From Dom Guéranger's The Liturgical Year.
(When the first Sunday occurring in the year falls on January 1 or 6, or 7, the feast of the holy Name is kept on January 2.)
THE second Sunday after the Epiphany, which recalls the Marriage feast of Cana, was at first chosen as the day on which to honour the most holy Name of Jesus. It is on the Wedding Day that the Bridegroom gives his Name to the Bride, and it is the sign that, from that day forward, she belongs to him alone. The Church, therefore, wishing to honour a name so precious to her with a special feast, could find no day more appropriate for it than that of the Marriage at Cana. But now she has chosen for the celebration of this august Name, a day closer to the Anniversary on which it was given, ‘after eight days were accomplished, his name was called Jesus’; she leaves, however, the commemoration of the Sacred Nuptials to the Sunday of which it has ever been the glory.
In the Old Covenant, the Name of God inspired fear and awe: nor was the honour of pronouncing it granted to all the children of Israel. We can understand this. God had not yet come down from heaven to live on earth, and converse with men; he had not yet taken upon himself our poor nature, and become Man like ourselves; the sweet Name expressive of love and tenderness, could not be applied to him.
But, when the fulness of time had come—when the mystery of love was about to be revealed—then did heaven send down the Name of ‘Jesus ' to our earth, as a pledge of the speedy coming of him who was to bear it. The archangel Gabriel said to Mary: Thou shalt call his Name Jesus. ‘Jesus’ means Saviour. How sweet will this Name not be to poor lost man! It seems to link earth to heaven! No name is so amiable, none is so powerful. Every knee in heaven, on earth, and in hell, bows in adoration at hearing this Name! and yet, who can pronounce it, and not feel love spring up within his heart? But we need such a saint as Bernard, to tell us of the power and sweetness of this blessed Name. He thus speaks of it in one of his Sermons.
The Name of Jesus is Light, and Food, and Medicine. It is Light, when it is preached to us; it is Food, when we think upon it; it is the Medicine that soothes our pains when we invoke it. Let us say a word on each of these. Tell me, whence came there, into the whole world, so bright and sudden a light, if not from the preaching of the Name of Jesus? Was it not by the light of this Name that God called us unto his admirable Light? Wherewith being enlightened, and in this light, seeing the Light, we take these words of Paul as truly addressed to ourselves: Heretofore, you were darkness; but now, light in the Lord.
Nor is the Name of Jesus Light only; it is also Food. Art thou not strengthened, as often as thou thinkest of this Name? What is there that so feeds the mind of him that meditates upon this Name? What is there that so restores the wearied faculties, strengthens virtue, gives vigour to good and holy habits, and fosters chastity? Every food of the soul is dry, that is not steeped in this unction; it is insipid, if it be not seasoned with this salt. If thou write, I relish not thy writing, unless I read there the Name of Jesus. If thou teach me, or converse with me, I relish not thy words, unless I hear thee say the Name of Jesus. Jesus is honey to the mouth, and music to the ear, and gladness to the heart.
It is also Medicine. Is any one among you sad? Let but Jesus come into his heart, and the mouth echo him, saying Jesus! and lo! the light of that Name disperses every cloud, and brings sunshine back again. Have any of you committed sin? and is despair driving you into the snare of death? Invoke the Name of life, and life will come back to the soul. Was there ever a man, that, hearing this saving Name, could keep up that common fault of hardness of heart, or drowsiness of sluggishness, or rancour of soul, or languor of sloth? If any one, perchance, felt that the fountain of his tears was dry, did it not gush forth more plentifully than ever, and flow more sweetly than ever, as soon as he invoked the Name of Jesus? If any of us were ever in danger, and our heart beat with fear, did not this Name of power bring us confidence and courage the moment we pronounced it? When we were tossed to and fro by perplexing doubts, did not the evidence of what was right burst on us as we called upon the Name of light? When we were discouraged, and well nigh crushed, by adversity, did not our heart take courage, when our tongue uttered the Name of help? All this is most true; for all these miseries are the sicknesses and faintings of our soul, and the Name of Jesus is our Medicine.
