The third edition of the post-Vatican II Roman Missal now being used to worship God in the Mass has a wider choice of Eucharistic Prayers and Prefaces and includes the feasts of saints canonized in the last 20 years. It also restores to the liturgical calendar some feasts that had been dropped in the first and second editions of the Missal after the Second Vatican Council. Among these restored feasts is that of the Holy Name of Jesus, now celebrated on Jan. 3 each year. This restoration is important for the Archdiocese of Chicago, because the Holy Name of Jesus is the titular feast of our cathedral church and parish.
Knowing someone’s name allows entry into a relationship, an acquaintance or friendship and perhaps more. If, on first meeting a stranger, he or she refuses to give their name, no relationship can develop. Names, however, can also be used to control. We name pets and animals so that we can call them, and we expect them to obey. We freely give our name to another person when we promise to call or keep in touch in a way that respects each party’s freedom and dignity. A name forced out of someone means the relationship is not free; one person is the other’s prisoner. A name freely given is an invitation to a relationship that is liberating.
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