What will we do for the Holy Name?

The Holy Name of Jesus...What holy thoughts, impulses and resolutions it provokes. What will we do for the Holy Name? We must do something. This at least we can do - love it more, use it more reverently, bless with it more, make it the sweetness of our mouths, the music of our ears, the love of our hearts, the light of our minds, the strength of our wills and the joy of our souls.

We can say it and say it again - with love, praise and devotion. We can use it in so many ways of praise, adoration, thanksgiving and in reparation for the many times His Name is defamed and used improperly...we can use it for ourselves and our friends and have our friends use it for us. We can even use it to honor GOD, in His praise; and to ask Jesus, Mary and Joseph to use it for us. We can meditate in prayer on the many glories of His Name.

We must remember - we cannot forget - that we have a special grace; yes, so uniquely is it ours as members of the Confraternity of the Holy Name of God and Jesus, that it is a life work and perhaps a destiny given to only a few - to spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. We must therefore, hold the Name of Jesus dear in our hearts and share our love for His Name with others that they may also place it in theirs. We must use it in our words and in our writings, use it in season and out of season. Praise be to the Holy Name of Jesus! We can begin and end all of our good works with the Holy Name on our lips. We can work tirelessly and with zeal so that all things on earth may confess the Holy Name of Jesus.

Let us all work for greater strength and community through the proper reception of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Let us all pray that His Divine Name - may be more known and adored. I would suggest an aspiration for the coming year to be found frequently on our lips: "Blessed be the Name of Jesus!" And a spiritual bouquet - to cherish the desire to please GOD more and more.

Let us help one another to do Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, let us bind ourselves together in His Name to resolve to become saints. Blessed be the most Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Now and forever more!

Adopted from the writings of Father Thomas Augustine Judge CM
Thomas Augustine Judge was ordained a priest in the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) in 1899
Founder of the Missionary Cenacle Family

by Michael D. Gores
Marketing Communications Director
National Association on the Holy Name Society