18 Vol. LIX, No. 1 Magnificat His heart was kindled with such love that tears flowed from his eyes and from the eyes of all who heard him. The Saint strongly entreated them to put cards with the Divine Name of JESUS on their doors. This simple practice obtained the happiest results, for many were thus saved from sickness and disasters of various kinds. One, unfortunately, was prevented from doing so, for a Jew who was part-owner of the house in which he lived sternly refused to have the Name of Jesus placed on his door. His fellow lodger then decided that he would write the Holy Name on his windows, which he accordingly did. Some days later a fierce fire broke out in the building which destroyed all the apartments belonging to the Jew, while the rooms belonging to his Christian neighbor were entirely spared from the conflagration. Saint Edmund (1), the English king and martyr, had a special devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus which Our Lord Himself taught him. One day when he was alone in the country, a beautiful Child stood by him and asked, “Edmund do you not know Me?” Edmund replied that he did not. The Child replied, “Look at Me, and you will see who I am.” Edmund looked as he was bidden and saw written on the Child’s forehead: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. “Know now who I am,” said the Child. “Every night make the sign of the cross and say these words: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. If you do so, this prayer will deliver you and all who say it from a sudden and unprovided-for death.” Edmund faithfully did as Our Lord told him. The devil once tried to prevent him and held his hands so that he could not make the holy sign. Edmund invoked the Name of Jesus and the devil fled in terror, leaving him unmolested afterwards. Saint Frances of Rome (2) enjoyed the extraordinary privilege of constantly seeing and speaking to her Guardian Angel. When she pronounced the Name of Jesus, the Angel was radiant with happiness and bowed down in loving adoration. Sometimes the devil dared to appear to her, seeking to frighten her and do her harm. But when she pronounced the Holy Name, he was filled with rage and hatred and fled in terror from her presence. Saint Jane de Chantal (3) so loved the Name of Jesus that she actually wrote it with a hot iron on her breast. Blessed Henry Suso (4) had done the same with a pointed steel rod. We may not all aspire to such holy daring. It takes a special inspiration from God. But we may follow the example of another dear Saint, Blessed Catherine of Racconigi (5), a Dominican Sister who repeated the Name of Jesus so frequently and lovingly that after her death, the Divine Name of Jesus was found engraved in letters of gold upon her heart. Saint Gemma Galgani (6) also had the privilege of frequent and intimate converse with her Guardian Angel. Sometimes the Angel and Gemma entered into a holy contest as to which one could say the Name of Jesus more lovingly. 2 1 3 4 5 6
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