Posted by Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus; Commemoration of the Second Sunday Post Epiphany: Missa “In nomine Jesu”
Holy Mother Church reveals to us the greatness of His name. It was on the occasion of the rite of Circumcision that a name was given to children among Jews. So the Church uses the same Gospel as that of the Feast of the Circumcision, and dwells on the second part which tells us that “the Child was called Jesus” (Gospel), “as God had bid that He should be called” (Collect). This name means Saviour, for “there is no other name given to men whereby we must be saved” (Epistle).
The name Jesus comes from the Greek Iesous which was derived from the Aramaic, Yeshu. It means “Yaweh is salvation.” The name was not unique, even in biblical times, and today it is common in Arabic-speaking East and in Spanish-speaking countries. From apostolic times the name has been treated with the greatest respect, as honour is due the name which represents Our Lord, himself.
The Holy Name of Jesus is, first of all, an all-powerful prayer. Our Lord Himself solemnly promises that whatever we ask the Father in His Name we shall receive. God never fails to keep His word. When, therefore, we say, “Jesus,” let us ask God for all we need with absolute confidence of being heard. For this reason, the Church ends her prayer with the words, “through Jesus Christ,” which gives the prayer a new and Divine efficacy. But the Holy Name is something still greater.
Each time we say, “Jesus,” we give God infinite joy and glory, for we offer Him all the infinite merits of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. St. Paul tells us that Jesus merited the Name Jesus by His Passion and Death. Each time we say “Jesus,” it is an act of perfect love, for we offer to God the infinite love of Jesus. The Holy Name of Jesus saves us from innumerable evils and delivers us especially from the power of the devil, who is constantly seeking to do us harm. The Holy Name of Jesus gradually fills our souls with a peace and joy we never had before. The Holy Name of Jesus gives us strength that our sufferings become light and easy to bear.
The origin of this feast is traced to the sixteenth century, when it was celebrated by the Franciscan Order. In 1721 the Church, under the rule of Pope Innocent XIII, made the keeping of this solemnity universal. This Feast is kept on the First Sunday of the year; but if this Sunday falls on 1st, 6th or 7th January, the feast is kept on 2nd January. It is the central feast of all the mysteries of Christ the Redeemer; it unites all the other feasts of the Lord, as a burning glass focuses the rays of the sun in one point, to show what Jesus is to us, what He has done, is doing, and will do for mankind. It originated towards the end of the fifteenth century, and was instituted by the private authority of some bishops in Germany, Scotland, England, Spain, and Belgium. The Office and the Mass composed by Bernardine dei Busti (d. 1500) were approved by Sixtus IV. The feast was officially granted to the Franciscans 25 February, 1530, and spread over a great part of the Church. The Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustinians kept it on 14 Jan.; the Dominicans 15 Jan. At Salisbury, York, and Durham in England, and at Aberdeen in Scotland it was celebrated 7 Aug., at Liege, 31 Jan., at Compostela and Cambrai, 8 Jan. [Grotefend, “Zeitrechnung”, II, 2. 89]. The Carthusians obtained it for the second Sunday after Epiphany about 1643; for that Sunday it was also extended to Spain, and later, 20 Dec., 1721, to the Universal Church. The Office used at present is nearly identical with the Office of Bernardine dei Busti. The hymns “Jesu dulcis memoria,” “Jesu Rex admirabilis,” “Jesu decus angelicum,” usually ascribed to St. Bernard, are fragments of a very extensive “jubilus” or “cursus de aeterna sapientia” of some unknown author in the thirteenth century. For the beautiful sequence “Dulcis Jesus Nazarenus” [Morel, “Hymnen des Mittelalters,” 67] of Bernardine dei Busti the Franciscans substituted a prose sequence of modern origin: “Lauda Sion Salvatoris;” they still celebrate the Feast on 14 January.
If we wish “to rejoice at seeing that our names are written in heaven under that of Jesus” (Postcommunion), let it be often on our lips on earth.
