Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

January: Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January has traditionally been dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

We find devotion to the Holy Name to be deeply rooted in Sacred Scripture, especially in the Acts of the Apostles. It was promoted particularly the Franciscan Order, St. John Capistrano, as well as St. Bernard and St. Bernardine of Siena, and extended to the whole Church in 1727, during the pontificate of Innocent XIII.

The Church praises the wonders of the Incarnate Word by singing the glories of His name. The name of Jesus means “Savior”; it had been shown in a dream to Joseph together with its meaning, and to Our Lady at the annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel.

This year, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd, 2025. If you wish to honor the Most Holy Name of Jesus on this day especially, consider praying a chaplet dedicated to it. The chaplet can be prayed with any tenner or rosary and consists of three sets of ten for you to keep track of. On the large beads, you pray a quote from Scripture and add your intention, as stated below:

The Most Holy Name of Jesus
IHS monogram, with kneeling angels, atop the main altar, Church of the Gesù, Rome

Chaplet of the Holy Name of Jesus

+ By the Sign of the Holy Cross, + from our enemies deliver us, + O Lord, our God.
+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended You, and
I detest all my sins because
I dread the loss of heaven
and the pains of hell, but
most of all because they offend you,
my God, who are all good and
deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the
help of your grace, to confess
my sins, to do penance and
to amend my life.
Amen.

Prayer

Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

(If you prefer to pray this in Latin:
Deus in adiutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.)

First Decade:

On the large bead, you pray the following:

Lord, Thou hast said:
“Ask and ye shall receive;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you,”
I seek, I knock, I ask this favor [here, you can mention your intention].

On each of the ten small beads, pray:

Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Deus in adiutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina

Second Decade:

On the large bead, you pray thus:

“Amen, I say unto you,
if ye ask the Father anything
in My Name it shall be given unto you.”
It is of the Father and in Thy Name,
Lord, I ask this favor [here, you can mention your intention again].

On each of the ten small beads, you pray:

Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Deus in adiutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina

Third Decade:

On the large bead, you pray this:

Lord, Thou hast said:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but My Word shall not pass away,”
Thou wilt grant me this favor [here, you can mention your intention once more]
because Thou hast said it and
Thy word is true.

On each of the ten small beads, you pray:

Incline unto my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Deus in adiutorium meum intende,
Domine ad adiuvandum me festina.

Finish the Chaplet with a Glory Be (Gloria Patri etc.) and the Fatima Prayer (O mi Jesu, demitte nobis debita nostra etc.), and the Sign of the Cross.

“Blessed and praised, at every instant and in every place, be the Holy Name of Jesus. His Most Sacred Heart. His Most Precious Blood. And His Cross be our refuge and salvation. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”
The Seven O Antiphons of Advent

The Seven “O” Antiphons of Advent

The seven “O” antiphons of Advent are an old tradition in the Roman Church. Since at least the eighth century they have accompanied the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer, starting December 17 and ending on December 23.

The seven “O” antiphons combine our present hopes for the coming of the Divine Savior with the ancient prophesies, all referring to the Book of Isaiah. In like manner Our Lord Jesus Himself explained His works on earth by interpreting OT prophesy to His contemporaries. All the antiphons all end in the call “Veni!” / “Come!”, much like St. John’s Book of Revelation.

Use your last week of this penitential time to prepare for Holy Night by praying the seven “O” antiphons of Advent! Here they are, in Latin as well as Enlish:

December 17: “O Sapientia” / “O Wisdom”
(from Isaiah 11:2-3 and 28:29)
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O Wisdom, Who didst come out of the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from end to end
and ordering all things mightily and sweetly:
come and teach us the way of prudence.

The Seven O Antiphones of Advent

December 18: “O Adonai”
(from Isaiah 11:4-5 and 33:22)
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel,
Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush,
and didst give unto him the Law on Sinai:
come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

The Seven O Antiphones of Advent

December 19: “O Radix Jesse” / “O Root of Jesse”
(Isaiah 11:1 and 11:10)
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

O Root of Jesse, Who dost stand for an ensign of the people,
before Whom kings shall keep silence,
and unto Whom the Gentiles shall make their supplication:
come to deliver us, and tarry not.

