The Power of the Holy Name of Jesus
How sweet to my tongue it is to utter the Holy Name of Jesus! St Alphonsa.
“Jesus” means “Yahweh is salvation,” reflecting His role as Savior. This Name is central to Christian identity and belief, underscoring Jesus’ mission to save humanity from sin. St Alphonsa, a devout follower, always kept the Name Jesus on her lips. When she uttered this divine Name, she experienced its saving power. She believed that the Holy Name of Jesus kept her in her struggles or when she was anxious, fostering a personal and intimate connection to her faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The name ‘Jesus’ signifies that the very Name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal and definitive redemption from sins. The divine Name alone brings salvation, and henceforth, all can invoke his Name, for Jesus united himself to all men through his Incarnation, so that ‘there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ (CCC 432)
Jesus taught that where two or three are gathered in His Name, He would be in their midst (cf. Mt 18:20). People also called upon Jesus by Name when asking for a miracle. The blind man cried out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me!” (Lk 18:38), and with that prayer and further conversation, his sight was restored. Demons were cast out of the possessed by Jesus’ Name, a testament to its power (Acts 16:18; 19:16).
The Name of Jesus, a source of devotion for centuries, holds a profound historical significance. In 1274, the Council of Lyons recommended that all the faithful foster devotion to the Name of Jesus. St. Bernardine of Sienna (1380-1444) and his student St. John of Capistrano (1386-1456) promoted devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. Pope Martin V, in 1427, approved the proper veneration of the Holy Name. In 1597, Pope Sixtus V granted an indulgence to anyone reverently saying, “Praised be Jesus Christ!” Pope Clement VII in 1530 allowed the Franciscans to celebrate a feast day in honor of the Holy Name, and Pope Innocent XIII extended this to the Universal Church in 1721. The church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd.
The power of the holy name of Jesus is not just a concept but a deeply personal connection, as seen in the life of St. Ralph Sherwin (1550-1581), one of the 40 martyrs of England and Wales. His last words were Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, esto mihi Jesus! -‘ Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, be to me a Jesus!’- a heartfelt plea for personal salvation. This reflection is a call to all of us to follow the great legacy of St Alphonsa and invoke the Name of Jesus earnestly, as it is the essence of our devotion.
Fr Jaison Kunnel MCBS