But, let us see how all this comes to pass. Call upon me in the day of trouble, says the Lord; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.[1] There is nothing which so restrains the impulse of anger, calms the swelling of pride, heals the wound of envy, represses the insatiability of luxury, smothers the flame of lust, quenches the thirst of avarice, and dispels the fever of uncleanliness—as the Name of Jesus. For when I pronounce this Name, I bring before my mind the Man, who, by excellence, is meek and humble of heart, benign, sober, chaste, merciful, and filled with everything that is good and holy, nay, who is the very God Almighty—whose example heals me, and whose assistance strengthens me. I say all this, when I say Jesus. Here have I my model, for he is Man; and my help, for he is God; the one provides me with precious drugs, the other gives them efficacy; and from the two I make a potion such as no physician knows how to make.
Here is the electuary, my soul, hid in the casket of this Name Jesus; believe me, it is wholesome, and good for every ailment thou canst possibly have. Ever have it with thee, in thy bosom and in thy hand; so that all thy affections and actions may be directed to Jesus.[2]
The feast of the Holy Name is of comparatively recent origin, its first promoter was St Bernardine of Siena, who lived in the fifteenth century. This holy man established the practice of representing the Holy Name of Jesus surrounded with rays, and formed into a monogram of its three first letters, ihs.[3] The custom spread rapidly through Italy, and was zealously propagated by the great St John of Capestrano, who, like St Bernardine of Siena, was of the Order of Friars Minor. The Holy See gave its formal approbation to this manner of honouring the Name of our Saviour, and, in the early part of the sixteenth century, Pope Clement VI, after long entreaties, granted to the whole Franciscan Order the privilege of keeping a special Feast in honour of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
Rome extended the same favour to various Churches; and, at length, the Feast was inserted in the universal Calendar. It was in the year 1721, at the request of Charles VI, Emperor of Germany, that Pope Innocent XII decreed that the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus should be kept throughout the whole Church; he also chose the Second Sunday after the Epiphany as the day, but as we have already explained, the feast is now fixed for the Sunday following the Circumcision.
MASS
The Church begins her chants by proclaiming the glory of the Name of her Spouse. Heaven, earth, and hell! bow ye down at the sound of this adorable Name, for the Son of Man, who bears this Name, is also the Son of God.
Introit
In Nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur, cœlestium, terrestrium et infernorum; et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Jesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris.
Ps. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est Nomen tuum in universa terra! ℣. Gloria Patri. In Nomine Jesu.
At the Name of Jesus, let every knee bend in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and every tongue confess, that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Ps. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name over the whole earth, ℣. Glory. At the Name.
In the Collect, the Church, which, during her exile, finds consolation in the Name of her divine Spouse, prays that she may see his blessed face in heaven.
Collect
Deus, qui unigenitum Filium tuum constituisti humani generis Salvatorem, et Jesum vocari jussisti: concede propitius, ut cujus sanctum Nomen veneramur in terris, ejus quoque aspectu perfruamur in cœlis. Per eumdem.
O God, who didst appoint thy Only-Begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and commandedst that his name should be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate this holy Name on earth, may also enjoy his sight in heaven. Through the same, etc.
No commemoration is made of the Sunday; but on January 2, 3, or 4 the occurring Octave Day is commemorated in private Masses only; and on January 5 the Vigil of the Epiphany is commemorated in all Masses, and St Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr, in private Masses.
Epistle
Lectio Actuum Apostolorum.
Cap. IV.
