The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus has been celebrated in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, at least at local levels, since the end of the fifteenth century. The veneration of the Holy Name was extended to the entire Roman Catholic Church on 20 December 1721, during the pontificate of Pope Innocent XIII.
The celebration has been held on different dates, usually in January, because 1 January, eight days after Christmas, commemorates the circumcision of the child Jesus; as recounted in the Gospel read on that day, “at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” Medieval Catholicism, and many other Christian churches to the present day, therefore celebrated both events as the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, usually on 1 January. The famous preacher Saint Bernardino of Siena placed great emphasis on the Holy Name, which he associated with the IHS sign, and may be responsible for the coupling of the two elements.
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With the increase in profaning the most holy Name of Jesus it would be good if all Catholics and Christians got back to bowing their heads whenever His name is mentioned. St Paul says that we should bend the knee! I don’t know why this practice ever went out. It is particularly needed to teach to our children these days not only out of love and respect for Jesus but also in reparation for its profanation, even now allowed in the media. It was at the mention of the Holy Name of Jesus that Peter caused the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate in the Acts of the Apostles to be healed. We should always prayer in Jesus’ Name….Jesus, name above all names!