Our Lady of Lourdes
St. Joseph's Parish

Pittsfield & Northwood, NH

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 Devotion of the Month
The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of
Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit,
the angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph and told him that the Child’s
name should be called Jesus, meaning “God Saves.” According to
Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth a male child was to be
circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of God’s
covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the
Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st,
eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His
sacred name. Currently we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of
God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd.
For Catholics, Jesus’ sacred name is the object of a special devotion
Symbolized by the monogram “IHS,” (sometimes called a
Christogram), which is the first three letters of the Greek 
spelling of His name.