Using the Holy Name at Work
We recently celebrated the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast has special relevance these days, since so often we hear Our Lord's name used in vain. So for 2014, I thought we Catholic men might try to clean up at least our own workplaces when it comes to the use of the Holy Name - starting with ourselves.
This all springs, of course, from the Second Commandment: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." I fear too many of us forgot this commandment a long time ago, given the way not just Jesus' name, but God's name is bandied about in common usage. Not that all such usage is sinful. A lot of it is just habit. The latest version of this is the phrase "Oh my God" both verbally and in written messages, especially texting, where the initial OMG stand for the phrase. Of course, some have recognized this cavalier use of God's name and substitute "Oh my gosh." Interestingly, few people realize that "gosh," as is the case for "gee," is actually a corruption of the original word, "gosh" for God and "gee" for Jesus. They've simply lost their original meaning over time. Another example of a phrase that's lost its original meaning over time is "Oh my goodness," which originally was a form of swearing by a divine attribute, that of God's goodness. At this point, discerning whether the expression is meant as prayer or profanity is probably a moot point; it's just such a common expression. Other casual uses of God's name that probably aren't sinful - as long as there's no sinful intention behind the usage - would be "Oh Lord," or "Good Lord."
While it's interesting to know these facts, there's really no point trying to determine the intentions of people who use God's name in these different ways. And, of course, it's their intention that determines whether such usage is sinful or not. But while a particular usage of God's name or any of its derivatives may not be sinful, it's still not good that the Holy Name is used in this manner - most especially when Catholics use God's name this way: We should know better.
And that's really my point here. We Catholic men really should know better. And I suspect many of us who might slip into a kind of cavalier use of God's name in vain do in fact know something's not right with that. So here's my suggestion for 2014: Don't use God's name in vain at all, ever, not even in a joke.
The Church created the feast of the Holy Name for a reason. Throughout history people have used God's name in vain. Think about it: that's why it's one of the Ten Commandments...Duh.
So let's make up our minds right now not to use the Holy Name of Jesus in vain. Let's be certain not to join the ranks of those disrespectful creatures who use any of the other forms of God's name in a cavalier or vain manner. When we hear people use the Holy Name in vain, let's make it our business to apologize to our Blessed Lord and say a prayer for those who have sinned against the Second Commandment.
In conclusion, observe the Second Commandment. It's one of the Ten. It's not a trivial matter to use God's name in vain. And given what Our Lord did for us - suffering death on the cross so that we might spend eternity in Heaven in the state of joy and happiness only possible in His Holy Presence - let's set an example to others whether they be our families, our friends, or our co-workers by NEVER EVER using God's name in vain, and by always and only speaking the Holy Name with respect and reverence.
This all springs, of course, from the Second Commandment: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." I fear too many of us forgot this commandment a long time ago, given the way not just Jesus' name, but God's name is bandied about in common usage. Not that all such usage is sinful. A lot of it is just habit. The latest version of this is the phrase "Oh my God" both verbally and in written messages, especially texting, where the initial OMG stand for the phrase. Of course, some have recognized this cavalier use of God's name and substitute "Oh my gosh." Interestingly, few people realize that "gosh," as is the case for "gee," is actually a corruption of the original word, "gosh" for God and "gee" for Jesus. They've simply lost their original meaning over time. Another example of a phrase that's lost its original meaning over time is "Oh my goodness," which originally was a form of swearing by a divine attribute, that of God's goodness. At this point, discerning whether the expression is meant as prayer or profanity is probably a moot point; it's just such a common expression. Other casual uses of God's name that probably aren't sinful - as long as there's no sinful intention behind the usage - would be "Oh Lord," or "Good Lord."
While it's interesting to know these facts, there's really no point trying to determine the intentions of people who use God's name in these different ways. And, of course, it's their intention that determines whether such usage is sinful or not. But while a particular usage of God's name or any of its derivatives may not be sinful, it's still not good that the Holy Name is used in this manner - most especially when Catholics use God's name this way: We should know better.
And that's really my point here. We Catholic men really should know better. And I suspect many of us who might slip into a kind of cavalier use of God's name in vain do in fact know something's not right with that. So here's my suggestion for 2014: Don't use God's name in vain at all, ever, not even in a joke.
The Church created the feast of the Holy Name for a reason. Throughout history people have used God's name in vain. Think about it: that's why it's one of the Ten Commandments...Duh.
So let's make up our minds right now not to use the Holy Name of Jesus in vain. Let's be certain not to join the ranks of those disrespectful creatures who use any of the other forms of God's name in a cavalier or vain manner. When we hear people use the Holy Name in vain, let's make it our business to apologize to our Blessed Lord and say a prayer for those who have sinned against the Second Commandment.
In conclusion, observe the Second Commandment. It's one of the Ten. It's not a trivial matter to use God's name in vain. And given what Our Lord did for us - suffering death on the cross so that we might spend eternity in Heaven in the state of joy and happiness only possible in His Holy Presence - let's set an example to others whether they be our families, our friends, or our co-workers by NEVER EVER using God's name in vain, and by always and only speaking the Holy Name with respect and reverence.
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