previously posted January 1, 2021 by evensong
Today, we offer a grand old standby to begin the New Year right – St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Novena to the Holy Name of Jesus. This past September, we posted “The Language of Hell“ about blasphemy against Jesus and had intended to post a follow-up but got sidetracked. This Novena is a beginning, but much more needs to be said about the need for reparation and the great graces to be gained, by devotion to the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Towards the end of this very long post (sorry about that!) please see the highlighted note on the plenary Indulgence at the hour of death.
NOVENA TO THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS
FIRST DAY
THE GIVING OF THE GLORIOUS NAME OF JESUS
Consider, devout soul, that the holy name of Jesus is not a name invented by man, but it comes from God, who wished it to be made known by the archangel Gabriel, as St. Luke testifies: “His name was called Jesus . . . by the angel.” St. Bernard also says that this name is not a simple figure of things, a shadow without reality, but it is a palpable truth. Jesus is a name that expresses perfectly the hypostatic union of the divine nature and of the human nature. The world could not have been saved by a pure God, because God is impassible, nor by a pure man, because man is limited and finite.
This is the reason why the holy name Jesus, which signifies the same as Saviour, as the angel declares, has been given to the Son of God, made man through Mary, in order to show that both as God and man He accomplished the redemption of mankind by delivering them from the slavery of sin at the same time. In short, Jesus is a name that comprises infinity, eternity, immensity, wisdom, justice, mercy, and all the adorable perfections of God. What happiness for us to be reconciled with the eternal Father through the merits of this divine Mediator who has had the goodness to pay our debt at the cost of His precious blood!
Adorable Jesus! If Thou hast sacrificed Thyself to deliver Thy people from the hands of their enemies in order to acquire an eternal name, it would be but fair that this name should surpass and eclipse every other name, even that of the seraphim, as St. Paul says: “Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name than they.” And if the eternal Father has wished that this name should be that of His Son, mayest Thou grant that, having experienced on earth its happy effects, we may arrive at the complete happiness in heaven to praise Thee and to bless Thee for all eternity.
In honor of the giving of the glorious name of Jesus, we pray:
Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.
Let us pray.
God, who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son Saviour of mankind, and didst command that He should be called Jesus, mercifully grant that we may enjoy the vision of Him in heaven, whose holy Name we venerate on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, from this time forth and evermore!
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