Holy Name of Jesus
In
The veneration of Nomina sacra in the form of variants of the Christogram has a tradition going back to early Christianity.[2][3][4] Related practices of devotion exist in Eastern Christianity (cf. Jesus Prayer).[5] The feast day is celebrated either as the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus or as that of Circumcision of Jesus, in various Christian churches.
Biblical background
For centuries, Christians have invoked the Holy Name, and have believed that there is intrinsic power in the name of Jesus.[3][6][7]
In Luke 1:31, the angel Gabriel tells Mary "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."
In
Matthew then specifically mentions the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,' which means 'God is with us.'"
Reverence for the name of Jesus is emphasized by
The power of the name Jesus used in petitions is stressed in John 16:23 when Jesus states: "If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it you." Many Christian prayers thus conclude with the words: "Through Our Lord Jesus Christ".[13] Several episodes in the New Testament refer to the power of the invocation of the Holy Name. In Mark 9:38-39 demons are driven out by the power of the name Jesus, in Acts 2:38 baptisms take place and in Acts 3:6, Acts 4:7-11 and Acts 9:34 miracles are performed.[3] Many Christians believe that as in Acts 16:18 the invocation of the name of Jesus provides protection by repelling evil.[15]
Early history of veneration
The reverence with which Christians have regarded the Holy Name of Jesus goes back to the earliest days of Christianity, as shown in Acts 4:10 and Philippians 2:10.[2]
Devotion to and veneration of the IHS monogram, derived from the Greek word for Jesus, ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (and sometimes erroneously interpreted[13] as Iesus Hominum Salvator, 'Jesus saviour of mankind'), also dates back to the early days of Christianity, where it was placed on altars and religious vestments, ornaments and other objects.[3] The IHS monogram is also found on a gold coin from the 8th century.[4]
Medieval devotions to the Holy Name in England were promoted by Anselm of Canterbury early in the 12th century.[16] In continental Europe, shortly after Anselm, the veneration of the Holy Name was strongly encouraged by Bernard of Clairvaux. Bernard's writings such as the Sermon on the Canticles later influenced others such as Richard Rolle who expressed similar views, e.g. that of the Holy Name acting as a "healing ointment" for the soul.[17][18] Rolle believed that the name Jesus has intrinsic power, in a manner reminiscent of the Old Testament reverence of the name Jehovah.[19] In his view the act of calling on the Holy Name purifies the soul and amounts to a reconstruction of the self as a contemplative.[20]
If you think on the name Jesus continually and hold it stably, it purges your sin and kindles your heart.
— Richard Rolle, 14th century[19]
He also composed a number of lyrics about the Holy Name.[19]
Official recognition for the Holy Name was provided by
The tradition of devotion to and reverence for the Holy Name continued through the 15th century as belief in its miraculous powers became widespread.
In the 16th century, the
A number of religious communities dedicated to the Holy Name Jesus have been formed since the Middle Ages.[25]
Catholic devotion
In the 15th century, the Franciscan
The Litany of the Holy Name is an old and popular form of prayer in honor of the Name of Jesus. The author is not known. While it probably dates back to the beginning of the 15th century as a private devotion, it was not formally approved for public recitation until 1862 when it was approved by Pope Pius IX.[1] Also common is the Novena in Honor of the Name of Jesus and the chaplet of Our Lord which are part of the many devotions to the Holy Name of Jesus promulgated by the Society of the Holy Name.
Religious articles such as the
Protestantism
John Calvin believed in reverence for the Holy Name and encouraged Christians to "glorify His holy name with our whole life".[28] Martin Luther encouraged "pure faith and confidence, and a cheerful meditation of and calling upon His holy Name".[29]
O nomen Jesu by Peter Philips (1612) and Johann Rosenmüller (1648) are motets intended for the service commemorating the naming of Jesus. O Jesu, nomen dulce is a motet by Heinrich Schütz.
Eastern Christianity
The
The doctrine of imiaslavie (имяславие, or onomatodoxy), the worship of the Name of God as identical with God himself, was condemned by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1913.[31]
See also
- Co-Cathedral of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (1872)
- Holy Face of Jesus
- Jesus prayer
- Name of God in Christianity
References
- ^ a b Mershman, F. (1910). Litany of the Holy Name. In The Catholic Encyclopedia New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 30 April 2017 from New Advent
- ^ ISBN 1-146-98633-5. p. 443.
- ^ ISBN 90-04-06247-5. p. 18.
- ^ ISBN 0-8264-1221-1. p. 54.
- ISBN 0-8264-8011-X. p. 426.
- ^ ISBN 0-8254-3483-1p.147
- ISBN 0-664-22336-2.p89
- ISBN 0-310-28051-6p.159
- ISBN 0-664-22394-Xp.453
- ^ ISBN 0-664-25257-5pp.14-15
- ^ ISBN 0-8028-4438-3p.9
- ^ ISBN 0-664-25752-6p.17
- ^ a b c d e f "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Holy Name of Jesus". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ISBN 0-664-22431-8pp.58–59
- ISBN 0-7220-8518-4p.411
- ^ ISBN 0-226-07132-4pages 178-193
- ISBN 0-8091-3008-4-page 55
- ISBN 0-8369-6386-5-page 322
- ^ ISBN 0-664-22504-7p.191
- ISBN 1-84384-003-0page 174
- ^ ISBN 0-88141-013-6-page 112
- ^ Margaret Ebner: Major works. Classics of Western Spirituality. Paulist Press International, 1994
- ISBN 0-8091-0440-7-page 54
- ^ Society of Jesus. "Official Website". Retrieved 23 January 2009.
- ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Religious Communities of the Name of Jesus". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ISBN 0-87840-399-Xpage 6
- ISBN 0-87973-910-Xpage 319
- ISBN 0-8091-0541-1page 136
- ISBN 1-60450-609-1page 47
- ISBN 1-59030-278-8-page xxiii-xxiv
- ^ The Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece. Genuine Orthodox Church of the 20th and 21st Centuries – A Timeline. Helena Gourko, "Divine Onomatology: Naming God in Imyaslavie, Symbolism, and Deconstruction" (2005).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Litany of the Holy Name". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.