The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Saint Anterus was born in Petilia Policastro in Calabria, Italy, the son of Romulus, and was likely of Greek origin. His very name has led some to think he may once have been a freed slave—an early sign of how the Church gathered saints from every station of life. In a time of turmoil, he succeeded Pope Pontian, who had been exiled to Sardinia along with Hippolytus, and Anterus took up the heavy pastoral burden of guiding the Church in Rome during the persecutions under Emperor Maximinus the Thracian. Though his pontificate lasted only a few weeks, tradition remembers his zeal for honoring the witnesses of Christ. He is associated with a renewed strictness in collecting and preserving the acts of the martyrs, safeguarding their testimony for the faithful. He also appointed a bishop for the city of Fondi. Anterus died on January 3, 236, and was buried in the papal crypt of the Catacomb of Callixtus on the Appian Way. He is venerated as patron of Casalbuono. His feast day is January 3.

Saint Blimond was a French hermit and monk who later served the Church as an abbot, guiding others in the path of prayer and disciplined community life. Though few details of his early years have come down to us, his vocation speaks clearly: a heart drawn to solitude with God and a spirit formed for humble leadership among his brothers. He died in 673, leaving behind a quiet but enduring witness to monastic holiness. Venerated especially in the place that bears his name, Saint-Blimont, he is remembered as a patron and intercessor for those who seek steadfast faith in hidden, faithful service. The Church honors Saint Blimond each year on January 3, inviting us to renew our own commitment to prayer and perseverance.

Saint Genevieve was born around 419–422 in Nanterre, near Paris, to Severus and Gerontia. From childhood she showed an uncommon love for God. When she was about seven, Saint Germanus of Auxerre, traveling through her village with Saint Lupus of Troyes, recognized her holiness and encouraged her to dedicate herself as a consecrated virgin, a commitment she embraced with steadfast joy. Stories of healings and signs soon surrounded her, including the restoration of her mother’s sight and wonders linked to water and the elements, by which many came to trust her intercession. After her parents’ death, Genevieve moved to Paris to live with her godmother, giving herself to prayer and works of mercy. Though misunderstood and even threatened, she persevered, and her faith became a pillar for the city. In time of peril—most famously during the threat of Attila’s Huns in 451—she rallied the people to prayer and hope, and Paris was spared. She also supported major church building projects, including shrines honoring Saint Denis and the Apostles Peter and Paul. Venerated as a patron of Paris and its archdiocese, Saint Genevieve is celebrated on January 3.