In diebus illis, Petrus Spiritu Sancto repletus, dixit: Principes populi, et seniores, audite: si nos hodie dijudicamur in benefacto hominis infirmi, in quo iste salvus factus est; notum sit omnibus vobis, et omni plebi Israel, quia in Nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi Nazareni, quem vos crucifixistis, quem Deus suscitavit a mortuis, in hoc iste adstat coram vobis sanus. Hic est lapis qui reprobatus est a vobis ædificantibus, qui factus est in caput anguli; et non est in alio aliquo salus. Nec enim aliud nomen est sub cœlo datum hominibus, in quo oporteat nos salvos fieri.
Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.
Ch. IV.
In those days: Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost, said: Ye princes of the people and ancients, hear. If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner; neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved.
Oh! how true is this, dear Jesus! no other Name but thine could give us salvation, and thy Name means Saviour. Be thou praised for having taken such a Name! Be thou praised for having saved us! Thou art of heaven heavenly, and yet thou takest a Name of earth, and one which our mortal lips can say.
The holy Church then commences a second canticle in praise of this divine Name, which is blessed by all nations, for it is the name of him who redeemed them all.
Gradual
Salvos fac nos, Domine Deus noster; et congrega nos de nationibus: ut confiteamur Nomini sancto tuo, et gloriemur in laude tua.
℣. Tu, Domine, Pater noster, et Redemptor noster; a sæculo nomen tuum.
Alleluia, alleluia.
℣. Laudem Domini loquetur os meum, et benedicat omnis caro Nomen sanctum ejus. Alleluia.
Save us, O Lord, our God! and gather us from amidst the nations: that we may give thanks to thy holy Name, and may glory in thy praise.
℣. Thou, Lord, art our Father and Redeemer; thy Name is from eternity.Alleluia, alleluia.
℣. My mouth shall publish the praises of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy Name. Alleluia.
After Septuagesima, the following Tract is sung, instead of the Alleluia.
Tract
Domine, Deus virtutum, converte nos; et ostende faciem tuam et salvi erimus: sonet vox tua in auribus meis.
℣. Vox enim tua dulcis, et facies tua decora nimis.
℣. Oleum effusum Nomen tuum, Jesu; ideo adolescentulæ dilexerunt te.
Convert us to thee, O Lord God of hosts; and show thy face, and we shall be saved: let thy voice sound in my ears.
℣. For sweet is thy voice, and very beautiful is thy countenance.
℣. Thy Name, O Jesus, is as oil poured out; therefore have virgins loved thee.
GOSPEL
Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam.
Cap. II.
In illo tempore: Postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur Puer, vocatum est Nomen ejus Jesus; quod vocatum est ab Angelo, priusquam in utero conciperetur.
Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Ch. II.
At that time, After eight days were accomplished that the Child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.
It is during the first shedding of thy Blood, by the Circumcision, that thou didst receive this Name of Jesus, dear Lord! and it was fitting that it should be so, for this Name signifies Saviour, and we could not be saved but by thy Blood. Our immortal life is to be purchased at the price of thy Death! This truth is expressed to us by thy Name, O Jesus! Saviour! Thou art the Vine, and thou invitest us to drink of thy delicious Wine; but the heavenly Fruit must be first unsparingly pressed in the wine-press of thy Eternal Father’s justice; we cannot drink of its juice, until it shall have been tom from the branch and bruised for our sakes. May thy sacred Name ever remind us of this sublime Mystery, and may the remembrance keep us from sin, and make us always faithful.
During the Offertory, the holy Church resumes her chants in honour of the Holy Name; she celebrates the mercies, which are reserved for all them that call on this Name.
Offertory
Confitebor tibi, Domine Deus meus, in toto corde meo; et glorificabo Nomen tuum in æternum. Quoniam tu, Domine, suavis et mitis es, multæmisericordiæ omnibus invocantibus te. Alleluia.
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify thy name for ever; because, O Lord, thou art good and gracious, and full of mercy towards all that call upon thee. Alleluia.
Secret
Benedictio tua, clementissime Deus, qua omnis viget creatura, sanctificet, quæsumus, hoc sacrificium nostrum, quod ad gloriam Nominis Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi offerimus tibi: ut majestati tuæ piacere possit ad laudem, et nobis proficere ad salutem. Per eumdem.
