Can Catholics pronounce the divine name (YHWH)?

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Can Catholics pronounce YHWH? I know it’s currently forbidden in the context of Mass, but outside of Mass is it alright? May we say something like, “Yahweh bless you!” or something of that nature?
 
We sing a hymn at our Charismatic mass & prayer group called, : “Yahweh, I know You are Near.”
If the Name is said with respect & worship, why should there be a problem? 🤷
 
I think you probably could, but it would probably strike people as odd or strange. I have heard people say it casually and that doesn’t sit right with me. “God” or “Lord” are perfectly acceptable names/titles.
 
Interesting question. 🍿 I hear that name sometimes when I listen to Protestant music radio. Not sure if I should sing along or not.
 
The Church has forbidden the pronunciation of the Name within the liturgy, and more recent hymnals have changed song lyrics that previously had included it. That prohibition does not extend to private usage.
 
pensmama87 said:
I think you probably could, but it would probably strike people as odd or strange. I have heard people say it casually and that doesn’t sit right with me. “God” or “Lord” are perfectly acceptable names/titles.
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Yeah, I think it’s just bad form to do so outside of liturgy.
If we’re supposed to be humble enough to not utter it, than just don’t say it.
It would seem to me worse to do so in casual conversation.
But that’s just my 2 cents.

*There’s a reason why we don’t say it.
The name Yahweh is actually a guess for the name of God based on the Hebrew YHWH. Hebrew is a language without vowels and the vowels must be inferred from the context. In other words, we don’t know for certain how to say or write the name correctly – even in Hebrew. In fact, orthodox Jews and ancient Jews would never say the name of God, for fear of doing so incorrectly, because they do not want to accidentally blaspheme God’s name. This is why you will find the name “God” spelled “G-d” by some Jews today. Rather they call God by some other name, such as Adonai – which means lord or master.

This ancient practice of avoiding the attempt to pronounce God’s name also has Christian roots. Recently, we got away from these roots. Look in your Bible and you will find the word “LORD” with all caps. This is where the name of God is found. Where you find the name as a proper name “Lord” – is where Adonai is found in the Hebrew text. We also get the name Jehovah, from the English translated Bibles that named God as JHVH.

So, there has been a wider use of the name of God, YHWH, that has slowly (and then more quickly recently) started to be used in the songs we sing in Mass. Because we want to have reverence for the name of God, the Vatican has asked that we return to our roots. We ought to think of it this way, rather than them thinking that they have taken something from us. It is an attempt to reverence the name of God.*
 
If we’re going to be worried about the mispronunciation of divine names, then we’re really in trouble. There is a long phonetic separation between y’-SHU-a8 (Hebrew; the 8 stands for 8ayin, which is unpronounceable in English) or YE-shu-a8 (Aramaic; not sure if the 8ayin is actually there in the spelling), on the one hand, and the English “DZHEE-zus”, on the other hand.
 
DaveBj said:
The Church has forbidden the pronunciation of the Name within the liturgy, and more recent hymnals have changed song lyrics that previously had included it. That prohibition does not extend to private usage.
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Thanks!👍
 
truetofaith said:
We sing a hymn at our Charismatic mass & prayer group called, : “Yahweh, I know You are Near.”
If the Name is said with respect & worship, why should there be a problem? 🤷
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If it’s sung in the context of the Mass, you shouldn’t be doing that. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has clarified in recent years that it is indeed forbidden to use the Tetragrammaton in the context of Christian divine worship. This tradition goes back to our Jewish forefathers and was continued by the Church. That Name is too sacred to speak liturgically.
 
Reminds me of the Golden Arrow prayer I saw posted in the parish today…
May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and unutterable Name of God be always praised, blessed, loved, adored and glorified in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.
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Although frankly I wasn’t sure which Name the prayer was referring to…Jesus or the Name revealed in the Old Testament?
 
twf said:
If it’s sung in the context of the Mass, you shouldn’t be doing that. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments has clarified in recent years that it is indeed forbidden to use the Tetragrammaton in the context of Christian divine worship. This tradition goes back to our Jewish forefathers and was continued by the Church. That Name is too sacred to speak liturgically.
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I never heard this before. It doesn’t make sense if you are using the name in worship.
 
The Church has given the guidelines for using the Name, and it only refers to using it during the Liturgy. Why do people insist on adding to what the Church has declared and then try to convince others of it? Does that make them a better Catholic, or make others seem less than respectful? This is a common problem I see on this forum all the time, and not just in relation to this subject.

There is one simple answer to the question–it is “yes”, outside of the Liturgy. Nothing more needs to be added.

The reasons the hymns have been changed is because they are sung during the Liturgy. That’s all. If you want to sing to “Yahweh, I know you are near” at home, fine.
 
CB_Catholic said:
The Church has given the guidelines for using the Name, and it only refers to using it during the Liturgy. Why do people insist on adding to what the Church has declared and then try to convince others of it? Does that make them a better Catholic, or make others seem less than respectful? This is a common problem I see on this forum all the time, and not just in relation to this subject.

There is one simple answer to the question–it is “yes”, outside of the Liturgy. Nothing more needs to be added.

The reasons the hymns have been changed is because they are sung during the Liturgy. That’s all. If you want to sing to “Yahweh, I know you are near” at home, fine.
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This doesn’t make sense…you can’t pray or sing Yahweh during Mass worship…but you can use the name at home or in the street!

I think I’m in the wrong church. :rolleyes:
 
CB_Catholic said:
The Church has given the guidelines for using the Name, and it only refers to using it during the Liturgy. Why do people insist on adding to what the Church has declared and then try to convince others of it? Does that make them a better Catholic, or make others seem less than respectful? This is a common problem I see on this forum all the time, and not just in relation to this subject.

There is one simple answer to the question–it is “yes”, outside of the Liturgy. Nothing more needs to be added.

The reasons the hymns have been changed is because they are sung during the Liturgy. That’s all. If you want to sing to “Yahweh, I know you are near” at home, fine.
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Is it permitted? Yes, and I don’t think anyone disputed that. Is it wise, though? Depends on context. It would be inappropriate to say it if you were addressing a group of Jews, for example. "But my religion says it’s fine!” isn’t going to get you far. Social norms matter, and choosing to flout them, even if permissible, may end up causing more harm than good. That’s the only caution some of us were offering the OP.
 
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