Holy Name Society

Origins of the Holy Name Society

The Holy Name Society is an indulgenced confraternity that was founded by Blessed John of Vercelli in 1274 and its formation in Catholic Churches has continued throughout the centuries. The purpose and aim of the Society is to combat and make reparation for blasphemy, perjury, false oaths, profane and indecent language, disrespect and insults against the Name of Jesus and instead promote respect, reverence and honor for Our Lord’s Name. In addition, the Holy Name Society aims to make Our Lord known to those who don’t know Him, and better loved by those who do not love and respect Him. 

There is especially a need for a Holy Name Society in this day and age when there is such a widespread abuse of the name of Our Lord, speaking lightly of God and His Saints, and ridiculing of the Church and its members.
 

Obligations of the Holy Name Society

In reparation for offenses against the Holy Name of Jesus, members of the Holy Name Society perform the following once per month on Holy Name Sunday (the second Sunday of each month): 

1. Receive Holy Communion in the body – Pews are reserved for Society members at the front of the chapel on each Holy Name Sunday. All members of the Society receive Holy Communion together in the body in reparation for offenses against the Holy Name of Jesus.
   
   If you are unable to sit in the reserved pews on Holy Name Sunday due to family or other obligations, you may still walk up to receive Holy Communion in the body with the rest of the Society members.
   
   If you are unable to receive Holy Communion on Holy Name Sunday, you may still join in saying the Litany of the Holy Name immediately after Mass (see below):
    

2. Recite the short “Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus” - Immediately after Mass on Holy Name Sunday all Society members congregate in the front reserved pews to say the Litany of the Holy Name, again, in reparation for offenses against the Holy Name of Jesus. A print out of the Litany is provided at that time and reciting the Litany takes only a few minutes.
   
   Note if on the rare occasion you are unable to say the Litany with the other members after Mass due to another obligation, this is perfectly acceptable and does not affect your membership in the Society.

Why should I join the Holy Name Society?

• You earn indulgences! (which may also be offered for the souls in Purgatory)
• All of us probably know someone who blasphemes, uses indecent language or the Name of God in vain, or speaks lightly of the Church. As good Catholics, we should all want to go out of our way to make reparation for these sins which offend Our Lord.
• Since we are all already at Mass on each Holy Name Sunday, there is no reason why all men in the Chapel (high school age and older) should not be members!

How do I join?

• There is nothing you need to do. Simply receive Holy Communion with the Society members and join in reciting the Litany of the Holy Name on each Holy Name Sunday (the second Sunday of each month).

<-GO BACK