447. How does one respect the holiness of the Name of God? (part 1)
(Comp 447) One shows respect for the
holy Name of God by blessing it, praising it and glorifying it. It is
forbidden, therefore, to call on the Name of God to justify a crime. It is also
wrong to use the holy Name of God in any improper way as in blasphemy (which by
its nature is a grave sin), curses, and unfaithfulness to promises made in the
Name of God.
“In brief”
(CCC 2160) "O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth" Ps 8:1)! (CCC 2161) The second commandment enjoins respect for the Lord's
name. The name of the Lord is holy.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2142) The second commandment prescribes respect for the Lord's name.
Like the first commandment, it belongs to the virtue of religion and more
particularly it governs our use of speech in sacred matters. (CCC 2143) Among all the words of Revelation, there is one which
is unique: the revealed name of God. God confides his name to those who believe
in him; he reveals himself to them in his personal mystery. The gift of a name
belongs to the order of trust and intimacy. "The Lord's name is
holy." For this reason man must not abuse it. He must keep it in mind in
silent, loving adoration. He will not introduce it into his own speech except
to bless, praise, and glorify it (Cf. Zech 2:13; Ps 29:2; 96:2; 113:1-2).
Reflection
(CCC 2144) Respect for his name is
an expression of the respect owed to the mystery of God himself and to the
whole sacred reality it evokes. The sense
of the sacred is part of the virtue of religion: Are these feelings of fear
and awe Christian feelings or not?... I
say this, then, which I think no one can reasonably dispute. They are the class
of feelings we should have - yes,
have to an intense degree - if we literally had the sight of Almighty God;
therefore they are the class of feelings which we shall have, if we realize His presence. In
proportion as we believe that He is present, we shall have them; and not to
have them, is not to realize, not to believe that He is present (John Henry
Cardinal Newman, Parochial and Plain
Sermons V, 2 [London: Longmans,
Green and Co., 1907] 21-22). (CCC 2145) The
faithful should bear witness to the Lord's name by confessing the faith without
giving way to fear (Cf. Mt 10:32; 1 Tim 6:12). Preaching and catechizing should
be permeated with adoration and respect for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [IT CONTINUES]
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