In the Proper Last Gospel today (of the Second Sunday Post Epiphany) is given a figure of the transubstantiation, which St. Thomas calls the greatest of all miracles, and by reason of which the Eucharistic wine becomes the blood of the testament. And as it is the Eucharist which enables Jesus to consummate, as Bossuet has it, His mystical marriage with our souls, the Fathers have seen in the wedding feast of Cana a symbol of the union of the Word with the Church. Blessed Mary, full of the charity of which the Epistle speaks, asks of Jesus His first miracle on behalf of the bridegroom and bride who are in trouble because “they have no wine” for their guests (Gospel). Her power as Mother of God is so great that, at her request, Jesus anticipates the hour appointed for the “manifestation of His divinity” to His disciples so that He also places His power at the service of His love.
Six water-pots, which were used for the cleansing of bands during meals, are filled to the brim; and, after the miracle, the chief steward who was in charge of the arrangements for the feast, with all the knowledge that was his, declared the new wine to be exceptionally good. Confronted by this proof of the divinity of Jesus,” His disciples believed in Him” (Gospel). By the Mass which washes away our sins (Secret) and the communion which enables the almighty power of Jesus to transform our souls (Postcommunion), let us realise within us the mystery of the water that the priest mixes with the wine by becoming partakers of the divinity of Him Who has put on our humanity.
INTROIT Philippians 2: 10-11
In the name of Jesus let every knee bow of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. (Ps. 8: 2) O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy Name in the whole earth. Glory he to the Father. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Repeat For a Child is born…
COLLECT
0 God Who didst appoint Thine only-begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and didst bid that He should be called Jesus: mercifully grant that we may enjoy the vision of Him in Heaven Whose holy Name we venerate on earth. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R.Amen.
Commemoration of the Second Sunday Post Epiphany
Almighty, everlasting God, You Who govern both the heavens and the earth, graciously hear the humble prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace all the days of our life. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
EPISTLE Acts of the Apostles 4: 8-12
Lesson from the Epistle of the Acts of the Apostles. In those days: Peter filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: 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 IsraeI, 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 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.
GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 105: 47
Save us, 0 Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations: that we may give thanks to Thy holy Name, and may glory in Thy praise. V. Isaias 63: 16 Thou, 0 Lord, art our Father and Redeemer, Thy Name is from eternity. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Psalm 144: 21) My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 2: 21
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.
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalms 85: 12, 5
I will praise Thee, 0 Lord my God with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy Name for ever; for Thou, 0 Lord, art sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee, alleluia.
SECRET
May Thy blessing, by which all creatures live, hallow, we beseech Thee, most merciful God, this our sacrifice which we ,offer to Thee to the glory of the Name of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, that it may please Thy majesty and Bring Thee praise, and avail us unto salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.
Commemoration of the Second Sunday Post Epiphany
Hallow our offerings, O Lord, and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
PREFACE of the Nativity
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God, for through the Mystery of the Word made flesh, the new light of Thy glory hath shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that while we acknowledge God in visible form, we may through Him be drawn to the love things invisible. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of The glory, evermore saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
COMMUNICANTES For the Nativity of Our Lord
Communicating, and keeping this most holy day, on which the spotless virginity of blessed Mary brought forth a Savior to this world; and also reverencing the memory first of the same glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of the same our God and Lord Jesus Christ: as also of the blessed Apostles and Martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon, and Thaddeus; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Thy Saints, through whose merits and prayers, grant that we may in all things be defended by the help of Thy protection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Psalms 85:9-10
All the nations Thou hast made shall come and adore before Thee, 0 Lord; and they shall glorify Thy Name: for Thou art great, and dost wonderful things: Thou art God alone, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
O almighty and everlasting God who didst create and redeem us, look graciously upon our prayer, and with a favorable and benign countenance deign to accept the Sacrifice of the saving Victim, which we have offered to Thy Majesty in honor of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: that through the infusion of Thy grace we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven, under the glorious Name of Jesus, the pledge of eternal predestination. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
Commemoration of the Second Sunday Post Epiphany
O Lord, we beseech You that the effects of Your power may ever increase within us; and, strengthened by the divine sacrament, we may be prepared by Your grace to lay hold of what it promises. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R. Amen.
Proper Last Gospel John, 2. 1-11 (Second Sunday Post Epiphany)
AT that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the Mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the Mother of Jesus saith to Him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to Her: Woman, what is that to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come. His Mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever He shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set there six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus said to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth to the bridegroom, and saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou has kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee: and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him