St. Mary of the Assumption

Maple Park, Illinois

May 2019 Parish Calendar

June 2019 Parish Calendar

 

When I was growing up I would often see on priests’ vestments or other liturgical pieces a symbol: “IHS.”  Many of you may also have seen it at one time or another.  I don’t know if you are aware of why that would be a religious symbol and what it means.

The symbol “IHS” is an abbreviation of the medieval spelling of the name of our Lord: they spelled it “ihesus.”  That abbreviation has been found as early as the eighth century, written on a gold Roman coin.

The symbol became popular in the 15 ^th century when St. Bernardine of Siena, whose feast day we celebrated on May 20, this past Monday, used it at the end of his sermons. Bernardine was a Franciscan Friar, born in Siena, Italy, in 1380.  His family was well-to-do, but his mother died when he was three years old and his father when he was seven.  He was raised by his aunt, who taught him to find his security by trusting in God.

Even as a young boy he showed a concern for those who are poor and needy, and he would often go without food because he gave his food to someone in need.  That came out of a great love for God which he developed as he grew up.

From 1397 to 1400 he worked at a hospital in a town near Siena, and when a severe plague broke out in the Siena area, he ended up taking charge of the whole hospital, where up to 20 people a day were dying, including many hospital workers.  He brought 12 young men together to help him continue the work of the hospital.  He didn’t catch the plague, but worked so hard that he was exhausted and caught another illness which kept him in bed for four months.

At the age of 22 he moved to a small house outside Siena and began to seek what God willed him to do, praying and fasting continually.  He became a Franciscan Friar and was ordained a priest when he was 24.  We don’t know much about him for the next 12 years, but when he was 36 he became aware that God wanted him to be a traveling preacher of the Gospel throughout Italy, which was filled with feuds and vice.  People sinned seriously in avarice, luxurious living, taking revenge, financial cheating and other excesses.

Bernardine passionately called people back to follow the Gospel, speaking both to the nobility and to the common man about their sins.  God blessed his efforts by turning the hearts of thousands of people from sin to virtue.

Bernardine more and more proclaimed the need to reverence the name of Jesus, and he encouraged people to use the IHS symbol as a sign of their devotion to our Lord.  He is also the one responsible for adding the name “Jesus” to the Hail Mary, which previously said only “blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Bernardine stressed the name of Jesus because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Redeemer.  The Scriptures speak of the power of Jesus’ name: If you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you [John 16:23] … in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth [Philippians 2:10].

Today, when the name of Jesus is used so casually and often disrespectfully, let’s make it part of our practice of the Faith to take special care in using his holy Name, and let’s make reparation for those who abuse it.  Praised be Jesus Christ!!