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Meditation for feast of the Holy name - St. AlphonsusThe name of Jesus was given to the Incarnate Word not by men, but by God himself: And his name shall be called Jesus,[1] that is, Savior. A name of gladness, a name of hope, and name of love. A name of gladness, because if the remembrance of past transgressions afflicts us, this name comforts us, reminding us that the Son of God became man for this purpose, to make himself our Saviour. My beloved Saviour, Thou camest down from heaven to seek me, and I, a miserable sinner, have turned my back upon Thee and despised Thy grace and Thy love! But, notwithstanding this, Thou willest my salvation, O my Jesus! and I thank Thee for it and love Thee. A name of hope, because he that prays to the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus may hope for every grace he asks for: If you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you.[2] O my God! trusting to this promise, in the name of Jesus I ask Thee the pardon of my sins, holy perseverance, and the gift of Thy love. Grant, above all, that the remainder of my life may not be spent in displeasing Thee, but only in loving Thee and doing Thy will, as Thou deservest that I should do. A name of love. St Bernadine of Sienna says that the name of Jesus is a sign that represents to us how much God has done for the love of us. For the name of Jesus brings to our remembrance all the sufferings which Jesus has endured for us in his life and at his death. Wherefore a devout writer says to him, "O Jesus! how much hath it cost Thee to be Jesus, - that is to say, my Saviour!"[3] Affections and PrayersO my Jesus! I beseech Thee, do Thou write Thy name on my poor heart and on my tongue, in order that when I am tempted to sin, I may resist by invoking Thee; so that if I am tempted to despair, I may trust in Thy merits; and that if I feel myself tepid in loving Thee, Thy name may inflame my heart at the recollection of how much Thou hast loved me. Thy name, then will always be my defense, my comfort, and the fire that shall keep me always inflamed with Thy love. Make me, therefore, always to call Thee my Jesus, and to live and die with Thy holy name on my lips, saying even with my last breath, "I love Thee, my Jesus; my Jesus, I love Thee." O Mary, my Queen! make me when I am dying invoke thee continually, together with thy Son Jesus. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] "Et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum." – Luke, i. 31. [2] "Si quid petieritis Patrem in nomine meo, dabit vobis." – John, xvi. 23. [3] "O Jesu! quanti tibi constitit esse Jesum, Salvotorem meum!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taken from the Ascetical Works, Vol. IV., The Incarnation. Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ; or The Mysteries of the Faith. by Saint Alphonsus De Liguori, Doctor of the Church, Bishop of Agatha, and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
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