Holy Name Society

   Spiritual Director:
   Fr. Raymond Blais, O.P.

Historical Sketch

    Devotion to the Holy Name goes back to the Old Testament where we find reverence for the name of God to be enjoined by the Second Commandment.  The beginning of the Holy Name Society, as an organized effort to promote the fulfillment of this Commandment, can be traced back to the Thirteenth Century when the heretics of the day, particularly in France and Spain, made violent attacks upon the divinity of Christ, ridiculed His supernatural character and His Holy Name.

    The formal beginning of the Holy Name Society is credited to Pope Gregory X, who in 1274 commissioned the newly founded Dominican Order to concentrate its efforts on preaching greater devotion to the Holy Name.  On April 13, 1564, Pope Pius IV instituted the Confraternity of the Most Holy Name, and thus provided Papal recognition and approval for this devotion to the name of God and of Christ.

    The Holy Name Society, as it is popularly known in North America, has done good that has never been estimated, but the record is available: how it checked profanity and indecent language, and how it taught men to love and respect the Holy Name. It has become a bastion of belief in the divinity of Christ among Catholic men in America and it also has been an outstanding vehicle for an effective lay apostolate.

Obligations

The essential obligation of the Holy Name member might be summed up in the first petition of the Our Father, "Hallowed be Thy Name." Thus:

  1. The member should avoid disrespect to the name of God, of Jesus, and of what is sacred, and should abstain from all improper language, such as blasphemy, perjury, cursing, profanity and indecency.

  2. The member should, as far as prudence permits, induce others to refrain from such insults to God and morality.

  3. The member should praise and glorify God by fidelity to prayer, especially to both private and public Holy Name devotions.

  4. The member should, as far as it can be done, bring others, particularly those committed to the member's care, to know and honor the name of God by prayer and praise.

  5. The member should avoid any conduct which would cause or tempt others to ridicule or despise our Catholicity or our Holy Name Society, lest it be true in the words of Saint Paul, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Rom. 2:24).

  6. The member should fulfill all the obligations of membership in the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church, according to one's state in life, as well as the specific obligations of membership in Holy Name Society, particularly by attendance at all meetings, whether social or devotional.

It should be noted that regulations imposed only by the constitution do not bind under sin. Holy Name membes as a matter of honor should live up to these regulations. They should also, in all their activities, as members, be mindful of the divine law of charity.

Holy God We Praise Thy Name

Holy God we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee;
All on earth Thy sceptre claim,
All in Heaven above adore Thee.
Infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.    (Repeat)

Hark! the loud celestial hymn,
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and Seraphim,
In unceasing chorus praising,

Fill the heavens with sweet accord,
Holy! Holy! Holy Lord!        (Repeat)

 

National HNS Webpage