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).

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine

-------------------------------------