“When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” (Lk. 2:21). January is traditionally regarded as the month of devotion to the holy name of Jesus. Devotion to the holy name of Jesus formally commenced on the eighth day of his birth when he was circumcised and named, “Jesus.” What unfathomable love, what sweet consolation, what wonderful affection, what veneration and faith with which Mary and Joseph must have uttered the holy name of Jesus! That dear and adored name was ever a sweet balm for her in all her pains and sorrows!

There is power in the name of Jesus. It is the name that is above every other name. The name of Jesus when uttered or invoked with faith is in and of itself a prayer. People who have come to sudden danger and who have invoked the name of Jesus have somewhat been miraculously saved. St. Bernard of Clairvaux states that never yet was a person in urgent need, and on the point of perishing, who invoked this help-giving name, and who was not powerfully saved. St. Paul says: “Anyone who calls on the name of Jesus shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13).

Demons submit to the name of Jesus. The seventy disciples whom Jesus sent on evangelization returned to him with joy, saying: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” (Lk. 10:17).

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phi. 2:10-11).

He rewards any act of kindness that is done in his name. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to Christ shall be no means lose his reward.” (Mk. 9:41).

It is also by in his name that we can obtain anything from the Father. In John 14:13, he says: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Thus, Jesus Christ has solemnly promised that the Father will hear the prayers that we of ask of the Father in his name. In John 16:23-24: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

We are called upon to respect the name of Jesus and to make reparation to him for the blasphemies that are committed against his holy name. The Church instituted the feast of the holy name of Jesus (January 3) not only to remind us that we should not take the name of the Lord Jesus in vain, but also to make acts of reparation for the blasphemies that are committed against the holy name of Jesus.

Let us pray an act of reparation to the holy name of Jesus. O Jesus, my Savior, we make reparation to you for all the blasphemies that have been uttered against your holy name and for all the insults that are hurled against it this very day. To this end, we offer you all IHS -Iesus Hominum Salvator - Jesus, Savior of Humanity the praise and glory and loving homage that your holy name has ever received in heaven and on earth. We offer you, O Jesus, the love with which angels and faithful souls constantly pronounce your holy name with their lips and in their hearts. We offer you, above all, O Jesus, the love and reverence with which Mary and Joseph pronounced your adorable name when they spoke to you on earth. We desire to honor your holy name all the days of our life and to praise it forever and ever. Amen.