Prayer to the Name of Jesus

 

Prayer to the Name of Jesus 

 O good Jesus, O most compassionate Jesus, O Jesus Son of God and of the Virgin Mary, full of mercy and of pity; O sweet Jesus, have mercy on me according to Thy great mercy. O most clement Jesus, I implore Thee, by that Thy Precious Blood which Thou hast shed for sinners, that Thou wouldst wash away all my iniquities, and look down upon me, wretched and unworthy, humbly seeking Thy forgiveness and invoking this holy Name of Jesus. 

O Name of Jesus, name of sweetness! Name of Jesus, name most full of delight! Name of Jesus, name most lovely! For what is Jesus but Saviour? Wherefore, O Jesus, for Thy holy Name's sake, be to me Jesus, and save me. Suffer me not to be lost, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. O good Jesus, let not mine iniquity destroy me, the work of Thine almighty goodness. O Jesus most benignant, have mercy on me in this day of mercy, that Thou condemn me not in the day of judgment. 

O most compassionate Jesus, if Thy stern justice incline to condemn me, I make my appeal and my refuge in Thy most pitiful mercy. O most loving Jesus, Jesus most ardently longed for, Jesus most gentle and meek, O Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, receive me into the number of Thy chosen. O Jesus, the salvation of those who believe in Thee; O Jesus, the trust of those who flee for refuge unto Thee; O Jesus, the sweetness of those who love Thee; grant that I may love Thee, and cleave faithfully to Thee, and after this most miserable life come to Thee in peace. Amen. 

 --St. Gertrude the Great 

 God bless! 

+JMJ+

Wreath of Gems

 Holy Mother Church devotes the entire month of January to give honor to the Holy Name of Jesus with a specific feast day on January 2.  May we use the entire month to honor our Blessed Lord's Name, expressing love and delight in it and making reparation for the blasphemies against it.

The Wreath of Gems is a prayer composed by St. Gertrude the Great.  It is made of three beads of gold and fifteen of silver. In the prayer book Preces Gertrudianae : Prayers of St. Gertrude and St. Mechtilde of the Order of St. Benedict, we read, 

"While St. Gertrude was offering this wreath of salutations in honour of the name of Jesus, she seemed to see them under the form of roses hung around with golden bells, the fragrance and tuneful harmony of which touched the Sacred Heart with ineffable delight. Those which had been recited with devout intention gave forth a most ravishing melody, while those which had been said carelessly uttered a low and wailing sound. And the Lord said to her: Whenever anyone prays to Me, Hail, sweetest Jesus,..., the depth of the sweetness of My Godhead is stirred within Me, and there spreads itself before Me all odour of wondrous fragrance, which I shed down on him who repeats these words."

Wreath of Gems

First Golden Bead:  Hail, most loving Jesus, life-giving Germ of the Divine Honour, unfading flower of human dignity, my consummate and my only salvation. Thou art my Creator and my Redeemer, and Thou hast so loved me as to leave all Thy bliss and Thy glory, and to purchase me for Thyself with the anguish of Thy death. 

Five Silver Beads:

1. Hail, sweetest Jesus, most precious pearl of the most holy Trinity, with Whose price the world has been redeemed. 

2. Hail, most tender Jesus, refulgent splendour of the Father's glory, Who with the light of Thy countenance dost enlighten and quicken Thine elect in the heavenly country. 

3. Hail, most amiable Jesus, flashing effulgence from the sun of Justice, Who dost inflame the hearts of Angels and Saints with the fire of Thy love. 

4. Hail, most noble Jesus, living Image of Thy Father's substance, Who dost make all those who cleave to Thee partakers of Thy Divine nature. 

5. Hail, most renowned Jesus, Morning Star of Thy Church, Who enlightenest the darkness of the world, and scatterest all the thick darkness of sin. 

Second Golden Bead:  Hail, Jesus, Bridegroom most beauteous in the charm of Thy Divinity; I salute Thee and embrace Thee with the affection of all Thy creatures, and kiss Thee with my mouth, Thou Wound of love. 