The Seven O Antiphones of Advent

December 20: “O Clavis David” / “O Key of David”
(from Isaiah 9:6 and 22:22)
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Key of David and Sceptre of the house of Israel,
Who dost open and no man doth shut,
Who dost shut and no man doth open,
come and bring forth from his prisonhouse the captive that sitteth in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The Seven O Antiphones of Advent

December 21: “O Oriens”/”O Dawn of the East”
(from Isaiah 9:2)
O Oriens,
splendor lucis æternæ,
et sol justitiæ:
veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

O Dawn of the East,
Brightness of the Light Eternal
and Sun of Justice,
come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

The Seven O Antiphones of Advent

December 22: “O Rex Gentium” / “O King of the Gentiles”
(from Isaiah 2:4 and 9:7)
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum,
lapisque angularis,
qui facis utraque unum:
veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.

O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of them,
Thou Cornerstone
that dost make both one,
come and deliver man, whom Thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

The Seven O Antiphones of Advent

December 23: “O Emmanuel”
(from Isaiah 7:14)
O Emmanuel,
Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.

O Emmanuel,
our King and Lawgiver,
the Expected of the Nations and their Saviour,
come to save us, O Lord our God.

Gaudēte, gaudēte! Chrīstus est nātus Ex Marīā virgine, gaudēte!

Gaudete! Gaudete!

It’s Gaudete-Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. Even penitential times have their joyful highlights – the birth of Our Savior is nigh! Here and also here you can read up a little bit on Gaudete-Sunday, and here on the Gaudete Christmas carol you will find below in an a-capella version I particularly enjoy.

Gaudete, gaudete!
Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine,
gaudete!

Clamavi de Profundis presents Gaudete a-capella

St. Andrew Advent Novena

In preparation for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray this Advent Novena starting St. Andrew’s Day through midnight on Christmas Eve (11-30 through 12-24). Join us!

Pray this prayer every day 15 times:

+Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.

In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Solo Dios basta

October 15th: Happy Feast Day of St. Teresa of Ávila

Detail of St. Theresa, 1827, by French painter François Gérard

Happy Feast Day of St. Teresa of Ávila, who was the first female to be declared Doctor of the Church. As one can imagine, she did not live life for herself, at all, after she had been shown her place in hell IF she were to continue living a rather tepid religious life and thus squander the gifts Our Lord had given her. So don’t be surprised when you do read her own writing and find her style very down to earth, much like a mother teaching her daughters.

The prayer “Nada te turbe” is attributed to Teresa, having been found in her breviary. Here is an English rendering:

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” ~ St. Teresa of Ávila

Teresa of Ávila, by Peter Rubens, 1615. This is the portrait of Teresa that is probably the most true to her appearance. It is a copy of an original 1576 painting of her when she was 61.

Rather than reading about her, I suggest reading what she herself wrote. The Interior Castle is well worth your time and contemplation.

“Perhaps we do not know what love is, nor does this greatly surprise me. Love does not consist in great sweetness of devotion, but in a fervent determination to strive to please God in all things, in avoiding, as far as possible, all that would offend Him, and in praying for the increase of the glory and honor of His Son and for the growth of the Catholic Church.” ~ St. Teresa of Avila, An excerpt from “Interior Castle”

Wikipedia about this wonderful saint

oldest known depiction of St. Francis (detail)

October 4th: Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi!

It is October 4th today, and always a special day for us here because it is the feast of the saint most dear to us. Happy Feast of St. Francis of Assisi to y’all! In honor of the first saint to receive the stigmata, enjoy a few depictions of St. Francis, along with my favorite St. Francis quote:

“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received–
only what you have given.”

St. Francis by Albert Chevallier Tayle
St. Francis by Albert Chevallier Tayle
Stained glass window of St. Francis in St Damiano
Stained glass window of St. Francis in St. Damiano
St. Francis embracing Christ by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
St. Francis embracing Christ by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
MASTER of St Francis (active c. 1260-1280 in Umbria)

Scenes from the Life of St Francis: Francis Preaching to the Birds
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
St. Francis talking to the wolf of Gubbio (Carl Weidemeyer, 1911)
St. Francis talking to the wolf of Gubbio (Carl Weidemeyer, 1911)
St. Francis with stigmata
St. Francis with the stigmata
The Cross of St Damiano
The Cross of St. Damiano
October Our Lady of the Rosary

October: Our Lady of the Rosary

The month of October is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. During her last apparition at Fatima on October 13, 1917, Mary specifically referred to herself as “The Lady of the Rosary.”  If you are not in the habit of praying the Rosary but have considered learning or starting again to pray it, this is the perfect month to do so.

Our Lady of the Rosary
Our Lady of the Rosary

On October 7th, the RCC celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. According to tradition, Our Lady famously appeared to St. Dominic de Guzman and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary (as we know them today) to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one true Catholic faith. Since then, the Rosary has been an infallible source of grace and strength to those who pray it. At Fatima, for example, Our Lady instructed the three children she appeared to to learn how to read and write so that they could pray the Rosary and spread the devotion to it.

