MEMORIAL OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

WEEKDAY OF CHRISTMAS TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 3, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT GENEVIEVE OF PARIS, VIRGIN

FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS [Please see details and prayer links below]

OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS SCHEDULES | JUBILEE 2025 [Details and links below]

Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Friday, Weekday of Christmas time!

Today, on this special feast day, the 1st Friday of the month of January is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph and told him that the Child’s name should be called Jesus, meaning “God Saves.” According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth a male child was to be circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of God’s covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st, eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His sacred name. Currently we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd. For Catholics, Jesus’ sacred name is the object of a special devotion symbolized by the monogram “IHS,” (sometimes called a Christogram), which is the first three letters of the Greek spelling of His name.

On this special Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, we humbly pray for peace all around the world, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine-Russia and other parts of the world. We pray for an end to the wars and conflicts, and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of all children and for the gentle repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their abors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen🙏

A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏

Watch “Catholic Daily Holy Mass and Holy Rosary – Daily TV Mass – EWTN | January 3, 2025 on YouTube |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | January 3, 2025 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | January 3, 2025 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| January 3, 2025 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Friday, January 3, 2025
Reading 1, First John 2:29-3:6
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 98:1, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel, John 1:29-34

FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS:

The First Fridays Devotion is a Catholic practice that involves attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion and praying and adoring before the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row. The devotion originated in the 17th century after Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary and spoke of His Sacred Heart. Jesus promised that those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays of nine consecutive months will receive the grace of final perseverance. The devotion is a way to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to atone for sins. The devotion is also known as the Communions of Reparation to the Sacred Heart or the Nine First Fridays Devotion. The Roman Catholic Church fully approved the devotion. 

Some elements of the First Fridays Devotion include:

• Sacramental Confession: A preparation for the devotion 
• Holy Communion: Received on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row 
• Holy Hour: Spent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament 
• Prayer for the Holy Father: A prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father 

The devotion is said to offer many spiritual blessings, including:

• Increased Grace: The soul is strengthened and intimacy with Christ is deepened through the frequent reception of the Eucharist
• Inner Peace: Trusting in Jesus’ promises can bring comfort in times of trial
• Forgiveness and Healing: Reparation for sins can bring peace to the heart and renewal in Christ
• Final Perseverance: Those who complete the devotion with love and faith are assured of Christ’s presence at the moment of death

The Five First Saturdays devotion originated from the 1917 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. During these apparitions, Our Lady asked for acts of reparation to be made on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, with the intention of atoning for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. The First Saturday Prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are recommended for those participating in the Five First Saturdays devotion.

Please see below links for both First Fridays and First Saturdays Devotions:

First Fridays Devotion: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-friday-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/

First Fridays and First Saturdays Devotions: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-fridays-first-saturdays-devotions/

OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS SCHEDULES

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door Ushering in the Jubilee of Hope | ‘Hope is Alive’ | Vatican News | December 24, 2024 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/25/pope-francis-opens-the-holy-door-ushering-in-the-jubilee-of-hope-hope-is-alive-vatican-news-december-24-2024/

• On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the First Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica.
• On Christmas Day, Pope Francis delivered his Urbi et Orbi message to the people of the city of Rome and the world from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at noon.
• On 26 December, for the first time in the Jubilee tradition, Pope Francis opened a fifth sacred portal in a Roman prison, a gesture of hope that shows his ongoing closeness to detainees.
• On Sunday, 29 December, the Pope opened the Holy Door of his cathedral, Saint John Lateran, which on November 9, 2024 celebrated the 1700th anniversary of its dedication.
• Then, on 1 January 2025, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was opened.
• Lastly, Sunday, 5 January 2025, will mark the opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

These last three Holy Doors will be closed on Sunday, 28 December 2025.

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS | MEMORIAL OF SAINT GENEVIEVE OF PARIS, VIRGIN – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 3RD: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and Memorial of Saint Genevieve of Paris, Virgin.

THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The Church reveals to us the wonders of the Incarnate Word by singing the glories of His name. The name of Jesus means Savior or God Saves; it had been shown in a dream to Joseph together with its meaning and to Our Lady at the annunciation by the Archangel Gabriel. According to the Gospel of St. Luke 2:21-24: “When eight days were completed for his circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given Him by the Angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.​”

The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is historically associated with the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus. According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth, a male child was circumcised and received his name, thus becoming a full member of God’s covenant people. Circumcision was a sign of belonging to the people. It gave the person an identity. On this occasion each child received his name (cf. Lk 1:59-63). Following the Jewish custom, the child Jesus is circumcised on the eighth day after His birth (cf. Gen 17:12). On the day of the Circumcision, the Son of God made Man received the name of Jesus, which signifies Savior—a name that should inspire us with reverence, praise, confidence, and love. He receives the name of Jesus that had been given Him by the angel before His conception. The angel had said to Joseph that the name of the child had to be Jesus, as “He is the one who is to save His people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). The name of Jesus is the transliteration of the name “Yehoshua”, or Joshua, and means Yahweh saves. Another name that will gradually be given to Jesus is Christ, which means Anointed or Messiah. Jesus is the awaited Messiah. A third name is that of Emmanuel, which means God with us (Mt 1:23).

