Did you know that each month has a traditional Catholic devotion? This year, let’s focus on each devotion month-by-month to grow in our faith and traditions! Make yourself notes, write them on your calendar, and pray a specific prayer each day of the month to remember. You could use a prayer already associated with the devotion or pray a personal one.
The month is January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus and His Holy Childhood. Liturgically, this makes sense because we just celebrated Jesus’ birth and continue to celebrate the season of Christmas!
His Holy Name should not be taken in vain. That’s even a commandment: You will not take the Lord’s Name in vain! Check out the litany of His Name, find or create your own prayer, or simply say His Name lovingly throughout your day.
Reflection Questions on the Holy Name of Jesus:
– Do you use His Name in vain?
– Do you allow others to use Your God and Savior’s name in vain around you?
– What creative response can you make to when others use His Name in vain?
– How can you use His Name with reverence?
– What can you do to remember the importance of His Holy Name?
His Holy Childhood is celebrated in the devotion to the Infant of Prague. His Holy Childhood is important because Christ is fully human and fully God, which is a core belief of our faith. Look at pictures and statues of the Holy Family, especially in our Nativities for this Christmas season, and let yourself be in awe of Baby Jesus.
January’s Catholic Feast Days
January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day) | New Year’s Day
January 2: St. Basil the Great | St. Gregory Nazianzen
January 3: The Most Holy Name of Jesus
January 4: St. Elizabeth Seton
January 5: St. John Neumann
January 6: St. Andre Bessette | Epiphany
January 7: St. Raymond of Penyafort | Baptism of the Lord
January 13: St. Hilary
January 14: St. Devasahayam Pillai
January 14: St. Arnold
January 16: MLK Jr. Day
January 19: March for Life 2023
January 20: St. Fabian | St. Sebastian
January 21: St. Agnes | Word of God Sunday (3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time following Christmas)
January 23: St. Marianne Cope | Day of Prayer for the Unborn
January 24: St. Francis de Sales
January 25: The Conversion of St. Paul
January 26: Sts. Timothy & Titus
January 27: St. Angela Merici
January 28: St. Thomas Aquinas
January 31: St. John Bosco
Reflection Questions for His Childhood:
– What surprises you about Christ’s childhood?
– What questions do you want to ask Him about His Childhood?
– What do you think it was like having Mary and Joseph as parents?
– Why did He choose Mary and Joseph to be parents?
– Why did Jesus come as a baby rather than a fully-grown man?
– Where do you see God in your own childhood memories?
January Catholic Challenge
Learn more about Christ’s Incarnation through the Gospels to inspire you to become more child-like, and don’t be afraid to use His name reverently throughout your day, even in conversation as a way of simple evangelization.
January Catholic Books To Read
January Catholic Prayers To Learn
Prayer for the Year of the Holy Name of Jesus
JESUS, yours is the name above all names;
We offer you our heartfelt praise and gratitude.
Deepen in us an abiding reverence
For your Holy Name.
Jesus, Saviour, heal the wounds within
That our sin and fear have inflicted.
Set us free from all that hinders us from
Rejoicing in your boundless love
And sharing your goodness with others.
Jesus, Friend, draw us ever closer to you.
We entrust all we carry in our hearts
To your abundant mercy.
Jesus, Lord, pour out
The Holy Spirit upon your people
That our lives may overflow with your grace,
Our days be filled with your love,
And all our actions shine with your light. Amen
