Novena Introduction

At birth all men and women receive a human name ”But even before that, each one has a divine name: the name by which God the Father knows and loves them from eternity and for eternity. This is true for everyone, with the exception of none. No one is nameless in God's sight! All have equal value in his eyes: all are different, yet all are equal, and all are called to be sons and daughters in the Son. "His name is John" (Lk 1,63)… which in Hebrew means "God is benevolent". God is benevolent to human beings he wants them to live; he wants them to be saved. God is benevolent to his people he wants to make of them a blessing for all the nations of the earth. God is benevolent to humanity he guides its pilgrim way towards the land where peace and justice reign. All this is contained in that name: John!”
 - Pope St. John Paul II