May thy blessing, O most merciful God, by which every creature is enlivened and subsists, sanctify this our sacrifice, which we offer thee in honour of the name of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: that it may be acceptable to the praise of thy majesty, and available to our salvation. Through the same, etc.
The Faithful having received the heavenly food—the Body and Blood of their Saviour, Jesus—the Church, filled with gratitude towards her Lord, invites all nations to glorify the Name of him who made and redeemed them.
Communion
Omnes gentes quascumque fecisti venient, et adorabunt coram te. Domine, et glorificabunt Nomen tuum: quoniam magnus es tu, et faciens mirabilia; tu es Deus solus. Alleluia.
All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify thy name, for thou art great and dost wonderful things: thou art God alone. Alleluia.
The holy Church has now but one more prayer to make: it is, that the names of her children may be written, under the glorious Name of 'Jesus,' in the book of eternal predestination, which is, as it were, the deed of the contract made with us by our Saviour. This happiness will assuredly be ours, if we are but wise enough to profit by all that this sweet Name offers us, and to make our life conformable to the lessons it teaches us.
Postcommunion
Omnipotens, aeterne Deus, qui creasti et redemisti nos: respice propitius vota nostra, et sacrrficium salutaris hostiæ, quod in honorem Nominis Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi, majestati tuæ obtulimus, placido et benigno vultu suscipere digneris; ut gratia tua nobis infusa, sub glorioso Nomine Jesu, æternæ prædestinationis titulo, gaudeamus nomina nostra scripta esse in cœlis. Per eumdem.
O Almighty and Eternal God, who didst both create and redeem us, mercifully hear our prayers, and vouchsafe, with a pleasing and kind countenance, to receive the sacrifice of this victim of our salvation, which we have offered to thy divine Majesty, in honour of the Name of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; that thy grace being poured upon us, through the glorious Name of Jesus as a pledge of our eternal predestination, we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven. Through the same, etc.
Vespers
Ant. Omnis qui invocaverit Nomen Domini salvus erit.
Ant. Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.
Psalm: Dixit Dominus, p. 89.
Ant. Sanctum et terribile Nomen ejus: initium sapientiæ timor Domini.
Ant. Holy and terrible is his Name: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Psalm: Confitebor, p. 90.
Ant. Ego autem in Domino gaudebo, et exsultabo in Deo Jesu meo.
Ant. But I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy in God my Jesus.
Psalm: Beatus vir, p. 91.
Ant. A solis ortu usque ad occasum, laudabile Nomen Domini.
Ant. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
Psalm: Laudate pueri, p. 92.
Ant. Sacrificabo hostiam laudis, et Nomen Domini invocabo.
Ant. I will sacrifice the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord.
Psalm 115
Credidi, propter quod locutus sum: * ego autem humiliatus sum nimis.
Ego dixi in excessu meo: * Omnis homo mendax.
Quid retribuam Domino, * pro omnibus, quæ retribuit mihi?
Calicem salutaris accipiam: * et Nomen Domini invocabo.
Vota mea Domino reddam coram omni populo ejus: * pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum ejus.
O Domine, quia ego servus tuus: * ego servus tuus et filius ancillæ tuæ.
Dirupisti vincula mea: * tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis, et Nomen Domini invocabo.
Vota mea Domino reddam in conspectu omnis populi ejus: * in atriis domus Domini, in medio tui Jerusalem.
I have believed, therefore have I spoken: but I have been humbled exceedingly.
I said in my excess: Every man is a liar.
What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things that he hath rendered to me?
I will take the chalice of salvation: and I will call upon the Name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid.
Thou hast broken my bonds: I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Capitulum
(Phil, ii)
Fratres, Christus humiliavit semetipsum, factus obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis: propter quod et Deus exaltavit ilium, et donavit illi Nomen quod est super omne nomen: ut in Nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur.
