thumb|280px|Altar of the [[Holy Name of Jesus, with the IHS monogram at the top, Lublin, Poland.]]
The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is a feast of the liturgical year celebrated by Christians on varying dates.
In the Evangelical-Lutheran and Anglican branches of Christianity, given that the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ and the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus fall on New Year's Day, it is often observed through a Watchnight Mass that starts in the late hours of New Year's Eve and continues into the early morning of New Year's Day.
History
The feast of the Holy Name of Jesus has been celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church, at least at local levels, since the end of the fifteenth century. The celebration has been held on different dates, usually in January, because 1 January, eight days after Christmas, commemorates the naming of the child Jesus; as recounted in the Gospel read on that day, "at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb." Medieval Catholicism, and many Christian churches to the present day, therefore celebrated both events as the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, usually on 1 January. An Office and Mass were approved by Pope Sixtus IV. In the reform of Pope Pius X, enacted by his motu proprio Abhinc duos annos of 23 October 1913, it was moved to the Sunday between 2 and 5 January inclusive, and in years when no such Sunday existed the celebration was observed on 2 January; this is still observed by Catholics following the 1962 calendar.
The reform of the General Roman Calendar by the motu proprio Mysterii Paschalis of 14 February 1969 removed the feast "since the imposition of the name of Jesus is already commemorated in the office of the Octave of Christmas." However, a newly composed Mass formulary of the Holy Name of Jesus was placed among the Votive Masses. The celebration was restored to the General Roman Calendar on 3 January with the promulgation of a revised edition of the Roman Missal in 2002. On this occasion an entirely new Mass formulary was composed for use on the memorial day, while the 1970 votive Mass formulary was kept unchanged. Catholics using the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII still observe the celebration on 2 January with the corresponding texts there prescribed.
Present day
In the Catholic Church of Roman Rite, therefore, the festivity is as a general rule celebrated under the title of the Most Holy Name of Jesus as an optional memorial on 3 January. The Jesuits celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus on 3 January as the order's titular solemnity. Furthermore, among Catholics the month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.
In the Lutheran Church, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is sometimes celebrated as a part of the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on 1 January. but in the more recent Common Worship resources the Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Christ (1 January) takes its place as the primary festival of the name of Jesus. Many Eastern Churches celebrate the feast on 1 January.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) observes the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus on 1 January.
In Western Rite Orthodoxy, the feast is celebrated on 7 August.
See also
- Litany of the Holy Name
- Feast of the Circumcision of Christ
- Feasts of Jesus Christ
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God