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Meditation & Novena to Most holy name
of Jesus
Among the Jews a male child received his name at the rite of
circumcision. On the day that the Divine Infant was circumcised, He
received the Name of Jesus, which signifies Savior, and which had
given Him by the Angel before he was conceived.
The angel Gabriel said to May, "Do not fear, Mary. You have found
favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a Son and give Him the
Name Jesus. Great will be His dignity and He will be called Son of the
Most High" (Luke 1:30-31).
The Angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said to him,
"Joseph, son of David, have no fear about taking Mary as your
wife. It is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this Child. She
is to have a Son and You are to name Him Jesus because he will save
His people from their sins" (Mathew 1:20-21).
Jesus taught the disciples to present their petitions to the Eternal
Father in His Name. "I give you My assurance, whatever you ask
the Father, He will give you in My name. Until now you have not asked
for anything in My Name. Ask you shall receive, that your joy may be
full" (John 16:23-24). Jesus assured them that by reason of the
merits of His redemption, the power of such prayer would be
irresistible.
But the greatness of that power would depend largely on their loyalty
to and love for Him. Since those who love Jesus remain in Him, prayer
offered in His Name is, as it were, His own.
Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest
spiritual force in the world today. It is a source of joy and
inspiration in our youth; of strength in our manhood, when only His
Holy Name and His grace can enable us to overcome temptation; of hope,
consolation, and confidence at the hour of our death, when more than
ever before, we realize that the meaning of Jesus is "Lord, the
Savior." We should bow in reverence to His Name and submission to
His Holy Will.
In His last discourse with His Apostles He said, "I go to the
Father, and whatever you ask in My Name I will do, so as to glorify
the Father in the Son. Anything you ask Me in My Name I will do"
(John 14:12-13). Our Lord's words are a consolation and encouragement
to persevere in prayer. It is good to know on His own testimony that
our heavenly Father never grows weary of listening to our petitions.
Jesus also assures us that he will grant our prayers if we ask in His
Name.
But we must never forget that God may refuse our request, not because
He does not love us, He may refuse our request either because what we
ask may be harmful to us, or because He has good reason for delaying
to grant our petition, or because He desires that we should ask it
more urgently. We should submissively adore the wisdom of our God if
He altogether withholds the favor we implore.
Novena
Jesus most merciful, in early infancy You began Your office of Savior
by shedding Your Precious Blood and assuming for us that Name which is
above all names. I thank You for such early proofs of Your infinite
love.
I venerate Your sacred Name in union with the deep respect of the
Angel who first announced it to the earth. I also unite my affections
to the sentiments of tender devotion, which Your adorable Name has, in
all ages, enkindled in the hearts of Your servants.
Jesus, You said, "Whatever you ask the Father, He will give you
in My Name" (John 16:23). I earnestly ask the Father in Your Name
for an increase of faith, hope, and charity, and the grace to lead a
good life and to die a happy death.
Jesus, You said, "Anything you ask Me in My Name I will do"
(John 14:13). I earnestly ask You in Your Name to save my soul. I also
ask in Your Name for the following favor:
[Mention your special intention]
Jesus, Your most holy Name means "Savior." Be my Savior,
dearest Jesus. mercifully grant me through Your adorable Name –
which is the joy of heaven, the terror of hell, the consolation of the
afflicted, and the solid ground of my unlimited confidence - all the
petitions I make in this prayer.
Blessed Mother of our Redeemer, you shared so closely in the suffering
of your dear Son from the moment that He shed His Precious Blood and
assumed for us the Name of Jesus, till His last breath on the cross.
Obtain for me and all those I love, as well as for all the faithful,
the grace of eternal salvation through the holy Name of Jesus.
Beg, also a most ardent love of Your Divine Son may imprint that
sacred Name upon our hearts; that it may be always in our minds, and
frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense in temptation, our
refuge in danger during our lives, and our consolation and support in
the hour of death. Amen.
Prayer of Contrition
Good Jesus, according to Your great mercy, have mercy on me. Most
merciful Jesus, by that Precious Blood which You willingly shed for
sinners, I beg You to wash away all my sinfulness and to look
graciously upon me, a poor and unworthy sinner, as I call upon Your
holy Name. Therefore, Jesus, save me for the sake of Your Holy Name.
Let us Pray
God, You appointed Your only-begotten Son to be the Savior of mankind,
and You commanded His Name to be called Jesus. Mercifully grant that
we may enjoy the vision of Him in heaven, whole holy Name we venerate
on earth. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
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