Saints who prayed the Rosary

If and when you pray the Rosary, you are in very good company, both today and throughout the ages. Here is a short, by no means comprehensive list of saints who prayed the Rosary.

  • St. Benedict XVI
  • St. Bernadette Soubirous
  • St. Anthony Mary Claret
  • St. Dominic
  • St. Josemaria Escriva
  • St. John Paul II (who aded the Five Luminous Mysteries)
  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  • St. Louis de Montfort (who happens to be a relative of ours)
  • St. Pio of Pietrelcina
  • St. Pius V
  • St. Pius X
  • St. Francis de Sales
Don’t know how to pray the Rosary?

There are many books on how to pray the rosay, and what to contemplate while praying the many Ave Marias. If you are just starting out, here are a few links that might help you:

How to Pray the Rosary in English

The Prayers of the Rosary in Latin

Gregorian Chant Sung Rosary

Pietà photo 1888

September: Our Lady of Sorrows

The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, Mater Dolorosa: On September 15th, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Our Lady of Sorrows

From very early on, Mary was keenly aware that the Son of God, who was also her son, was born to suffer, to be the “man of sorrows” the prophet spoke about. This month, September, we particularly remember Mary’s role in the life and passion of Our Lord, how she suffered when He was still a child during the flight to Egypt and when Simeon prophesied over the child Jesus during the Presentation. More suffering followed when she lost Jesus for three days when He was twelve, and finally when she went with Him every step of the way during His passion. She was the first to pray the Stations of the Cross, even as they were unfolding.

Stabat Mater

Many Western composers have put to music a hymn from the 13th century, “Stabat Mater”, “The Mother was standing”. On the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, this hymn is sung at the liturgy.  The first two stanzas run:

Stabat mater dolorósa
juxta Crucem lacrimósa,
dum pendébat Fílius.		At the Cross her station keeping,
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last:
Cuius ánimam geméntem,
contristántem et doléntem
pertransívit gládius.		Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has pass’d.

Of course, there are a lot more stanzas to it, and if you are looking for a version of the Stabat Mater online, you will find anything from three-minute videos to over an hour long compositions. I happen to like this rendering of Antonio Vivaldi‘s version a lot:

Andreas Scholl: Stabat Mater

The Prophesy of Simeon

The sword that “at length” pierces Our Lady is a reference to the prophesy of Simeon:

“And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35, KJV)

Since Mary’s sorrows are seven in number, depictions of Our Lady of Sorrows with seven swords piercing her, or Mary surrounded by pictures showing her seven sorrows, are numerous.

During the month of September, many people pray the Seven Sorrows of Mary in much the same way they otherwise pray the Stations of the Cross.

Lent Meditation on Jesus and an angel during the Agony in the Garden

Lent Meditation – The Days Before Holy Week

These are the last days before Holy Week, and they offer a last opportunity for some Lent Meditation. Ponder with us the last journey to Jerusalem. Let us get ready to re-member the last stage of the most important week in the history of mankind.

Passion Sunday is past, Palm Sunday not yet upon us, Lent is slowly but surely coming to a head. Aren’t these days like waiting for a challenging situation you have been preparing for? You want it to come, you know you are ready, but it is not here yet. If only it had already begun! The waiting almost seems to be the worst of it all.

These last days of Lent invite us to meditate on Jesus growing ever more somber in His discourse with the apostles and disciples, ever more sad. And He becomes ever more outspoken with regards to the terrifying suffering that awaits Him in Jerusalem. No Lent Meditation of the last week can be complete without considering Lam 1:12:

“Is it nothing to you, All ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.”

He knows His suffering will be unspeakably great. During His Agony in the Garden, He sees just precisely how unspeakably great it will be! He Himself will suffer most ignominious treatment. His Beloved Mother will inwardly experience His own pain. His beloved friends will watch helplessly while their Lord and their Hope runs the most cruel gauntlet and dies the most shameful death.

And they that longed to see Him die on the cross wag their heads and mock and revile Him with ever growing ferocity. Indeed, His sorrow is nothing to them. And yet, they know not that they are but tools in the toolbox of Someone Greater: The Son’s unparalleled suffering and sorrow is the final nail in the adversary’s coffin. See, He is making something New!

“Not my will but Thine be done.”

"Not my will but Thine be done."
Frans Schwartz “Agonie in the Garden” 1898, detail