Brethren, Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross; for which cause, God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a Name, which is above all names: that in the Name of Jesus every knee should bow.
Hymn[4]
Jesu, dulcis memoria,
Dans vera cordi gaudia:
Sed super mel et omnia,
Ejus dulcis præsentia.
Nil canitur suavius,
Nil auditur jucundius,
Nil cogitatur dulcius,
Quam Jesus Dei Filius.
Jesu, spes pœnitentibus,
Quam pius es petentibus!
Quam bonus te quærentibus!
Sed quid invenientibus?
Nec lingua valet dicere,
Nec littera exprimere;
Expertus potest credere,
Quid sit Jesum diligere.
Sis Jesu nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus præmium,
Sit nostra in te gloria,
Per cuncta semper sæcula.
Amen.
℣. Sit Nomen Domini benedictum, Alleluia.
℟. Ex hoc nunc, et usque in sæculum, Alleluia.
Jesus! how sweet the remembrance of that name,
which gives true joy to the heart!
But, the sweet presence of him who bears that Name
is sweeter than honey and every pleasure.
No song is so sweet,
no word is so sweet,
no thought is so sweet as
—Jesus, the Son of God!
Dear Jesus! thou hope of penitent hearts!
how merciful thou art to them that ask for thee!
how good to them that seek thee!
but, oh! what art thou to them that find thee!
No tongue can tell,
no pen can describe,
what it is to love Jesus.
He that has felt it, can alone believe the bliss.
Jesus! be thou our joy,
as thou wilt, one day,
be our reward.
May our glory for eternal ages be in thee.
Amen.
℣. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Alleluia.
℟. From henceforth, now, and for ever, Alleluia.
Antiphons Of The Magnificat
Ant. (1 Vp.). Fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, alleluia.
Ant. (2 Vp.). Vocabis Nomen ejus Jesum; ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum. Alleluia.
Oremus
Deus qui unigenitum Filium tuum constituisti humani generis Salvatorem, et Jesum vocari jussisti; concede propitius, ut, cujus sanctum Nomen veneramur in terris, ejus quoque aspectu perfruamur in cœlis. Per eumdem.
Ant. (1 Vp.). For he that is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is his Name, alleluia.
Ant. (2 Vp.). Thou shalt call his Name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. Alleluia.
Let us PrayO God, who didst appoint thy Only-Begotten Son, the Saviour of mankind, and commandedst that his Name should be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate his holy Name on earth, may also enjoy his sight in heaven. Through the same, etc.
The two Hymns which follow, and which are used by the Church for the Matins and Lauds of the Feast, are by the same writer as the Hymn of Vespers, Jesu dulcis memoria. They were for a long time attributed to St Bernard; but Manuscripts have been found, which prove beyond a doubt, that they were composed by a holy Abbess of the Order of St Benedict, who lived in the fourteenth century.
Hymn
Jesu, Rex admirabilis,
Et triumphator nobilis,
Dulcedo inefabilis,
Totus desiderabilis.
Quando cor nostrum visitas,
Tunc lucet ei veritas,
Mundi vilescit vanitas,
Et intus fervet charitas.
Jesu, dulcedo cordium,
Fons vivus, lumen mentium,
Excedens omne gaudium,
Et omne desiderium.
Jesum omnes agnoscite;
Amorera ejus poscite;
Jesum ardenter quærite,
Quærendo inardescite.
Te nostra, Jesu, vox sonnet.
Nostri te mores exprimant,
Te corda nostra diligant,
Et nunc et in perpetuum.
Amen.
O Jesus! admirable King!
noble Conqueror!
ineffable Sweetness!
most lovely Jesus!
When thou visitest the heart,
then does truth shine upon her,
the vanity of the world grows contemptible,
and charity burns within.
O Jesus! Sweetness of the heart!
Fount of life! Light of the soul!
Thou surpassest every joy,
and every desire.
Acknowledge this Jesus, all ye people!
