Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

IHS or JHS monogram of the name of Jesus

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus has been celebrated in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, at least at local levels, since the end of the fifteenth century. The veneration of the Holy Name was extended to the entire Roman Catholic Church on 20 December 1721, during the pontificate of Pope Innocent XIII.

The celebration has been held on different dates, usually in January, because 1 January, eight days after Christmas, commemorates the circumcision of the child Jesus; as recounted in the Gospel read on that day, "at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Medieval Catholicism, and many other Christian churches to the present day, therefore celebrated both events as the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, usually on 1 January. The famous preacher Saint Bernardino of Siena placed great emphasis on the Holy Name, which he associated with the IHS sign, and may be responsible for the coupling of the two elements.

It is observed on 3 January by Catholics following the present General Roman Calendar, and on the Sunday between the Octave of Christmas and Epiphany (or 2 January) by Catholics following calendars of the 1914-1969 period.

Veneration of the Holy Name

The veneration of the Holy Name was encouraged by the example of Bernard of Clairvaux, who apostrophized it in many sermons. But the greatest promoters of this devotion were Bernardino of Siena and his follower John Capistrano. "They carried with them on their missions in the turbulent cities of Italy a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet, wherewith they blessed the sick and wrought great miracles. At the close of their sermons they exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves, to adore the Redeemer of mankind." The practice of showing the monogram of Jesus over gates and above doors largely begins with their exhortations, which had an unorthodox air that brought Bernardino before the tribunal of Pope Martin V. But John Capistrano defended his master so successfully that the pope not only permitted the veneration of the Holy Name, but also assisted at a procession in which the holy monogram was carried. The tablet used by St. Bernardino is venerated at the basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli at Rome


This name means Savoir, "there is no other name given to men whereby we must be saved".

POSTCOMMUNION PRAYER FROM THE MASS OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS

O almighty and everlasting God, who didst create and redeem us, look graciously upon our prayer, and with a favorable and benign countenance deign to accept the Sacrifice of the saving Victim, which we have offered to thy Majesty in houour of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: that through the infusion of they grace we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven,under the glorious Name of Jesus,the pledge of eternal predestionation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,Thy Son, who livith and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost...

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