Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus: Readings & Sermon
The Mass readings for the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus are selected from the pre-1955 Missal of St. Pius X. Followed by the sermon of Monsignor Thomas Sebastian, Oratory Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Society of Christ the King.
INTROIT: Philippians 2:10 – 11
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. Psalm 8:2. O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth! V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. 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.
EPISTLE: Acts of the Apostles 4:8 – 12
IN THOSE DAYS: Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear: If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole: Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God hath raised from the dead, even by Him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.
GRADUAL and ALLELUIA: Psalm 105:47, Isaias 63:16
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from amoung the nations: that we may give thanks Thy Holy Name, and may glory in Thy praise. V. Thou, On Lord, our Father and our Redeemer: from everlasting is Thy Name. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Psalm 144:21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His Holy Name. Alleluia.
GOSPEL: St. Luke 2:21
AT THAT TIME: after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be circumcised: His Name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
OFFERTORY: Psalm 85:12, 5
I WILL PRAISE THEE, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy Name for ever: for Thou, O God, are sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee. Alleluia.
COMMUNION VERSE: Psalm 85:9 – 10
ALL THE NATIONS Thou hast made shall come and adore before Thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify Thy Name: for Thou art great, and dost wonderful things: Thou art Gog alone. Alleluia.
SERMON of Monsignor Sebastian:
TODAY, being the feast of the Most Holy Name of Our Lord and King JESUS CHRIST, we must remember that there is no more powerful name than that of the Saviour. Blessed Peter teaches us that in no other name is man saved, as well as healed, both physically and spiritually (cf. Acts 4:12). The Apostle also reminds us That in the Name of JESUS every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth (Philippians 2:10).
The ancients named their children with specific names so that the one so-named might obtain the attributes of that name. Our Blessed Lord and King is given His most Holy Name by command of the Angel, עושי ,which means “Saviour” – Our Lord’s Name is both What and Who He is. For this reason, on account of Who and What Our Blessed Lord and King is, we must a proper and right devotion to His Most Holy Name.
One of the most ancient, yet almost forgotten devotions is that of the Most Holy Name of Our Blessed Lord and King Jesus Christ. First, whenever you say or hear the Most Holy Name you should immediately bow your head, regardless of time or place. There was a time, even here in the secular United States, when a man would even remove his hat at the Holy Name, and even non-Catholics would hold the Holy Name in high regard. We must work to restore the devotion to the Holy Name, rather than tolerate Its disrespect, disregard and even blasphemy. One of the most shocking things I have witnessed in recent times is that television censors will “bleep out” Our Lord’s Holy Name when spoken in praise or devotion, but allow it full and clear when used as a blasphemous utterance.
We should all work to make the Holy Name known, respected and venerated. S. Bernard of Clairvaux, the great lover of the Holy Name, teaches us:
To preach It [the Holy Name], is to give light; to think of It, is to feed the soul; to call on It, is to win grace and unction…What, thinkest thou, hath made the light of faith so suddenly and so brightly to shine in the whole world but the preaching of the Name of Jesus? Is it not in the light of this Name that God hath called us into His marvelous light, even that light wherewith we being enlightened, and in His light seeing light, Paul saith truly of us: Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. This is the Name which the Apostle was commanded to bear before Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel, the Name which he bore as a light to enlighten his people, crying everywhere The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light, let us walk honestly as in the daylight, He pointed out to all that candle set upon a candlestick, preaching in every place Jesus and Him crucified. How did that Name shine forth and dazzle every eye that beheld It, when It came like lightning out of the mouth of Peter to give bodily strength to the feet of the lame man, and to clear the sight of many a blind soul? Cast he not fire when he said: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk?
This day begin a new and vigourous devotion to the Most Holy Name of the Lord; remember that His Precious Name must only be used to call upon Him, to praise Him and to teach Him. Devotion to the Holy Name must become part of your everyday life, and by increasing in this devotion you will naturally, or I should say, supernaturally increase in all your devotion.
It is a very important lesson that will help you all as you grow in the virtues of grace: devotion. It is important to revisit this great virtue of devotion, not only once a year and this feast, but on all days; and so, let us really learn about how to live a more spiritual life vivified by pious devotion…
Devotion, properly speaking, is a deep affection for the things of God. The greater our love and intimacy with God so too our greater devotion. The best way to increase devotion is by prayer and meditation, and of course the greatest prayer we can offer that includes proper meditation is the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary: a set of fifteen mysteries of our salvation wherein the Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother teach us about their exemplary lives. Another, even greater devotion that has the greatest amount of the grace needed to increase devotion and the sanctification of our soul is the Holy Mass. This is why I encourage all to have their own Hand Missal, most especially either Father Lasance’s New Roman Missal (1945 edition) or the Saint Andrew’s Daily Missal (1945 edition). The Holy Rosary and the Holy Mass are prayers that will increase devotion and prepare your soul for heaven!
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We love you. Save souls. Amen.
