HOLY NAME SOCIETY    

The Holy Name society was founded by Blessed John Vercelli, Master General of the Dominican Order in the year 1274. At the Council of Lyons Pope Gregory X decreed that there should be paid more reverence to the Holy Name of Jesus by the Christian peoples. To give this decree effective execution, the Pope commissioned John of Vercelli to see to it that the devotion to the Holy Name be preached throughout Europe.

John most warmly undertook this new assignment, resolving to dedicate the full preaching talents of his Order of Preachers to the sublime purpose of fostering in the hearts of Christian people a reverence for the Name which is above all names.

John of Vercelli was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1903. The Holy Name Society was established in the United States in 1870 to stop blasphemies and profanities of the world.

On September 21, 1926, upwards of 900,000 Holy Name men under the leadership of their National Director, Father Michael J. Ripple, O.P., marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., in the teeth of a driving rain, in what Archbishop Curley of Baltimore described as the 'greatest demonstration of faith and patriotism ever witnessed. 'As indeed it was, for these men had come from every corner of the nation at their own expense.

This exhibition of strength by the nation's greatest lay religious society was a phenomenon of the twentieth century. Fifty years before it would have been impossible, for fifty years before there was no Holy Name Society in the nation. A great priest Charles Hyacinth McKenna, O.P., had not yet begun his preaching ministry, and Father McKenna was the Apostle of the Holy Name Society in the United States. In an apostolate that extended from 1870 until his death in 1917, he, together with many others priests, worked mightily to stop the blasphemies and profanities of a rough and rugged world.

The Visitation Holy Name Society attends the 9:00 AM Mass and receives Holy Communion every second Sunday of each month. A meeting follows the Mass in the lower conference of the rectory.  All men are Welcome!

THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR A
HOLY NAME SOCIETY
IN EVERY PARISH!

That there is need of a Holy Name Society in our day, none can deny. (Although a few do).

THE MOST SERIOUS REASON is because of the present-day attack made upon the divine character of Christ.

THE CHIEF OBJECT of the Holy Name Society is to maintain and increase faith in the DIVINITY of Christ, our Savior, the only Name under heaven whereby we shall be saved..

THE MEANS to attain the Chief Object is to promote respect and honor for the Person of Our Lord Jesus.

An organized group striving heart and soul to make Jesus the God-Man better known and better loved--this is the Holy Name Society. This is its aim.

Another reason for the need of the Holy Name Society in our day is because of the abuse of the Name of Jesus, because of perjury, blasphemy, profanity, and obscene speech.

Another reason for the need of a Holy Name Society is because of the lack of support to all-lawful authority, both civil and religious, because of a disregard for the Vicar of Christ on earth, and because of the denial of a number of the sacred truths which the Holy Catholic Church believes and teaches.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR HOLY NAME SOCIETY?

We would love to have you join us.  The requirements are not difficult.  The Holy Name Pledge noted below is our lead.  We would like to you to join us on the 2^nd Sunday of the month at the 9AM Mass at our Shrine of the Little Flower parish.  We do request that as a show of interest in joining, you will come to a meeting for enrollment and introduction to our Holy Name members.  As far as dues, there aren't any.  We will ask you at times in the membership letter sent to you to try and give a donation of your choice to our Society.  But, there are NO DUES and you decide your donation.  Once a member in our Society, you are always a member.  All you have to do is say YES to joining.  You are and will always be remembered in our prayers.  Don't think for one moment that we are an organization that holds loads of meetings and has membership parties and beer and pretzel meeting.  This is a Society of men that Honor the Most Holy Name and live a life in accordance.

If you feel you have the desire to join us, please contact the Shrine of the Little Flower rectory office and leave your name and phone number and someone will contact you.  Better yet, come to a 9AM Mass on the Second Sunday of the Month and make known of your desire to join us to our Pastor, Fr. Mike Orchik, or Deacon Henry.

Jerry Pasqua
President

HOLY NAME PLEDGE

Blessed be God.

Blessed be His Holy Name.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus.

I believe, O Jesus, that Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God.

I proclaim my love for the Vicar of Christ on Earth.

I believe all the sacred truths which the Holy Catholic Church believes and teaches.

I promise to give good example by the regular practice of my Faith.

In honor of His Divine Name I pledge myself against perjury, blasphemy, profanity, and obscene speech.

I pledge my loyalty to the flag of my country and to the God given principles of freedom, justice, and happiness for which it stands.

I pledge my support to all lawful authority - both civil and religious.

I dedicate my manhood to the Honor of the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ,
and beg that He will keep me faithful to these pledges until death.