St. Paul promoted devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, he writes in Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Devotion to the Holy Name is deeply rooted in the Sacred Scriptures, especially in the Acts of the Apostles. It was promoted in a special manner by St. Bernard, St. Bernardine of Siena, St. John Capistrano and by the Franciscan Order. This devotion became popular because of 12th-century Cistercian monks and nuns but especially through the preaching of Saint Bernardine of Siena, a 15th-century Franciscan. Bernardine used devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus as a way of overcoming bitter and often bloody class struggles and family rivalries or vendettas in Italian city-states. The devotion grew, partly because of Franciscan and Dominican preachers. The emblem or monogram representing the Holy Name of Jesus consists in three letters—the first three letters of the word written in Greek: IHS. Through the particular efforts of St. Bernardine of Siena, devotion to the Holy Name was promoted through the inscription of this monogram. It spread even more widely after the Jesuits began promoting it in the 16th century. In 1530, Pope Clement V approved an Office of the Holy Name for the Franciscans. In 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended this feast to the entire Church. Since the Name of Jesus is the holiest, sweetest, and most powerful of all names, the Church devotes a special day to its solemn veneration.  The month of January has traditionally been dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. Today the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated on January 3rd.

PRAYER: O God, You founded the salvation of the human race in the Incarnation of Your Word. Grant to Your people the mercy they request so that all may know that there is no other name to be invoked except the name of Your Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen.

Jesus, Name full of glory, grace, love, and strength! You are the refuge of those who repent, our banner of warfare in this life, the medicine of souls, the comfort of those who mourn, the delight of those who believe, the light of those who preach the true faith, the wages of those who toil, the healing of the sick. To You our devotion aspires; by You our prayers are received; we delight in contemplating You. O Name of Jesus, You are the glory of all the Saints for eternity. Amen 🙏

On this special feast day, we also celebrate the Memorial of Saint Genevieve of Paris, Virgin.

MEMORIAL OF SAINT GENEVIEVE OF PARIS, VIRGIN

SAINT GENEVIEVE, VIRGIN: St. Genevieve (422-512) was a fair and courageous peasant girl who was born around 422 in Nanterre, a small village outside Paris, France, to a respectable family, a man named Severus and a woman named Gerontia. When Genevieve was only seven-years-old, a famous bishop, St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre visited Nanterre on his way to Britain. While he was there, many people flocked to receive his blessing. The young Genevieve stood amid a crowd which had gathered around the man of God who spotted and singled her out and foretold her future sanctity. At her request, the holy Bishop led her to a church, accompanied by all the faithful, and consecrated her to God as a virgin. The next day, Germanus asked Genevieve if she had remembered the promise she made to God. She did and proclaimed she would always fulfill it faithfully. He presented her with a cross engraved brass medal to always wear around her neck, as a reminder of the consecration she made of herself to God. He ordered her to never wear any other bracelets, necklaces or jewelry, to avoid falling into vanity. Encouraged by Germanus, Genevieve dedicated her life to prayer, practices of devotion and a acts of penance. When she was only 15-years-old, she met with the Bishop of Paris and asked to become a nun. In her teens she received the religious veil and lived a devout life of prayer, charity, and austerity. From this moment, she also began praying continuously and fasting, eating only twice a week, as a sign of her complete dedication to the Lord. She was especially known for her gifts of prophecy and reading consciences. When her parents died she lived with her grandmother in Paris, often traveling and visiting other cities where she would perform miracles, sharing the faith, performing acts of charity, praying for the sick and prophesying.

Her dedicated Christian way of life was filled with the signs of the Holy Spirit working through her. The signs of the working of the Holy Spirit accompanying this holy young woman included miracles and spiritually inspired predictions. She frequently had visions of heavenly angels and saints. However, when she shared those visions and experiences of the Lord, people began to turn against her. They called her a hypocrite and accused her of being a false visionary. This led to her persecution, with a plot against her life. In fact, they were determined to drown her in a lake of fire. However, the Bishop Germanus intervened and silenced those who were accusing her of false statements, and persecuting her. When St. Germain came to her defense she was afterwards greatly revered by the people.

St. Genevieve was appointed by the Bishop to look after the welfare of the consecrated virgins. She did so faithfully and helped to lead them into a greater degree of holiness as they grew closer to the Lord Jesus. St. Genevieve had a great influence over Childeric, the King of Gaul who overtook Paris. During a time when Paris suffered with great famine, St. Genevieve traveled by boat to Troyes and brought back several boats full of corn. Although he was a pagan, Childeric respected her and spared the lives of several prisoners on her behalf. She also had an effect on King Clovis. He listened to her advice and under her request, he granted freedom to several of his prisoners. When Attila and his army of Huns came upon Paris, the Parisian Christians were prepared to run, but St. Genevieve spoke to them and convinced them to stay within their homes, fast and pray to the Lord. She assured them they would have the protection of Heaven. Her prediction came true as Attila suddenly changed his path and turned away from Paris. St. Genevieve died at 89-years-old on January 3, 512. St. Genevieve became venerated as the Patron Saint of Paris after she helped avert an attack against the city by Attila the Hun, and for saving the city from famine during a siege, when a boatload of grain overcame a military blockade due to her intercession. St. Genevieve is also the Patron Saint against fever, plague, and disasters. Protector of Paris, young girls, and French security forces. Her feast day is January 3rd.

