THE TRIGRAM of SAN BERNARDINO
The trigram was designed by Bernardino himself: the symbol consists of a radiant sun on a blue field, above are the letters IHS which are the first three of the name Jesus in Greek ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Iesûs), but other explanations have also been given, such as “ Iesus Hominum Salvator ".
To each element of the symbol, Bernardino applied a meaning, the central sun is a clear allusion to Christ who gives life as the sun does, and suggests the idea of the radiance of Charity.
The heat of the sun is diffused by the rays, and here are the twelve meandering rays like the twelve Apostles and then by eight direct rays representing the beatitudes, the band that surrounds the sun represents the happiness of the blessed who has no end, the celestial background is a symbol of faith, the gold of love.
Bernardino also extended the left shaft of the H, cutting it up to make a cross, in some cases the cross is placed on the midline of the H.
The mystical meaning of the meandering rays was expressed in a litany; 1st refuge of penitents; 2nd banner of the fighters; 3rd remedy for the sick; 4th comfort of the suffering; 5th honor of believers; 6th joy of the preachers; 7th merit of the operators; 8th help of morons; 9th sigh of the meditators; 10th suffrage of the prayers; 11th taste of contemplatives; 12th glory of the triumphant.
The whole symbol is surrounded by an external circle with the Latin words taken from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians: "In the Name of Jesus every knee bends, both of the heavenly beings, of the earthly and the underworld". The trigram was a great success, spreading throughout Europe, even s. Joan of Arc wanted to embroider it on her banner and later was also adopted by the Jesuits.
Said s. Bernardino: "This is my intention, to renew and clarify the name of Jesus, as it was in the early Church", explaining that, while the cross evoked the Passion of Christ, his Name reminded us of every aspect of his life, the poverty of the crib , the modest carpenter shop, penance in the desert, the miracles of divine charity, suffering on Calvary, the triumph of the Resurrection and Ascension.
The Society of Jesus then took these three letters as its emblem and became a supporter of worship and doctrine, dedicating its most beautiful and largest churches, built all over the world, to the Holy Name of Jesus.
LITANIE al SS. NAME of JESUS
Lord, have mercy -
Lord, have mercy - Lord, have mercy
Christ, listen to us - Christ, listen to us
Christ, hear us - Christ, hear us
Heavenly Father who is God, have mercy on us
Son, redeemer of the world, who are God, have mercy on us
Holy Spirit, who are God, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, who are God, have mercy on us
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us
Jesus, splendor of the Father, have mercy on us
Jesus, true eternal light, have mercy on us
Jesus, King of glory, have mercy on us
Jesus, sun of justice, have mercy on us
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us
Jesus, lovable, have mercy on us
Admirable Jesus, have mercy on us
Jesus, strong God, have mercy on us
Jesus, father forever, have mercy on us
Jesus, angel of the great council, have mercy on us
Jesus, most powerful, have mercy on us
Jesus, very patient, have mercy on us
Jesus, most obedient, have mercy on us
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have mercy on us
Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us
Jesus, who loves us so much, have mercy on us
Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us
Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us
Jesus, model of all virtues, have mercy on us
Jesus, full of zeal for souls, have mercy on us
Jesus, who want our salvation, have mercy on us
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us
Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us
Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us
Jesus, treasure of every believer, have mercy on us
Jesus, good shepherd, have mercy on us
Jesus, true light, have mercy on us
Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us
Jesus, infinite goodness, have mercy on us
Jesus, our way and our life, have mercy on us
Jesus, joy of angels, have mercy on us
Jesus, king of the patriarchs, have mercy on us
Jesus, teacher of the apostles, have mercy on us
Jesus, light of the evangelists, have mercy on us
Jesus, Word of life, have mercy on us
Jesus, strength of the martyrs, have mercy on us
Jesus, support of confessors, have mercy on us
Jesus, purity of the virgins, have mercy on us
Jesus, crown of all the saints, have mercy on us
Be forgiving, forgive us, Jesus
Be indulgent, listen to us, Jesus
From all evil, deliver us, Jesus
From all sin, deliver us, Jesus
From your anger, deliver us, Jesus
From the snares of the devil, free us, Jesus
From the impure spirit, deliver us, Jesus
From eternal death, deliver us, Jesus
From resistance to your inspirations, set us free, Jesus
From all our sins, deliver us, Jesus
For the mystery of your holy incarnation, free us, Jesus
For your birth, deliver us, Jesus
For your childhood, set us free, Jesus
For your divine life, set us free, Jesus
For your work, free us, Jesus
For your labors, free us, Jesus
For your agony and your passion, free us, Jesus
For your cross and your abandonment, deliver us, Jesus
For your sufferings, free us, Jesus
For your death and burial, deliver us, Jesus
For your resurrection, deliver us, Jesus
For your ascension, deliver us, Jesus
For giving us the SS. Eucharist, deliver us, Jesus
For your joys, set us free, Jesus
For your glory, deliver us, Jesus
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, forgive us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, hear us or Lord
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Let's pray:
Almighty and eternal God that you wanted to save us in the name of your son Jesus,
since in this Name our salvation is placed,
make it a sign of victory for us in all circumstances.
For Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.