The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus!
We are called to direct our attention to the power of the Lord's name in our lives and encourage others to treat the name of Jesus with the utmost respect.
According to the National Catholic Register,
“The name 'Jesus' comes from the Latin form of the Greek 'Iesous' (Ἰησοῦς), which in turn is the transliteration of the Hebrew 'Yeshua' (Yehošuaʕ) or 'Yehoshua' (Yehošuaʕ) or, in its contracted form, 'Joshua,' which means 'Yahweh' is salvation.
The beginnings of the veneration of the Most Holy Name of Jesus date back to the liturgical celebrations of the 14th century. Saint Bernardine of Siena in the 15th century, along with his disciples, spread the veneration of the Name of Jesus and a century later, around 1530, Pope Clement VII granted the Franciscan order authorization for the celebration of the Office of the Holy Name of Jesus.”
Saint Bernardine of Siena said,
“This is that most Holy Name longed for by the patriarchs, anxiously awaited, called upon amid cries of suffering, invoked with sighs, implored with tears, given when the fullness of grace arrives”
Below you will find a selection of prayers dedicated to honoring the Most Holy Name of Jesus this month and beyond!
The Golden Arrow Prayer
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible, and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored, and glorified in Heaven, on Earth, and under the Earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.
Novena in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus
O Merciful Jesus, Who didst in Thy early infancy commence Thy office of Savior by shedding Thy Precious Blood, and assuming for us that Name which is above all Names; we thank Thee for such early proofs of Thine infinite love. We venerate Thy sacred Name, in union with the profound respect of the Angel who first announced it to the earth, and unite our affections to the sentiments of tender devotion which the adorable Name of Jesus has in all ages enkindled in the hearts of Thy Saints.
Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerring word, and penetrated with confidence in Thy mercy, we now most humbly remind Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that where two or three should assemble in Thy Name, Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst of them.
Come, then, into the midst of us, most amiable Jesus, for it is in Thy sacred Name we are here assembled; come into our hearts, that we may be governed by Thy holy spirit; mercifully grant us, through that adorable Name, which is the joy of Heaven, the terror of Hell, the consolation of the afflicted, and the solid ground of our unlimited confidence, all the petitions we make in this novena.
Oh! blessed Mother of our Redeemer! Who didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings of thy dear Son when He shed His Sacred Blood and assumed for us the Name of Jesus, obtain for us, through that adorable Name, the favors we petition in this novena.
Beg also, that the most ardent love may imprint on our hearts that sacred Name, that it may be always in our minds and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense and our refuge in the temptations and trials of life, and our consolation and support in the hour of death. Amen.
Prayer in Honor of the Most Holy and Adorable Name of Jesus
JESUS! O Name of Jesus! Sweet Name! Delightful Name! Consoling Name! For what else is Jesus than Savior! Therefore, O Jesus, for Thy sweet Name's sake, be to me a Jesus, and save me. Suffer me not to be eternally lost. O good Jesus! Let not my iniquities destroy me, whom Thy bounty made. O, sweet Jesus! Recognize in me what is Thine, and efface all that is not Thine. O, sweet Jesus! Show mercy now in the time of mercy, and condemn me not in the day of justice. What profit to Thy Precious Blood, or what honor will my destruction give Thy Holy Name, O Jesus!"The dead shall not praise Thee, O Lord Jesus! Nor all they that go down to Hell."
Most amiable Jesus! Most meek, most loving Jesus! O Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Admit me to the number of Thy elect.
O Jesus, salvation of those who believe in Thee! Comfort of those who fly to Thee! O Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary! Give me grace, wisdom, charity, purity, and humility, that I may love Thee perfectly, praise Thee, enjoy Thee, serve Thee, and be glorified in Thee, with all those who call upon Thy Name, Thy Holy Name, Thy Sweet Name Jesus. Amen.