The Holy Name of Jesus

Benedictus Nomen Sanctum Iesu

Benedicamus Domino

Devotion to the Holy Name  +  The Divine Praises  +  Holy Name of Jesus Litany  +  Pious Customs

Devotion to the Holy Name

"At Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father:

Jesus Christ is Lord"  (Phil. 2:10-11)

Devotion to the Holy Name began in the very early Church and was encouraged by the Apostles and the early disciples. In the early middle ages Pope Gregory X (1271-1276) and the Council of Lyons in 1274 called for a specific devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus by the universal Church.  Taking up this call, Blessed John of Vercelli began preaching on the virtues of the Holy Name and constructed special altars to allow the faithful to venerate the Holy Name of Jesus. Later Saint Bernardine of Siena (130-1444) painted a wooden tablet with the Monogram of the Name of Jesus surrounded by the rays of the sun as an object of devotion. He was also responsible for the addition of the Name of Jesus to the Hail Mary in 1597.  Today's Holy Name Society claims spiritual roots in the zeal of Blessed John of Vercelli's Dominicans and St. Bernardine's Franciscan Brothers.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that shall take the name of the Lord his God in vain. -Exodus 20:7

In an era when it is commonplace to hear the Lord's Name taken in vain on television, in movies, and out of the mouths of children as a normal course of conversation, we, as Catholics are called not only to make reparation, but to give witness to the wonders of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Blessed be God. 
Blessed be His Holy Name. 
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. 
Blessed be the Name of Jesus. 
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. 
Blessed be His most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. 
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Consoler.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. 
Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. 
Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. 
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. 
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.

Holy Name of Jesus Litany

Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ have Mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord have Mercy.
Jesus, hear us. Jesus hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. 
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. 
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. 
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Splendor of the Father, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Brightness of eternal Light, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, King of Glory, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Sun of Justice, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, most amiable, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, most admirable, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, the mighty God, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Father of the world to come, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, angel of great counsel, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, most powerful, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, most patient, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, most obedient, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, lover of Chastity, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, lover of us, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, God of Peace, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, author of Life, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, example of Virtues, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, zealous lover of souls, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, our Refuge, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Father of the Poor, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Treasure of the Faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, good Shepherd, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, true Light, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, eternal Wisdom, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, infinite Goodness, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, our Way and our Life, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, joy of Angels, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, King of the Patriarchs, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Master of the Apostles, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Teacher of the Evangelists, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Strength of Martyrs, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Light of Confessors, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Purity of Virgins, have mercy on us. 
Jesus, Crown of all Saints, have mercy on us. 
 

The Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus was most likely composed by St. John Capistrano (1386-1456) and by St. Bernadine of Siena (1380-1444) who both preached extensively on the devotion to the Name of Jesus. The Litany was approved for private usage by Pope Sixtus V in 1585. The present form was approved by Pope Pius IX for local usage in 1862 and then in 1866 Pope Leo XIII approved it for public use in the Universal Church. A partial indulgence is attached to this prayer.

Pious Customs

When you attend Mass, you may notice some of the faithful making quick little nods of their heads from time to time. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that this occurs at the pronouncement of the Name of Jesus.  This custom was formally introduced by Pope Gregory X at the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 A.D.  He wrote:

"Those who assemble in church should extol with an act of special reverence that Name which is above every Name, than which no other under Heaven has been given to people, in which believers must be saved, the Name, that is, of Jesus Christ, Who will save His people from their sins. Each should fulfill in himself that which is written for all, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious Name is recalled, especially during the sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head."

Read The Wonders of The Holy Name

"Blessed Be God's Name Forever!"

The Holy Name of Jesus - Indulgence 

Pope Sixtus V first granted an indulgence for the uttering of the phrase used so often by the present Holy Father and included among the pious invocations of the current Enchiridion Indulgentiarum.

"Praised be Jesus Christ!"

An Offering to Jesus