The primary object of the society is to beget reverence for the Holy Name of God and Jesus Christ; it is also dedicated to making reparations, in particular, for blasphemy, perjury and immorality.

The Dominicans, who were actively spreading the Christian message at this time in a crusade against the Albegensians took on the challenge and preached the power of the Holy Name of Jesus.

[1] The devotion grew rapidly with the preaching of the Dominican order and several saints (including Bernardino of Siena, a Franciscan, and John of Capistrano).

A candidate may join as a novice member if they reside in an area where there is no active Parish, Deanery or (Arch)diocesan Holy Name Society.

[5] This ceremony, which is typically carried out on the Feast of the Holy Name (January 3), consists of a profession of faith in a parish society chartered to the Dominican Order, as well as a series of solemn promises.

These promises are to observe the Society's rules and constitutions; to love and respect the Holy Name; to abstain from blasphemy; to reverence Divine law and to respect civil law and civil authority; to love the Pope and to be a full member of the Catholic Church; to believe the Church's teachings, and to teach others of them; and to receive the sacraments regularly, pray often and perform works of physical and mental mortification on a regular basis.

[citation needed] The Society makes use of a symbol of a man's head, surmounting a rayed halo, with a small Latin cross before his mouth.

[citation needed] The apostolate of the society is to assist in parish ministries by performing the Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless, tend the sick, visit those in prison, and bury the dead; as well as the Spiritual Works of Mercy: to convert sinners, instruct the ignorant, counsel the wayward, comfort the sorrowing, bear adversity patiently, forgive offenses, and pray for the living and the dead.

The National Association of the Holy Name Society, however, works with Prison Community in the State of Pennsylvania (USA), and has been doing so for the past 23 years.