January Devotion: The Most Holy Name of Jesus

A very blessed and happy new year to you all!

As we begin a new year, Holy Mother Church turns our attention toward the power that the Name of Our Blessed Savior holds. Each month of the year has attached to it a certain devotion, and the one for January is the Holy Name of Jesus.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux says that the Name of Jesus is light, food, and medicine to those who hear It, believe in It, and treat It with reverence. Light because enlightenment to the true Faith begins with the preaching of the Name of Jesus, food because It provides nourishment and comfort to those who are going through trials, as it did for the apostles when they were mistreated precisely because of the Name of Jesus, and medicine because those who pronounce It during difficult times and temptations will receive assistance and the means to overcome their trial.

Keeping this devotion also makes reparation to God for the misuse of the Holy Name of Jesus. It is a sacred Name that deserves to be treated as such and any misuse and mistreatment wounds God deeply. It comforts Him though when we use the name of His Son reverently and spread the devotion to It, so that, as St. Paul says, “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). The very name Jesus means “God saves” and its power comes from the One Who bears it. He is God and He comes to save us, and so His very Name requires our reverence and respect.