Five Silver Beads:

1. Hail, Jesus, fairer than the sons of men, Orient pearl born in the ocean of the Godhead of the Father, Whose generation no created intelligence can declare. 

2. Hail, Jesus, sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, heavenly manna of wondrous sweetness, Who dost refresh and satisfy every hungry soul. 

3. Hail, Jesus most resplendent, glowing Fire of uncreated love, Who dost lighten and bear the burden of human toil and misery. 

4. Hail, Jesus, most gentle, sweet channel of heavenly streams, Who dost take away the bitterness of every soul in anguish. 

5. Hail, priceless Jesus, treasure-house of the Divine Essence, Who dost enrich the poverty of our nature. Amen. 

Third Golden Bead:  Hail, Jesus, full of grace, mercy is with Thee, and Thou art blessed among the sons of men; and blessed be Thy most Holy Name, Thy Life and Thy Passion. O sweet Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners now and in the hour of our death. Amen. 

Five Silver Beads:

1. Hail, Jesus, Spouse and Crown of Virgins, we praise Thee for ever, Whose love made Thee Son of the Virgin. 

2. Hail, Jesus, Ruler of all things, fairer in Thy beauty than the sons of men, we acknowledge and worship Thee as our most clement Lord. 

3. Hail, Jesus, wondrous splendour of the Godhead, wonder of wonders, Who dost blot out all the sins of the world. 

4. Hail, Jesus, our consolation, Who dost lay open to us the treasury of the riches of God, Thou true refuge of the poor, and comfort of the afflicted. 

5. Hail, Jesus, glory of Angels, living Fountain, light of all minds, Who dost transcend all joy and all desire. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Novena for the Month of the Holy Name of Jesus

 

Adoration of the Magi--a beautiful image!

Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of January to the Holy Name of Jesus. Through this devotion the Church reminds us of the power of Christ's Name and the reverence with which it should be spoken. In Sacred Scriptures we read “That in the Name of Jesus every knee should bend, in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth.” (Phil 2:10). Traditionally Catholics, upon hearing Jesus' Name, briefly bow their head. It is also tradition for a Catholic, hearing Jesus' Name used irreverently, to make the Sign of the Cross, repeating out of respect:

 Sit nomen Domini benedictum

 (Blessed be the Name of the Lord).

It is through this most Sacred Name that the Church administers her sacraments, offers her prayers, casts out evil spirits, and gives blessings. We, therefore, would do well to imitate her. As Scripture tells us, it is in His Name that we should place our faith (1 John 3:23), do our works (Col 3:17), and say our prayers (John 16:23-24).

 It is quite simple to honor the sweet Name of Jesus through prayer just as numerous saints did. As Fr. O'Sullivan writes in The Wonders of the Holy Name, an extremely powerful, but very short prayer is simply the name of Jesus said with devotion and reverence. This prayer is an act of perfect love that fills the soul with joy, peace, and strength. In Scripture St. Paul encourages us to pray without ceasing. What easier way to accomplish this than to lovingly repeat the Sacred name of Jesus, not just once, but repeatedly throughout our day!

Throughout the month of January, may we bring the devotion of the Holy Name of our Lord into our new year. Let us strive to honor Jesus through prayer, sacrifices, and acts of love done for Him.  This year the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated on January 2.  This day, then, would be a most fitting day to begin the following prayer:  the Novena in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus, which can be recited for nine days or daily throughout the month of January.

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Novena in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus

O Merciful Jesus, Who didst in Thy early infancy commence Thy office of Savior by shedding Thy Precious Blood, and assuming for us that Name which is above all names; we thank Thee for such early proofs of Thine inf God bless!
 inite love. We venerate Thy sacred Name, in union with the profound respect of the Angel who first announced it to the earth, and unite our affections to the sentiments of tender devotion which the adorable name of Jesus has in all ages enkindled in the hearts of Thy Saints. 

