V O T I V E L I G H T S
A guide to your prayer life using traditional Catholic prayers and devotions
FEAST of the HOLY NAME of JESUS
January 3
O Lord, Our Lord, how glorious is Your Name over all the earth! (Ps. 8:2)
"The Name above all Names", it St. Paul put it in his First Epistle to the Philippians..."at the Name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth and under the earth..." We are also told in Scripture that there is no other Name by which we can be saved. Yet for many years people have been misusing this sacred Name, even as an epithet. It was on account of such sacrilegious behavior that, in the 14th Century, St. Bernardine of Siena, a Franciscan friar, began to promote a feast to foster greater reverence for the Name of Jesus Christ. Since then, groups such as the Holy Name Society often exist in parishes in order to encourage proper reverence for Our Lord. But even so, do Catholics (or anyone) truly realize the power in this Name?
In ancient Hebrew tradition, as well as many other cultures, it was believed that speaking a person's name somehow gave you control over that person. In fact, even today, devout Jews do not completely write the Name of God, using a technique of simply eliminating at least one letter. This springs from the realization that Yahweh is so much greater than His creatures, we dare not bring Him to our level in any way. In other traditions, other countries, there are beliefs that an individual's name is somehow part of their very essence. To use another's name, therefore, would be to exercise their own power against them, manipulating them. In contemporary Western society, unfortunately, little if any regard is given for the dignity of human identity. This is bad enough, but to flagrantly disrespect the Almighty Lord is horrifying to those devoted to Him.
"And thou shalt call His Name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins." (St. Matthew 1:21) These words, spoken to St. Joseph in a dream by the Archangel St. Gabriel, were to explain the divine nature of the Child the Blessed Virgin was carrying. Since Joseph, betrothed to Mary but not yet married to her, had heard of her pregnancy, he was, of course, shocked by this. It was necessary for God to send him assurance that she had not only not sinned, but that her child was the long-awaited Messiah. Joseph, therefore, would play a valuable role in our salvation by standing by Mary faithfully and helping raise the Son of God. By revealing to him the Name (meaning "Yahweh saves") chosen by God the Father for this Holy Infant, it was made clear what His future mission would be. Later on the Archangel also repeated a prophecy from Isaiah, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel", which is interpreted as "God is with us." Obviously the people of that time realized the importance of a name's meaning...that it was meant to indicate the role of its bearer. Could it then be disputed that the Name given to Christ could not possibly be surpassed any more than could His purpose?
We should always take great care, then, in how we use the Holy Name, in any form. Whether speaking of God the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit, only the greatest reverence and respect must be shown. Invoking His Name calls upon the Lord...do we want to do this in prayer, in adoration, in praise? Or as blasphemy, as careless, callous drawing of His attention to our sinfulness? Surely we would not want even mere humans to hear us misusing their names. If we fear the rebuke of a parent, teacher, boss, how much more should be tremble to realize we have provoked the Most High, upon Whom our very existence depends? We are supposed to, instead, bow the head at even hearing the Name of Jesus Christ. We are to call on Him when we are in danger, for doing so will bring immediate assistance, beyond all imaginable strength. We are to quietly breathe the Name of Jesus in meditative prayer, recognizing that every breath we take is graciously permitted by the Lord.
To further demonstrate the unique and absolute power of the Holy Name, let us examine Its ability to heal. This is aptly shown in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 3:1-8:
"Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer. And a certain man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried by, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful, that he might ask alms of those going into the temple. But Peter, gazing upon him with John, said, 'Look at us.' And he looked at them earnestly, hoping to receive something from them. But Peter said, 'Silver and gold I have none; but what I have, that I give thee. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk.'
And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles became strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and went with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God."
Treasure the Name of Our Lord--use It with all the love and adoration your heart can hold--and trust in It without reservation.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK:
BLESSED FATHER FREDERIC JANSSOONE, ofm
This little-known Beati, born on November 19, 1838 in Ghyvelde, France, may be more familiar to those of the Secular Franciscan Order (aka Third Order of St. Francis), particularly in Canada. Without Blessed Frederic's heroic efforts, this Order of lay people would not have spread into that nation.
Although Father Frederic first arrived in Canada with only the intention of raising money for the work of his own order, the Order of Friars Minor, in the Holy Land, his life there was far from temporary. Working in the Province of Quebec, he began to devote his time to encouraging devotion among the people. While Canada, at that time--particularly in Quebec--was a predominantly Catholic country, there had been infiltrations into the lives of the faithful by non-religious influences. Certain groups at both hidden and surface levels were determined to eradicate the Catholic Church altogether.
Fortunately, the Lord moved Blessed Frederic to return to Quebec within the same year to begin his ministry to revitalize the Catholic population. Fr. Janssoone organized local groups (known as Fraternities) of Third Order Franciscans, with the purpose of fostering greater devotion in daily life, following Christ in the way of St. Francis of Assisi. By living according to Franciscan ideals, embracing evangelical poverty, chastity (including those in married life) and obedience to God and the Catholic Church, the people were solidified in their religious practices. To this day, these lay men and women dedicate themselves in good works and devout lifestyles for the betterment of God's kingdom on earth. Had it not been for the relentless work of this Friar Minor, considering the trend through the past century toward increasing deterioration of the Church's influence in Quebec alone, who knows how much Catholicism would now exist there today?
Besides his evangelism, Father Frederic was also responsible in a major way for establishment of the shrine at Cap de la Madeleine, in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. For a long time this holy place has been the site of many miraculous healings through the intercession of Notre Dame du Cap (Our Lady of the Cape). It is still a place of
tranquillity and renewal of faith for numerous pilgrims.
To both modern Secular Franciscans and other Catholics, in Quebec and the rest of Canada, Blessed Frederic is a friend and intercessor. For Catholics world-wide, he can be considered a wonderful, holy role model who spent his life bringing people closer to God. Let us earnestly beseech the Lord to promote this humble Friar Minor to the ranks of the canonized saints, to better glorify Him. Blessed Father Frederic, we also ask you to intercede for us, that we may grow daily in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and bring others to know, love and serve Him as well. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
As we begin 2006, let us pray for the following intentions:
For our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI and all his intentions;
For cleansing, healing and renewal of our Church;
For healing of all victims of clergy abuse;
For the continued faith and strengthening of good, holy priests and religious;
For an increase in true vocations to the priesthood and religious life;
For all military personnel serving both overseas and in homeland security;
For the military who have (past and present) been sacrificed and their families;
For peace in the Mid-East and all lands where wars are being waged;
For the un/underemployed;
For the elderly who are alone, neglected and/or abused;
For all abandoned/abused children;
For the homeless and those in inadequate housing;
For an end to abortion and euthanasia, and for all their victims;
For all disaster victims world-wide.
May Our Lord be with all His people to bring them His peace. Amen.
The Angelus
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
V. Hail, Mary...
V. Behold the Handmaid of the Lord
R. Be it done unto me according to thy Word.
V. Hail, Mary...
V. And the Word was made Flesh
R. And dwelt among us.
V. Hail, Mary...
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V. Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O God, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ, Our Lord. Amen.