Chapter 26 — "The Second Commandment: Reverence God's Name"
OPENING PRAYER
The Divine Praises
Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy Sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
Bless the Lord, my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name!
—Ps 103:1
Source: USCCA, p. 359
"THE SECOND COMMANDMENT: REVERENCE GOD'S NAME"
—CCC, Nos. 2142–2167
What does your name mean? Do you take offense when people do not acknowledge your name, or fail to call you by your correct name, or make fun of your name?
Everyone’s name is important. We honor the dignity of persons by using their name with respect. God’s name obviously deserves the highest honor and respect.
The Second Commandment states: "You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain (Ex 20:7)
While standing at the burning bush, Moses asked what is God’s name. God replied, “I AM WHO I AM…,” which is transliterated from Hebrew as “YHWH” and pronounced “Yahweh.” (Ex 3:14). The Hebrews treated God’s name with such respect that they did not speak it. Only once a year, at the festival of the atonement, was the high priest permitted to utter this name in the Holy of Holies of the Temple. Out of reverence, the people substituted the name Adonai, which means “Lord.” In most Christian bibles, “YHWH” is translated as “LORD.”
The Second Commandment requires us to reverence 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, no. 2142). This Commandment calls us to acknowledge and preserve the difference between our Creator God and God’s creation and creatures, including humans. God calls us and our name is sacred. In Baptism, we are initiated into the Church “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We are sanctified by God’s name and immersed in the very life of the Holy Trinity. We may also receive the name of a patron saint, a disciple of Christ who has led an exemplary life, to remind us of our call to holiness and to intercede for us.
The Second Commandment forbids the improper use or misuse of God’s name. There are a variety of ways that this happens. Blasphemy consists “in uttering against God—inwardly or outwardly—words of hatred, reproach, or defiance” (CCC, no. 2148). This is gravely sinful. Our habitual disrespect of God, displayed in cursing, and even in the use of vulgar language, gives a bad example to others and can create an attitude that erodes our relationship with God.
This Commandment also forbids us from using God’s name to witness to perjury or false oath. Unfortunately, God’s name has been wrongfully used throughout history to justify wars, terrorism, slaughter of enemies, and to impose unwarranted power over others. The name of God must never be used to justify or support immoral acts.
Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 26, "The Second Commandment: Reverence God's Name," (pages 351–359), the CCC, Nos. 2142–2167, (pages 518–522), and the Compendium, Nos. 447–449
VIDEOS
"The Pope Explains the Second Commandment" (Pope Francis)
"The Second Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Why is Taking the Lord's Name in Vain Wrong?" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"Name of the Lord" - CCC 2142-2167 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"In the Name of the Lord" (Sandy Patty)
"Holy is His Name" (John Michael Talbot)
"The Name of God" (David Haas)
"For Your Name is Holy" (Paul Wilbur)
"Your Name" (Paul Baloche)
OTHER RESOURCES
"What is the Second Commandment and Why is it so Important? (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis)
"The Four Stages of the Spiritual Journey" (Fr. Albert Haase)
REFLECT ON YOUR EXPERIENCE
When and how have you ever taken the LORD’s name in vain?
What ways do you follow to honor and respect the LORD’s name?
We encourage and invite you to spend time to reflect, pray, and write in your journal about what you have read, seen, heard, or experienced this week. You can find some questions you may wish to consider here.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, in now, and ever shall be.
Amen.
"THE SECOND COMMANDMENT: REVERENCE GOD'S NAME"
—CCC, Nos. 2142–2167
What does your name mean? Do you take offense when people do not acknowledge your name, or fail to call you by your correct name, or make fun of your name?
Everyone’s name is important. We honor the dignity of persons by using their name with respect. God’s name obviously deserves the highest honor and respect.
The Second Commandment states: "You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain (Ex 20:7)
While standing at the burning bush, Moses asked what is God’s name. God replied, “I AM WHO I AM…,” which is transliterated from Hebrew as “YHWH” and pronounced “Yahweh.” (Ex 3:14). The Hebrews treated God’s name with such respect that they did not speak it. Only once a year, at the festival of the atonement, was the high priest permitted to utter this name in the Holy of Holies of the Temple. Out of reverence, the people substituted the name Adonai, which means “Lord.” In most Christian bibles, “YHWH” is translated as “LORD.”
The Second Commandment requires us to reverence 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, no. 2142). This Commandment calls us to acknowledge and preserve the difference between our Creator God and God’s creation and creatures, including humans. God calls us and our name is sacred. In Baptism, we are initiated into the Church “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We are sanctified by God’s name and immersed in the very life of the Holy Trinity. We may also receive the name of a patron saint, a disciple of Christ who has led an exemplary life, to remind us of our call to holiness and to intercede for us.
The Second Commandment forbids the improper use or misuse of God’s name. There are a variety of ways that this happens. Blasphemy consists “in uttering against God—inwardly or outwardly—words of hatred, reproach, or defiance” (CCC, no. 2148). This is gravely sinful. Our habitual disrespect of God, displayed in cursing, and even in the use of vulgar language, gives a bad example to others and can create an attitude that erodes our relationship with God.
This Commandment also forbids us from using God’s name to witness to perjury or false oath. Unfortunately, God’s name has been wrongfully used throughout history to justify wars, terrorism, slaughter of enemies, and to impose unwarranted power over others. The name of God must never be used to justify or support immoral acts.
Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 26, "The Second Commandment: Reverence God's Name," (pages 351–359), the CCC, Nos. 2142–2167, (pages 518–522), and the Compendium, Nos. 447–449
VIDEOS
"The Pope Explains the Second Commandment" (Pope Francis)
"The Second Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Why is Taking the Lord's Name in Vain Wrong?" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"Name of the Lord" - CCC 2142-2167 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
"The Second Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Why is Taking the Lord's Name in Vain Wrong?" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"Name of the Lord" - CCC 2142-2167 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"In the Name of the Lord" (Sandy Patty)
"Holy is His Name" (John Michael Talbot)
"The Name of God" (David Haas)
"For Your Name is Holy" (Paul Wilbur)
"Your Name" (Paul Baloche)
OTHER RESOURCES
"What is the Second Commandment and Why is it so Important? (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis)
"The Four Stages of the Spiritual Journey" (Fr. Albert Haase)
"The Four Stages of the Spiritual Journey" (Fr. Albert Haase)