From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
January 3rd - The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Memorial
3 January
14 January (Franciscans, Carmelites, Augustinians)
15 January (Dominicans)
1 January (Eastern Churches; Lutheran)
7 August (Anglican)
Today, and all days, we honor the Holy Name of Jesus (The letters IHS
are an abbreviation of Jesous, the Greek name for Jesus). We do this
not because we believe that there is any supernatural or intrinsic
power hidden in the letters composing it, but because the Name of
Jesus reminds us of all the blessings we receive. To give thanks for
these blessings we revere the Holy Name, just as we honor His Passion
by revering His Cross.
The Name of Jesus, called upon with confidence and faith yields
assistance in our bodily needs, gives consolation in spiritual trials,
protects us against Satan and his trickery, and grants us blessings
and grace far beyond our imagination. This is why the Church concludes
her prayers with reverence, using the words: "Through Our Lord Jesus Christ.=E2=80=9D
Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God. The
name of Jesus is debased if any Christian uses it as justification for
berating others. Jesus reminds us that because we are all related to
Him we are, therefore, all related to one another.
Today, as we pray the Holy Rosary, we call upon our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, to fill our hearts with love and forgiveness for all of
our brothers and sisters on the earth, as well as for ourselves. We
remember that we are all related through Christ, whose Most Holy Name
should never be used as a weapon against others. We remember the words
of Mary, the Mother of God, at Beauraing, and pray always for
conversion, and the strength and conviction to make sacrifices for
those around us.
Quote: =E2=80=9CGlorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished,
through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those
suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to
those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to
the toiler, you sustain the weary=E2=80=9D (St. Bernardine of Siena).
Saint Quote:
Admirably saith St. Iren=C3=A6us, =E2=80=9CTo follow the Saviour is to part= ake of
salvation: to follow, the light is to partake of light, now they who
are in the light do not themselves illuminate the light, but are
enlightened by it.=E2=80=9D
=C2=A0by Jacob
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Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Uttered
Against the Holy Name
The Sign which the angel gave the shepherds to help them find the
new-born Savior, points to His lowliness: "This shall be a sign to
you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in
a manger." No other new-born baby who was wrapped in poor swaddling
clothes and lying in a manger, a feeding trough for animals, could be
found anywhere else but in a stable. Thus in lowliness the King of
heaven, the Son of God, chose to be born, because he came to destroy
the pride that had been the cause of man's ruin.
The prophets had already foretold that our Redeemer was to be treated
as the vilest of men on earth and that He was to be overwhelmed with
insults. How much contempt had not Jesus indeed to suffer from men! He
was called a drunkard, a trickster, a blasphemer and a heretic. What
ignominies He endured in His Passion! His own disciples abandoned Him;
one of them sold Him for thirty pieces of silver, and another denied
having ever known Him. He was led in bonds through the streets like a
criminal; He was scourged like a slave, ridiculed as a fool, crowned
with thorns as a mock king, buffeted and spit upon, and finally left
to die, hanging on a cross between two thieves, as the worst criminal
in the world. "The noblest of all," says Saint Bernard, "is treated as
the vilest of all." But the Saint adds, "The viler Thou art treated,
the dearer Thou art to me." The more I see Thee, my Jesus, despised
and put to shame, the more dear and worthy of my love dost Thou become
to me.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)