Happy New Year!

The following is a sermon of St. Bernard of Clairvaux. 

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” [Psalm 49: 15]. 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 this 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 Circumcision of the Our Lord Jesus and (tmr) The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

"The More You Honour Me, The More I Will Bless You."

Puer natus est nobis,

et filius datus est nobis:

cujus imperium super humerum ejus:

et vocabitur nomen ejus,

magni concilii angelus.

-from the Introit of Today's Proper, Is.9:6

(A child is born to us,

and a Son is given to us,

Whose government is upon His shoulders:

and His name shall be called the Angel of great counsel.)

Thine are the heavens,

and Thine is the earth:

the world and the fullness thereof Thou hast founded:

justice and judgment are the preparation of Thy Throne.

-from the Offertory of Today's Proper, Ps.88:12,15

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On This the First day of the New Year, Anno domini 2007,

rachelannethérèse, your humble blogger,

would like to wish you a very happy New Year and,

May the Blessings of the Divine Infant and His Most Dearest Mother

be upon Thee and Thy family. :)

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Here's a most beautiful prayer by Rev. Cyrillus a Matre Dei, the first and most devoted venerator of the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague (of whose picture you see at the top of this post, on a holy card).

Jesus, unto Thee I flee,

Through Thy Mother praying Thee

In my need to succor me.

Truly, I believe of Thee

God Thou art with strength to

shield me;

Full of trust, I hope of Thee

Thou Thy grace wilt give to me.

All my heart I give to Thee,

Therefore, do my sins repent me;

From them breaking, I bessech Thee,

Jesus, from their bonds to free me.

Firm my purpose is to mend me;

Never more will I offend Thee.

Wholly unto Thee I give me,

Patiently to suffer for Thee,

Thee to serve eternally.

And my neighbour like to me

I will love for love of Thee.

Little Jesus, I beseech Thee,

In my need to succor me,

That with Joseph and Mary

And the angels, I may Thee

Once enjoy eternally. Amen.

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St. Thérèse of Lisieux, my patron, had a little prayer she composed once for the dearest Child Jesus:

"O eternal Father, Your only Son,

the dear Child Jesus,

is mine,

since You have given Him to me.

I offer Thee the infinite merits of His divine Childhood,

and I beg Thee in His name to open the gates of heaven to a countless

host of little ones who will forever follow this divine Lamb."

:)

INTROIT of the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus:

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.

(Psalm) O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!

Gloria Patri.

-Phil.2:10-11; Ps.8:2

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Jesus, Mary, I Love Thee, Save Souls!