Saint Genevieve of Paris, Virgin ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Christmas Weekday | Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ John 1:29-34

“Look, there is the Lamb of God”

“John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

In today’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The words of John the Baptist, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world’ are more or less the words the celebrant speaks at Mass just before communion, when he holds up the host. Jesus came among us, according to John’s Gospel, to take away the sin of the world, the sin of us all. Yet, John’s Gospel shows that Jesus could not take away the sin of those who had no awareness of their sin. The Lamb of God has come to take away the sin of the world. We need to acknowledge the ways in which we have been tainted by the sin of the world, if we are to experience the enlightenment and the freedom that Jesus has come to give. Jesus is the expression of God’s love working to reconcile all of humanity to Himself. Jesus is the fullest human revelation possible of God’s love for the world. The closest we can come to seeing God as Love in this life is to look upon Jesus, especially as he comes to us in the Gospels. In eternity, we will become like God, as loving as God is loving, but each day we are called to grow more fully into Jesus, God’s love in human form, through looming upon Jesus with the eyes of faith. Something of our eternal destiny can become a present reality when we grow up into Christ and allow Him to live in and through us. According to the Gospel reading, Jesus came to baptize us with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God’s love. Jesus gives us His own Spirit to empower us to become as loving as He is and, thereby, to anticipate in the here and now our glorious destiny to be like God, as loving as God is loving.

On this special feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, we are all reminded that we all should appreciate and use the Name of Jesus with proper respect, honor and decorum, and not to utter or call His Name in vain. We must not be misusing the Lord’s Name or taking Him for granted, just as how many of us often take His Name lightly, and in some cases, even using His Name in curses and profanities, which are definitely not appropriate at all. One of the reason why people are losing their faith in God is because we have lost the sense of sanctity of God in our lives today, and this happened exactly because we have chosen to treat Him with disdain and did not honor and respect Him as we should have, and when we treat His Name without proper decorum and understanding just how powerful His Name is. Let us all therefore put our hope and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, ever being reminded that in Him alone there is hope in the darkness of our world, and in His Name alone there is healing, liberation and freedom from the darkness of evil and sin.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures on this special feast of The Most Holy Name of Jesus, as we continue to celebrate the joyful season and time of Christmas, let us all reflect carefully upon the role that our Saviour, Jesus Christ has in the history of our salvation that by His coming into this world which we celebrate at this Christmas season, He had made Himself approachable and tangible for us, to make God’s love within our reach, dwelling in our midst as God Who is always ever present among His people, Emmanuel. This Christmas we are reminded yet again that Christ has manifested Himself before us, and gave us His Name as the assurance for a new hope and light that illuminates our path towards the future with Him. Let us not forget about Christ in our Christmas joy and festivities, and let us return Him to the rightful position at the heart of our every celebrations, and also enthrone Him within our hearts, always ever keeping His Holy Name with the utmost honour and respect. May the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose Name we have been saved, be with us always, and may He continue to guide us and strengthen us in our journey of faith, so that we may continue to persevere in faith and do our very best to commit ourselves to a life fully dedicated to Him and worthy of His love and grace. Let us all hence continue to keep our focus firmly in Christ our Lord, and put our trust in the Holy Name of Our Lord, Jesus, the Saviour of all, through Whom we shall be strengthened and healed from all of our predicaments. Let us all invoke His Name from now on with faith, and strive to be ever more worthy of uttering His Name, at all times. May the Lord continue to bless us all and strengthen us through the many challenges and trials that we may encounter in our lives. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and bless us always and may He empower us all, to live in His Presence, entrusting ourselves to His Most Holy Name, now and forevermore. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12538

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY – FOR THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION: Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/

Let us pray:

Father in Heaven, You have revealed to me Who You are and Your plan for my life in many ways. And though You are always speaking to me, I acknowledge that I do not always listen. Please open my soul to You more fully so that I may come to faith and be certain of Your love and Your perfect will in my life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Genevieve ~ Pray for us 🙏

Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines:

DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

FOUNDATION | https://gliopiepehe.org

SIR G.L.I OPIEPE’S HEALTH AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION |

THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/

THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/21/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/

THE SAINTS: WHO ARE THEY AND HOW ARE THEY CANONISED? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/01/the-saints-who-are-they-and-how-are-they-canonised/

PURGATORY: WHAT IS PURGATORY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/15/purgatory-and-limbo/

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all.  Journey mercies for all those traveling during this Christmas season and new year. Wishing all of us a most blessed, safe, healthy, prosperous, fruitful, and grace-filled New Year! Amen🙏

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2025!!!

Blessings and  love always, Philomena💖