SUNDAY
January 4, 2009
vol 20, no. 4

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

Editor's Note: This special feature, provided by John Gregory with the Haydock Commentary found at the bottom of each page of the Douay-Rheims Bible, With the type so small in most bibles, we publish it here in larger type in conjunction with the Epistle and Gospel for the Sunday Mass provided by John Gregory with the cogent comprehensive Catholic Commentary penned by Father George Leo Haydock on the Douay-Rheims version of the New Testament. The commentary for the Double of the Second Class Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is, like the Circumcision, very brief, this time repeating the Gospel with the Epistle from Acts in those familiar words written by St. Paul that there is "no other name under Heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved" which immediately narrows it down to the only way to be saved is through Christ and His true Church, not the man-made counterfeit church of conciliarism.

Epistle: Acts 4: 8-12

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear:

9 If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:

10 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, 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 here before you whole.

Commentary on Verse l0 Name of our Lord Jesus. From this, Saint Chrysostom takes occasion to make several pathetic exhortations against swearing and profaning this adorable name. What profit do you propose to yourselves by abusing this name? Is it to gain credit to your discourse? So you will tell me; but, believe me, you are mistaken: if people saw you respected oaths, and were afraid to make free with them, then they would believe you. Not when you give them to understand that you undervalue them, by your frequent abuse of them. Break then so profane a custom. It will cost you neither money nor labour to do so: you are not required to part with any gratification for this purpose. Use only at the beginning a little diligence, and you will easily overcome so idle a practice. Wish, and it is done. (Saint Chrysostom, super Act. Sparism.) (Haydock) – Whom you crucified. Saint Peter, without fear or apprehension, openly and boldly tells them of their heinous crime: that Christ is the head corner stone, which they had rejected, as Christ Himself had told them, (Matthew 12: 10) and that there is no other name under Heaven given to men to be saved by. (Witham)

11 This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under Heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Gospel: St. Luke 2: 21

1 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.

Commentary on Verse 1 Should be circumcised; which might be done not only in the temple, or in a synagogue, but in any house. (Witham) – Many reasons may be alleged why our Savior submitted to the painful and humbling knife of circumcision: 1. to manifest to the whole world the reality of His human nature, and the difference between His divinity and humanity: 2. to show He approved of circumcision, which He had instituted; 3. to prove that He was of the seed of Abraham; 4. to teach us humility and obedience, by observing a law to which He was not bound; 5. that by receiving the burthen of the law, He might free those that were under the law, (Galatians 3); and lastly, that the Jews might have no excuse for rejecting Him, because He was uncircumcised. (Saint Epiphanius and Nicholas of Lyra)