Most Holy Name of Jesus, January 3
This optional memorial honors the name given to Jesus at his circumcision, which means “God saves.” St. Bernardine of Siena spread devotion to the monogram IHS in the 1400s. The same day remembers St. Genevieve, patron of Paris.
On the General Roman Calendar, January 3 is an optional memorial: The Most Holy Name of Jesus.
Other saints on January 3
- St. Genevieve, patron of Paris (c. 502)
- St. Anterus, pope (236)
Name days on January 3
In countries that keep name days, January 3 is the day for people named Genevieve.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Genevieve | January 3 |
January 3 on the calendar
January 3 is the 3rd day of the year, with 362 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Thursday |
Keeping January 3
January 3 falls in the Christmas season. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Genevieve, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around January 3
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 31 | St. Sylvester I |
| January 1 | Mary, Mother of God |
| January 2 | Sts. Basil and Gregory |
| January 4 | St. Elizabeth Ann Seton |
| January 5 | St. John Neumann |
| January 6 | St. André Bessette |
The day before, January 2, is the day of Sts. Basil and Gregory. The day after, January 4, belongs to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.