Jesus' Holy Name taken in Vain

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT 

  Thou shalt not take the name of thy LORD thou God in vain.

It seems that society simply disregards the second commandment the way God's name is profanely or carelessly dropped whenever someone opens their mouth.   Even a bank's advertisement in today's paper had "OMG" in big letters.  And I do not believe that acronym stands for "Oh my goodness".  

When I hear God's name used in vain by young people, I have no qualms about correcting them.  However, my problem is when adults....my friends or even family members thoughtlessly use God's or Jesus' name for any reason.  It is worse when they use it out of anger.  I cannot seem to be able to correct them. I do with family but with friends or acquaintances it is harder.   I feel that I should not have to be put in a position to correct an adult who should know better.

At my last confession I even confessed that I listened to God's name taken in vain but failed to correct those individuals.  Not a day went by afterwards when again I had to listen to God's name used to express surprise, excitement, happiness, etc.  I actually ended up doing penance for that instance just to make reparation for that person's blasphemy and for my failure to correct.  

I do not know if I have enough moral courage or the stamina to continuously bring it to someone's attention how offensive it must be to God to hear His Holy Name use in that way.  I can try avoiding those friends but that is the cowardly way out. 

I found a prayer card and I would like to share it here with you but especially for me to remind me that it is my duty to speak out.

RESPECT HIS HOLY NAME

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain, for the Lord shall not leave unpunished him who takes His name in vain" (Ex. 20:7)

From the Holy Bible:  "A man that sweareth much shall be filled with iniquity (sin) and a scourge shall not depart from his house." (Eccl. 23:12)

St. John Vianney, the holy priest of Ars: "God gave men only ten commandments and one of the ten has for its sole object the reverence due to His Name."  He used to say that it was an astounding miracle that people who used His Name in vain were not struck dead on the spot.  But he warned them, "If the sin of blasphemy is rampant in your home, it will surely perish."

 Often His Holy Name is used as an expression of speech, for instance:  "My God!" with no real thought of God or calling upon Him.  Let us always strive to love and honor the Holy Name of God, using His Name only in prayer and adoration and thanksgiving.

Our Lord revealed to Sr. Marie de Saint-Pierre, a French Carmelite Nun, the need for mankind to make reparation for the terrible sin of blasphemy.  He told her:  "Oh if you only knew what great merit you acquire by saying even once, " Admirable is the name of God" in the spirit of reparation of blasphemy!" 

Please repeat this holy phrase often...

There is the answer to my dilemma.  I will say that aspiration every time God's name is taken in vain.  I may also email a copy of this blog post link to those who need to read it.

Source Our Lady of the Rosary Library