Animated with a firm faith in Thy unerring word, and penetrated with confidence in Thy mercy, we now most humbly remind Thee of the promise Thou hast made, that where two or three should assemble in Thy Name, Thou Thyself wouldst be in the midst of them. Come, then, into the midst of us, most amiable Jesus, for it is in Thy sacred Name we are here assembled; come into our hearts, that we may be governed by Thy holy spirit; mercifully grant us, through that adorable Name, which is the joy of Heaven, the terror of Hell, the consolation of the afflicted, and the solid ground of our unlimited confidence, all the petitions we make in this novena. 

Oh! blessed Mother of our Redeemer! Who didst participate so sensibly in the sufferings of thy dear Son when He shed His Sacred Blood and assumed for us the Name of Jesus, obtain for us, through that adorable Name, the favors we petition in this novena.

Beg also, that the most ardent love may imprint on our hearts that sacred Name, that it may be always in our minds and frequently on our lips; that it may be our defense and our refuge in the temptations and trials of life, and our consolation and support in the hour of death. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer for the Month of the Holy Name

 "That in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ in the glory of God the Father."  --Philippians 2:10-11

O Good Jesus

O Good Jesus! O most tender Jesus! O most sweet Jesus! O Jesus, Son of Mary the Virgin, full of mercy and kindness! O sweet Jesus, according to Thy great mercy, have pity on me! O most merciful Jesus, I entreat Thee by that Precious Blood of Thine, which Thou didst will to pour forth for sinners, to wash away all my iniquities, and to look upon me, poor and unworthy as I am, humbly asking pardon of Thee, and invoking this Holy Name of Jesus.

O Name of Jesus, sweet Name! Name of Jesus, Name of joy! Name of Jesus, Name of strength! Nay, what meaneth the Name of Jesus but Saviour? Wherefore, O Jesus, by Thine own holy Name, be to me Jesus, and save me. Suffer me not to be lost--me, whom Thou didst create out of nothing. O good Jesus, let not my iniquity destroy what Thy almighty goodness made. O sweet Jesus, recognize what is Thine own, and wipe away from me what is not of Thee! O most kind Jesus, have pity on me while it is the time of pity, and condemn me not when it is the time of judgment. The dead shall not praise Thee, Lord Jesus, nor all those who go down into hell.

O most loving Jesus! O Jesus, most longed for by Thine own! O most gentle Jesus! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let me enter into the number of Thine elect. O Jesus, salvation of those who believe in Thee; Jesus, Son of Mary the Virgin, pour into me grace, wisdom, charity, chastity, and humility that I may be able perfectly to love Thee, to enjoy Thee, to serve Thee, and make my boast in Thee, together with all those who invoke Thy name, which is Jesus.   Amen.

+JMJ+

God bless!

In Honor of our Lord's Blessed Name

 A beautiful devotion for January, the month of the Holy Name of Jesus, is the recitation of the hymn “Iesu, Dulcis Memoria.” This twelfth century hymn, originally written in Latin, was composed by St. Bernard of Clairvaux. “Iesu, Dulcis Memoria” is a hymn of exceptional sweetness, and it is considered one of the greatest hymns of the Church. The song in its entirety contains 48 stanzas and was sung on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. However, the portion of the hymn given in English below was used at Vespers. Throughout the month of January, may we honor our Lord by honoring His Holy Name, expressing our love and praise of Him just as St. Bernard penned in this beautiful hymn.  (You can hear the Latin version sung here.)

"Adoration of the Shepherds"

Jesu, Dulcis Memoria IESU, dulcis memoria, dans vera cordis gaudia, sed super mel et omnia, eius dulcis praesentia. Nil canitur suavius, nil auditur iucundius, nil cogitatur dulcius, quam Iesus Dei Filius. Iesu, spes paenitentibus, quam pius es petentibus! quam bonus te quaerentibus! sed quid invenientibus! Nec lingua valet dicere, nec littera exprimere: expertus potest credere, quid sit Iesum diligere. Sis, Iesu, nostrum gaudium, qui es futurus praemium: sit nostra in te gloria, per cuncta semper saecula. Amen.

