Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints
- Most Holy Name of Jesus
- Genevieve, virgin
- Antherus, pope and martyr
- Peter Balsam, martyr
- Bertilla of Mereuil, widow
The name of Jesus comes from the Aramaic Yeshu and the Hebrew Jehoshua, which means "Yahweh is salvation." This name was given to Christ by the angel Gabriel at the time of his annunciation to Mary that she would be the Mother of God (Luke 1:31). This name, Jesus, is a common name among Arabic people and is given in baptism to children in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries. However, in modern times, this is not encouraged as before.
The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus is observed as an Optional Memorial on January 3 by Catholics following the present General Roman Calendar. The Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, also celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3, as the Order's titular feast. Observance of the feast was officially granted to the Franciscans in 1530 A.D. and spread over a great part of the Church.
St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444 A.D.), a Franciscan who preached missions all over Italy, attracted great crowds as he preached devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus - denouncing the evils of his times. Bernardine of Siena's method of preaching was to hold a board on which were the three letters of the Savior's name in its Greek form - IHS - surrounded by rays of yellow and flaming red. St. Bernardine persuaded the people to copy these plaques and place them over their dwellings and public buildings.
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus and observance of its feast at local levels has been practiced since the 15th century A.D. The Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians kept the feast on 14 January and the Dominicans on 15 January. Many Eastern Churches celebrate the feast on January 1 which was also the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ. Around 1643 A.D. the Carthusians were able to obtain the celebration of the feast on the Second Sunday after Epiphany.
A Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus was written by St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John of Capistrano in the 15th century A.D. St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John of Capistrano were at the forefront of the Catholic Reformation at the grass roots. Learn more on The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation.
Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Learn more at Wikipedia.org
Learn more on the Most Holy Name of Jesus at Wikipedia.org
Saints in the Byzantine Calendar [January 3]
- St. Malachias, Prophet
- St. Gordius, Martyr
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