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The Christmas Cycle
Feast of the Holy Name
The Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus shortly after the feast of the
Circumcision, for He received this name when He was circumcised in the temple.
“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”
(Introit). The heavenly Father has elevated the name of Jesus above all others. The will and
intellect of every man should bow in reverence at the mention of this holy name. Christ is the
“stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner. . . . For other
foundation no man can lay, but that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus” (Mt 21:42; 1 Cor 3:11).
This name was given in heaven, announced by the angel Gabriel, and made known to the Virgin
at the time of the Annunciation. “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a Son;
and thou shalt call His name Jesus” (Lk 1:31).
Jesus means Savior. His very name bespeaks the infinite love which He bears for us. We
are to understand that He is a Savior whose works are of infinite value, whose authority is unlimited,
and whose fondest desire is to reconcile us with His Father and to make us His coheirs
to the kingdom of heaven. “O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name!” (Ps 8:2.) Truly
wonderful is His name, for it shields us from the wrath of an angry God, and by it we may ask
for light and grace and virtue.
“O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name!” This is the name of the eternal high priest
who became man for us. This is He who offered upon the altar of the cross, and offers daily on
the altars of our churches, the only sacrifice that is entirely pleasing to the Father. This is He
who by reason of His humanity can offer sacrifice in the name of man, and who by reason of
His divinity can offer a sacrifice worthy of the majesty of God. This is He who, by uniting the
divine nature and the human nature in Himself, can so elevate the degraded nature of men that
they may hope to participate in the divine life and enjoy the majesty of God.
“Thou art sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy” (Offertory). The name of Jesus is
the sweetest of all names, and He who bears it is most worthy of all love. He who calls Jesus
his friend can be assured that this friend is the most devoted and unselfish of all friends.
Jesus is always solicitous for the welfare of His friends, and by means of the daily Sacrifice
of the Mass and by His continual intercession for us in heaven, He devotes Himself to
our salvation.
Christ has chosen other names for Himself which, although contained in the name of
Jesus, emphasize particular aspects of His love for us. He is the Father of the Poor, the Good
Shepherd who goes in search of the lost sheep; He is the Son of Man; He is the way, the truth,
and the life. St. Bernard said of the name of Jesus, “It is like honey in the mouth, like music in
the ear, like gladness in the heart.”
Jesus is our all. In His name we may pray to the Father with assurance of being heard
( Jn 16:23). In His name the Church administers all her sacraments. In His name she offers
all her prayers and blesses homes, the fields, and the sick. In the name of Jesus she casts
out evil spirits, and at the hour of our death bids us, “Go forth, Christian soul.” She assures
us that whoever shall call upon this name will be saved (Acts 2:21). When our soul has
departed this life to seek its eternal home, the Church asks in the name of Jesus, “Eternal
rest give unto him, O Lord.”
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