Feast Of The Holy Name Of Jesus

The Feast of the Holy Name is celebrated as an obligatory memorial by professed members of the Holy Name Society on January 3. 

Missa "In nomine Jesu"

Holy Mother Church reveals to us the greatness of His Name.

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. Holy Mother Church reveals to us the greatness of His name.  It was on the occasion of the rite of Circumcision that a name was given to children among Jews. So the Church uses the same Gospel as that of the Feast of the Circumcision, and dwells on the second part, which tells us that "the Child was called Jesus", "as God had bid that He should be called". This name means Savior, for "there is no other name given to men whereby we must be saved".

Devotion to the Holy Name is deeply rooted in the Sacred Scriptures, especially in the Acts of the Apostles. Although it is not difficult to find devotion to the Holy Name in some ancient Christian liturgy, the official origin of this feast is traced to the sixteenth century, when it was celebrated by the Franciscan Order. It was promoted in a special manner by St. Bernard, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. John Capistran and by the Franciscan Order. This special feast was extended to the whole Church in 1727 during the Pontificate of Innocent XIII.

The feast is meant to impress on all Christians the dignity of the Holy Name. Before the reform of the Roman Calendar this feast was celebrated on January 2. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use by the Dominican and Franciscan Orders. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial for the whole Church and set on January 3.

The Feast of the Holy Name is celebrated as an obligatory memorial by professed members of the Holy Name Society. It is customary for parish Holy Name Societies to have formal induction ceremonies for candidates wishing to become fully professed members in the Confraternity on this special feast day. The ceremony can be held either during the memorial Mass or immediately following.

Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus  

On January 3 the Church celebrates the optional memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Before the reform of the Roman Calendar this feast was celebrated on January 2. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted in 1970 when the new liturgical calendar when into effect.  It was deleted at least in part due to the fact that in the United States the Epiphany was transferred to this Sunday from its fixed date of January 6.  Throughout this time a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use - especially by the Dominican and the Franciscan Orders

Pope John Paul II created a new Holy Name of Jesus feast in 2002, to be observed on January 3, bearing the official status of an "optional memorial".   The feast was formally restored to the liturgical calendar as an optional memorial with the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002.

In addition, the second Sunday of each month is designated in the Roman Catholic calendar as a "Holy Name Sunday", and has its own special Mass, which may be substituted for the regular one that would otherwise be solemnized on that Sunday (except if a major observance such as Easter falls on that day).  This is similar to the Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which by tradition is practiced on the first Friday of each month, which has its own special Mass (the same Mass as the one used annually on the Feast of the Sacred Heart).

The Feast of the Holy Name is an obligatory memorial for professed members of the Holy Name Society - all professed members are required to attend Mass on this day or pray the Liturgy of the Hours for the Holy Name, or recite the Litany to the most Holy Name of Jesus or make another special devotion to the Holy Name on January 3rd.  It is also highly recommended that all noviates be formally inducted into the Confraternity during or immediately after Mass on this very special feast day.