Jesus, Sweet Memory Jesus, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills the breast! Yet sweeter far Thy face to see And in Thy presence rest. No voice can sing, no heart can frame, Nor can the memory find, A sweeter sound than Jesus' name, The Savior of mankind. O hope of every contrite heart! 0 joy of all the meek! To those who fall, how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah! this Nor tongue nor pen can show The love of Jesus, what it is, None but His loved ones know. Jesus! our only hope be Thou, As Thou our prize shalt be; In Thee be all our glory now, And through eternity. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Hymn Honoring our Lord

 The hymn “O Jesus Thou the Beauty Art,” which is attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, is a beautiful devotion to recite in honor of the Holy Name of Jesus. As we speak or sing these words to Jesus, may our souls and hearts be filled with the Love that is Our Lord. Just as the angels bow low in adoration and awe before His most Sacred Name, may we always honor this sweet Word that heals the sick, raises the dead, and gives joy and hope to the world!

I love listening to Traditional Latin chant, and this hymn sounds beautiful in chant.  If you would like to listen to it, this link provides an amazing rendition.

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O Jesus Thou the Beauty Art O Jesus, Thou the beauty art Of Angel worlds above! Thy name is music to the heart, Enchanting it with love! Celestial sweetness unalloyed! Who eat The hunger still, Who drink of Thee still feel a void Which naught but Thou canst fill! O my sweet Jesus! Hear the sighs Which unto Thee I send! To Thee my inmost spirit cries My being's hope and end! Stay with us, Lord, and with Thy light Illume the soul's abyss; Scatter the darkness of our night And fill the world with bliss. O Jesu! Spotless Virgin flower! Our life and joy! To Thee Be praise, beatitude and power, Through all eternity! Amen.

Jesu Decus Angelicum Jesu, decus angelicum, in aure dulce canticum, in ore mel mirificum, in corde nectar caelicum. Qui te gustant, esuriunt, qui bibunt, adhuc sitiunt; desiderare nesciunt, nisi Iesum, quem diligunt. O Iesu mi dulcissime, spes suspirantis animae! Te quaerunt piae lacrimae, Te clamor mentis intimae. Mane nobiscum, Domine, et nos illustra lumine; Pulsa mentis caligine, Mundum reple dulcedine. Iesu, flos Matris Virginis, amor nostrae dulcedinis, Tibi laus, honor nominis, regnum beatitudinis. Amen.

--The Raccolta

Blessed be the Holy Name of Jesus without end!

+JMJ+

Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Uttered Against the Holy Name

 The second Commandment tells us, “Thou shall not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.” Still often during our day, we hear the name of God said irreverently, out of carelessness, anger, or lack of concern. May we remember this commandment of God and strive to ensure our use of the Lord's Name is only spoken with love and reverence!

This Name 'that is above all names' is the source of joy in the hearts of the faithful, the source of miracles, as worked by the Apostles “in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” the source of our salvation, and even the source of terror for demons.

As St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote,

“If we call to our minds the Name of Jesus, it brings before us His most meek and humble heart, and gives us a new knowledge of His most loving and tender compassion. The Name of Jesus is the purest, and holiest, the noblest and most indulgent of names, the Name of all blessings and of all virtues; it is the Name of the God-Man, of sanctity itself.” 

The saints often wrote that the simple recitation of the Holy Name of Jesus, said with true love and devotion, is a source of great joy to God, our Lady, and the angels. With this knowledge also comes the realization of the sorrow that must arise when the Holy Name of God is used irreverently. The month of January, dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, is a fitting time for the faithful to make an act of reparation for these blasphemies spoken against our Lord's most sweet and powerful Name.

Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Uttered Against the Holy Name

O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, who has said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you," we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true Faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Spirit world without end.   Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+