Pray for his love,
seek him with all eagerness,
and, as ye seek him, burn with love of him.
May our tongue proclaim thee, O Jesu!
may our lives reflect thy virtues!
may our hearts love thee,
both now and for eternity!
Amen.
Hymn
Jesu decus Angelicum,
In aure dulce canticum,
In ore mel mirificum,
In corde nectar cœlicum.
Qui te gustant esuriunt;
Qui bibunt adhuc sitiunt;
Desiderare nesciunt
Nisi Jesum, quem diligunt.
O Jesu, mi dulcissime,
Spes suspirantis animæ!
Te quærunt piæ lacrymæ,
Te clamor mentis intimæ.
Mane nobiscum, Domine,
Et nos illustra lumine;
Pulsa mentis caligine,
Mundum reple dulcedine.
Jesu, flos Matris virginis,
Amor nostræ dulcedinis,
Tibi laus, honor Nominis,
Regnum beatitudinis.
Amen.
My Jesus, thou glory of the Angels!
Thou art sweet music to the ear,
sweetest honey to the mouth,
heavenly nectar to the heart!
They that taste thee, still hunger after thee;
they that drink, still thirst to drink;
they know not what to desire
save the Jesus whom they love.
O Jesus! my sweetest Jesus!
hope of this panting heart!
these tears of love, this cry of my innermost soul,
both ask thee to be mine.
Abide with us, O Lord!
and illumine us with light;
drive darkness from our souls,
and fill the world with thy sweetness.
To thee, O Jesus! thou Flower of thy Virgin-Mother,
thou love of our delighted nature!
be praise, and the honour of thy Name,
and the kingdom of eternal bliss.
Amen.
The following Sequence is the composition of the devout Bernardine de Bustis, a Franciscan, who also composed, during the pontificate of Sixtus IV, an Office and a Mass of the Holy Name of Jesus.
Sequence
Dulcis Jesus Nazarenus,
Judæorum Rex amœnus,
Pius, pulcher, floridus.
Pro salute suæ gentis
Subit mortem cum tormentis,
Factus pallens, lividus.
Dulce Nomen et cognomen,
Hoc transcendens est prænomen
Omnibus nominibus.
Mulcet reos, sanat eos;
Fovet justos, munit eos;
Servans ab insultibus.
Hujus Regis sub vexillo
Statu degis in tranquillo:
Hostes tui fugiunt.
Nomen Jesu meditatum
Belli fugat apparatum,
Hostes victi fugiunt.
Hoc est Nomen recolendum,
Quod sic semper est tremendum
Malignis spiritibus.
Hoc est Nomen salutare,
Et solamen singulare,
Quod succurrit tristibus.
Hoc nos decet honorare,
Arca cordis inserare,
Cogitare, peramare,
Amore sed heroico.
Ignatius hoc docuit,
Hoc passus insonuit,
Cor ejus scissum patuit
Inscriptum Jesu cœlico.
Ut quid majora cupimus
Quam quod Jesus sit intimus:
Qui est præamantissimus,
Et quærit nos amare.
Amat ferventissime,
Amat constantissime,
Amat fidelissime,
Et suos vult juvare.
Nomen suum fecit tale.
Ut sit cunctis cordiale,
Capitale, principale,
Dilectum ex intimis.
Habent hoc naturae jura:
Ut amantem tota cura
Redamemus, placitura
Præstantes ex animis.
Jesu Nomen omne bonum
Tenet, dulcem facit sonum:
Promeretur regni thronum,
Auditum lætificat.
In hoc lucet splendor Patris,
In hoc patet decor Matris:
In hoc fulget honor Patris,
Hoc fratres magnificat.
Ergo si quis velit scire
Quare Nomen Jesu mire
Facit bonos concupire
Sui inhærentia.
Jesu, pulcher in decore,
Summe bonus in valore,
Mitis, lenis, cum dulcore
Pronus ad clementiam.
