The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Majesty of Christ Enthroned between Saints Peter and Paul, Mosaic, Palatine Chapel, Palermo, 12th Century
The Acts of the Apostles 4: 10-12
10 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.
notum sit omnibus vobis, et omni plebi Israel : quia in nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi Nazareni, quem vos crucifixistis, quem Deus suscitavit a mortuis, in hoc iste astat coram vobis sanus.
11 This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Hic est lapis qui reprobatus est a vobis aedificantibus, qui factus est in caput anguli:
12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.
et non est in alio aliquo salus. Nec enim aliud nomen est sub caelo datum hominibus, in quo oporteat nos salvos fieri.
Epistle of St Paul to the Philippians
9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names:
Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, et donavit illi nomen, quod est super omne nomen:
10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:
ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur caelestium, terrestrium et infernorum,
11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Jesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris.
Prayer to the Holy Name
O my Jesus! Thou art the Saviour who hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me, I pray Thee to write Thy adorable name on my poor heart; so that having it always imprinted in my heart by love, I may also have it ever on my lips, by invoking it in all my necessities. If the devil tempts me, Thy name will give me strength to resist him; if I lose confidence, Thy name will animate me to hope; if I am in affliction, Thy name will comfort me, by reminding me of all Thou hast endured for me. If I find myself cold in Thy love, Thy name will inflame me by reminding me of the love Thou hast shown me. I have fallen into so many sins, because I did not call on Thee; from henceforth Thy name shall be my defence, my refuge, my hope, my only consolation, my only love. Thus do I hope to live, and so do I hope to die, having Thy name always on my lips. Amen.
- Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Jesus hear us.
Jesus graciously hear us.
O God the Father, of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Etc.
Jesus, Son of David,
Jesus, most kind,
Jesus, most loving,
Jesus, most meek,
Jesus, most gentle,
Jesus, most mild,
Jesus, most sweet,
Jesus, full of pity,
Jesus, most amicable,
Jesus, most merciful,
Jesus, most bountiful,
Jesus, most gracious,
Jesus, most lovely,
Jesus, most noble,
Jesus, most renowned,
Jesus, most glorious,
Jesus, chosen of ten thousand,
Jesus, Splendour of the Father's glory,
Jesus, Figure of the Father's substance,
Jesus, Spouse of chaste souls, flowing with de lights,
Jesus, vivifying Gem of Divine Honour,
Jesus, unfading Flower of human dignity,
By Thy sweetest Name,
By the compassion of Thy Divine Heart,
By the union of the Divinity with Thy Humanity,
By the love wherewith Thou didst come down from Heaven and complete the work of human redemption,
By the love wherewith Thou didst will to be laid in the manger,
By the love wherewith Thou didst suck the chaste breasts of the Virgin Mary,
By the love wherewith for thirty-three years Thou didst endure all our miseries,
By the love wherewith Thou didst undergo a most bitter death,
By the love wherewith Thou didst will Thy Heart to be pierced,
By the love wherewith at Thy Resurrection Thou didst glorify Thy sacred Body,
By the love wherewith Thou hast placed Thy Humanity at the right hand of the Father,
By the love wherewith Thou dost make glad Thy Saints with the comeliness of Thy Face,
By the love wherewith Thou dost show Thy deified Heart to the Father for us sinners,
By the mutual love of Thy Divinity and Thy Humanity,
Jesus Christ,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Jesus.
V. Graciously hear us, O Jesus, Saviour of the world.
R. To Whom nothing is impossible, save to refuse mercy to the wretched.
Let us pray.
O Most tender Jesus, true Sweetness of all who flee to Thee for refuge, receive this my prayer which I devoutly offer Thee through Thy sweetest Heart, to the everlasting praise of Thy sweetest Name; beseeching Thee, by that love wherewith Thou didst will to receive that most holy Name and to make it so sweet and so lovely to all the faithful, that by the virtue of that most sacred Name Jesus Thou wouldst vouchsafe to strengthen me in all temptations, and to be with me in my last hour, according to Thy faithful promise: Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.
The Triumph of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Giovanni Battista Gaulli, c. 1676-1679
(Ceiling Fresco in the Church of the Gesu, Rome)
The Gospel According to Saint Luke 1: 28-33
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit : Ave gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus.
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
Quae cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
Et ait angelus ei : Ne timeas, Maria : invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum:
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus : et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum,
33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
et regni ejus non erit finis.
The Gospel According to Saint Matthew 1: 20-21
Haec autem eo cogitante, ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis ei, dicens : Joseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam : quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu Sancto est.
21 And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins.
Pariet autem filium : et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum : ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum.
Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.
Immaculata Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis.
