"HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS . . . "

Homily for May 20^th, 2014: St. Bernadine of Siena.

          The collect, or opening prayer, at this Mass spoke about God giving St Bernardine of Siena, whom the Church commemorates today “a great love for the holy name of Jesus.” Born near Siena in 1380, Bernard lost both parents before he was 7 years old. Following studies at the University of Siena, he entered the Franciscan Order at the age of 22, becoming in time a noted preacher. His favorite theme was devotion to the name of Jesus. “Was it not by the light and sweetness of this name,” Bernardine asked in one of his sermons, “that God called us into his wonderful light? … Hence this name must be proclaimed so that it may shine, it must not be hidden.” A 17^th century English hymn proclaims the holy name of Jesus in verse. It goes like this.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!

It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear

It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the rock on which I build, my shield and hiding place,

My never failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! My Shepherd, Guardian, Friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King,

My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart, and cold my warmest thought;

But when I see thee as thou art, I’ll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim with every fleeting breath;

And may the music of thy Name refresh my soul in death.

The holy name of Jesus, repeated reverently, with every breath, every heartbeat, or with every step as we walk down a hallway, up or downstairs, or to and from our car, is a perfect prayer that goes straight to the heart of our heavenly Father.