Jesus est Rex gloriosus,
Jesus forma speciosus:
Jesus lingua gratiosus,
Et mirandus opere.
Jesus fortis, animosus,
Jesus pugil vigorosus,
Jesus donis copiosus,
Et gaudet tribuere.
Jesus pie viscerosus,
Jesus ductor luminosus,
Jesus est deliciosus,
Et sapit dulcissime.
Jesus fama gloriosus,
Jesus cunctis fructuosus,
Jesus totus virtuosus,
Fovet suos optime.
Summe celsus in honore,
Summe gratus in amore,
Omnem laudem obtinet.
In sciendo omne sapit,
Ambiendo cuncta capit,
Diligendo corda rapit,
Et illata detinet.
Eia nobis Nomen gratum,
Dulcis Jesus appellatum:
Sit in corde sic firmatum,
Ut non possit erui.
Hoc reatum peccatorum
Tollat, præstet jubilorum
Odas: sede beatorum
Donet nobis perfrui.
Amen.
Sweet Jesus of Nazareth!
dear King of the Jews!
the good, the beautiful, the flowerlike Jesus!
He suffers death and torments
for the salvation of his people:
he is pale and livid with his wounds.
Sweet Name and epithet!
It is the Name
surpassing all names.
It softens the sinner's heart, and heals him:
it warms up the just, and strengthens them,
and defends them from temptation.
Under this King's standard,
thou livest in peace,
for thine enemies fly before thee.
Think upon the Name of Jesus,
and it will break up thine enemies' plans,
conquer them, and put them to flight.
This is the Name deserving of all honour,
at which the wicked spirits
ever tremble.
This is the Name of salvation,
and the wonderful consolation
which comforts the sorrowful.
It behoves us to honour this Name,
put it in the treasury of our heart,
think on it, love it,
but love it bravely.
Ignatius taught men this Name;
when he suffered martyrdom he had it on his lips,
and when his heart was opened,
there was found written on it this heavenly word Jesus.
What could we wish for better than this,
to have Jesus as a bosom-friend?
He is lovely above all measure,
and desires to love us.
He loves most ardently,
he loves most constantly,
he loves most faithfully,
and seeks how to assist his friends.
He made his own Name,
and he made it such as that all should love it above all names,
and before all names,
and more intimately than all other names.
This is nature’s law:
that we study our best to love him who loves us,
and cordially do all we can
to please him.
The Name of Jesus includes all good things;
its sound is sweet;
it merits for us a throne in the kingdom;
it gladdens our hearing.
The brightness of the Father shines in it;
the beauty of the Mother beams through it;
the honour of the Father is reflected in it;
the glory of the Brethren comes from it.
Would any one, therefore, know,
how it is that the Name of Jesus
so wonderfully causes the good
to desire him whose Name it is?
It is that Jesus is beautiful in comeliness,
infinitely good in worth,
meek, gentle, and sweetly
prone to mercy.
Jesus is the King of glory;
Jesus is beautiful in appearance;
Jesus is graceful in speech,
and admirable in his works.
Jesus is strong, and valiant;
Jesus is a vigorous combatant;
Jesus is generous in his gifts,
and loves to give.
Jesus is tenderly compassionate;
Jesus is the enlightened guide;
Jesus is the delight of all who know him,
and most sweet is his company.
Jesus is glorified throughout the world;
Jesus brings the fruit of blessings to all;
Jesus is the source of every virtue,
and takes the tenderest care of those that are his.
There is none equal to him in honour,
there is none like him in affection,
and all the earth praises him.
He knows all things,
and holds all things in his omnipresent providence;
his love wins him the hearts of his creatures
and keeps them fastened to himself.
All hail, then, to this Name so loved
—‘Sweet Jesus'!
May it be so fixed within our hearts,
that no power may take it from us!
May it bring us the forgiveness of our sins;
may it inspire us to hymn God's praise;
may it lead us to the possession
of our blissful throne in heaven.
Amen.
