accordance to his will as revealed in his word. So when we prepare to ask something of God in Jesus' name, we need to be sure that our request reflects His will, not ours. When we pray, it must be from the heart with all sincerity, and in faith.
It is important to point out that the fear that the Holy Name of Jesus should inspire in us is not a cringing, loathing kind of fear, but rather one of reverence and respect, as children should have for their parents.
Speaking of parents, the words our Blessed Mother said of God the Father in the Magnificat can apply to her Son as well: “His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.” (Luke 1:50)
We should fear God’s justice and trust in His mercy as well by asking Him for pardon for our sins in prayers such as the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Mass), and, most importantly, in the Sacrament of Penance (Confession).Click on 'The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus' to say this prayer.