OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD
EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
ON THE NAME OF JESUS
The Name of
Jesus is a Divine Name, announced to Mary on the part of God by St. Gabriel:
“and thou shalt call His Name Jesus” (St. Luke i. 31). For that reason it was
called “a Name above all names” (Phil. ii. 9). And it was also called a
Name in which alone salvation is found: “whereby we must be saved” (Acts iv. 12). This great Name is
likened by the Holy Spirit unto oil: “Thy Name is as oil poured out” (Cant. i. 2). For this reason, says
St. Bernard, that as oil is light, food, and medicine; so the Name of Jesus is
light to the mind, food to the heart, and medicine to the soul. It is light to
the mind. By this Name the world was converted from the darkness of idolatry to
the light of faith. We who have been born in these regions, where before the
coming of Christ all our ancestors were Gentiles, should all have been in the
same condition had not the Messias come to enlighten us. How thankful ought we
not then to be to Jesus Christ for the gift of faith! And what would have
become of us if we had been born in Asia, in Africa, in America, or in the
midst of heretics and schismatics? He who believes not is lost: “He that
believeth not shall be condemned” (St. Mark xvi. 16). And thus probably we
also should have been lost. The Name of Jesus is also food that nourishes our
hearts; yes, because this Name reminds us of what Jesus has done to save us.
Hence this Name consoles us in tribulation, gives us strength to walk along the
way of salvation, supplies us with courage in difficulties, and in flames us to
love our Redeemer, when we remember what He has suffered for our salvation.
Lastly, this Name is medicine to the soul, because it renders it strong against
the temptations of our enemies. The devils tremble and fly at the invocation of
this holy Name, according to the words of the Apostle: “That at the Name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under
the earth” (Phil. ii. 10). He who in temptation
calls upon Jesus shall not fall; and he who shall constantly invoke Him shall
not fall, and shall be saved: “Praising, I will call upon the Lord; and I shall
be saved from my enemies” (Psalm xvii. 1). And who was ever lost,
who when he was tempted invoked Jesus? He alone is lost who does not invoke His
aid, or who, whilst the temptation continues, ceases to invoke Him.
AFFECTIONS AND PRAYERS
Oh, that I had always called upon Thee, my Jesus; for
then I should never have been conquered by the devil! I have miserably lost Thy
grace, because in temptation I have neglected to call Thee to my assistance.
But now I hope for all things through Thy holy Name: “I can do all things in
Him who comforts me.” Write therefore, O my Saviour, write upon my poor heart
Thy most powerful Name of Jesus, so that, by having it always in my heart by
loving Thee, I may have it always on my lips by invoking Thee, in all the
temptations that hell prepares for me, in order to induce me to become again
its slave, and to separate myself from Thee. In Thy Name I shall find every
good. If I am afflicted, it will console me when I think how much more
afflicted Thou hast been than I am, and all for the love of me; if I am
disheartened on account of my sins, it will give me courage when I remember
that Thou camest into the world to save sinners; if I am tempted, Thy holy Name
will give me strength, when I consider that Thou canst help me more than hell
can cast me down; finally, if I feel cold in Thy love, it will give me fervour,
by reminding me of the love that Thou bearest me. I love Thee, my Jesus! Thou
art, and I trust Thou wilt always be, my only Love. To Thee do I give all my
heart, O my Jesus! Thee alone will I love! Thee will I invoke as often as I
possibly can. I will die with Thy Name upon my lips; a Name of hope, a Name of
salvation, a Name of love. O Mary, if thou lovest me, this is the grace I beg
of thee to obtain for me,—the grace constantly to invoke thy name and that of
thy Son; obtain for me that these most sweet names may be the breath of my
soul, and that I may always repeat them during my life, in order to repeat them
at my death with my last breath. Jesus and Mary, help me; Jesus and Mary, I love
you; Jesus and Mary, I recommend my soul to you.
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