We cannot refuse to our readers the following Hymn from the ancient Missals of Germany, notwithstanding its being, in several of the ideas and expressions, a repetition of the one just given.
Hymn
Nomen jure sublimatum,
In excelsis adoratum,
Nomen summæ gloriæ:
Gabrieli revelatum,
Et in terris nunciatum
Genitrici gratiæ.
Hæc octavo die natum,
Circumcisum more patrum,
Salvatorem nominat.
Universo publicatum
Mundo Nomen hoc beatum
Credentes salvificat.
In hoc lucet Trinitatis
Splendor atque unitatis;
Hoc cœlum lætificat.
In hoc fulget honor Patris,
In hoc patet decor Matris,
Hoc fratres glorificat.
Hoc est Nomen salutare,
Et solamen singulare,
Quod succurrit tristibus.
Hoc nos decet honorare,
Benedicere, laudare
Semper lætis mentibus.
Hoc est melos prædicatum,
Dulce mel est invocatum,
Servat ab insultibus.
Jubilus est cogitatum,
Nomen mire formidatum
Malignis spiritibus.
Ecce Nomen gratiosum,
Fructuosum, virtuosum
Præ cunctis nominibus.
Vultum Dei gratiosum,
Speciosum, amorosum,
Ostendit hominibus.
Nomen pulchrum in decore,
Summe bonum in valore,
Intus sapit dulciter;
Summe potens in vigore,
Summe celsum in honore
Delectat feliciter.
Ergo Pastor animarum,
Bone Jesu, et earum
Lumen indeficiens,
Propter Nomen tuum carum
Tetrum chaos tenebrarum
Obstrue, nos muniens.
O Reformator cunctarum
Nationum humanarum,
Vita mortem auferens,
Restaurator ruinarum
Virtutum angelicarum,
Te ipsum sis largiens.
Amen.
Jesus, Name so justly honoured,
adored in heaven,
and expressive of infinite glory!
It was revealed to Gabriel,
and announced on earth
to the Mother of divine grace.
She, on the eighth day,
when her Son had been circumcised according to the Jewish ceremony,
she called him Jesus.
The blessed Name was preached
to the whole world,
and saves them that believe.
The glory of the divine Trinity
and Unity blazes forth in this Name;
it gladdens heaven;
the brightness of the Father shines in it;
the beauty of the Mother beams through it;
the glory of the Brethren comes from it.
This is the Name of salvation,
and the wonderful consolation
which comforts the sorrowful.
It behoves us ever to honour,
and bless, and praise,
with joyful hearts, this dear Name.
It is music when preached to us;
it is sweet honey when invoked by us;
it defends us from temptation.
It is joy to us when we think on it,
and the wicked spirits are seized
with strange fear when they hear us say it.
This is the Name that is full of grace,
and fruit, and virtue,
above all names.
It makes known to men
the gracious, the beautiful,
the loving face of God.
It is fair in beauty,
it is surpassingly good in worth,
its inner relish is most sweet;
it is most powerful in energy,
most high in honour,
and gives a happy delight.
Do thou, therefore, good Jesus!
Shepherd and Light
unfailing of our souls!
defend us, and, for thy dear Name’s sake,
let not the dismal chaos of darkness
ingulf us.
O thou the Reformer
of all nations,
that destroyest death by thy Life!
O Restorer of the loss
sustained by the Angels,
give thyself unto us.
Amen.
[1] Ps. xlix 15.
[2] Fifteenth Sermon on the Canticle of Canticles.
[3] The Name was, anciently, often written Ihesus; hence, in its contracted form alluded to, the letter h would be given: the e following was virtually included in the aspirate. [Translator.]
[4] In the Monastic Breviary, it is preceded by this Responsory. ℟.Adjutorium nostrum in Nomine Domini, * Alleluia, alleluia. Adjutorium. V. Qui fecit cœlum et terrain. * Alleluia. Gloria Patri. Adjutorium.