Swearing by God sinful?

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WhiteDove359

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Hey guys. Quick qustion, Im hopeing to get a responce before Mass, but… I have to ask you if this is sinful or not because im not sure, my gut tells me so, but im unsure…

I was in the car driveing talking to my mom about what I felt during the Midnight Mass at christmas… I was really 'in the moment" speaking to her and telling her how amazeing I felt and how i felt God that night. Well, I said the following sentence and now Im wondering if thats a mortal sin or any sin what-so-ever… “I swear by Almighty God that I felt the Holy Spirit that night!” …im really wondering because I know that its sinful to “swear by anything”, but because of the nature of what i was talking about makes me wonder…I was just haveing a conversation…very indepth conversation, with my mom about that particualar night…soooo what do you think?
 
Why on earth would you consider that a sin? If you ever testified at a trial would you consider it a sin to tell the truth "so help you God?"

Using God’s name in vain with full intent and purpose to do so is a sin, not just casually trying to make a point.
 
i just wanted to make sure! i guess im being a little scrupulouse
 
I would discuss it with your confessor. I am not saying what anyone else has said here is right or wrong - but matters of Sin cannot be absolved in a forum. Here is an Examination of Conscience

Under the Second Commandment it says plainly

Have I sworn by God’s name (oath) either falsely or rashly?

catholic-pages.com/penance/examine.asp

Now , am i saying you commited a Sin? No , I am not. I am saying that if your consience called that situation to mind - it maybe GOD’s Grace that perhaps it did offend Our Lord.

Look - we all Sin. There is not a single person here who hasnt. If you have - it doesnt mean you are a bad person.

So say the prayer “O Lord, grant me light to see myself as Thou dost see me and the grace to be truly and efficaciously contrite for my sins. O Mary, help me to make a good confession.” And confess your Sins to the Priest.

Because we all want to be seen through Our Lords Eyes - tell the Priest the Situation - if he says its a Sin - Its obvious you are sorry if it was - he will absolve you - if it isnt - then there is nothing to forgive.

Examination of Conscience is always a good Catholic. practise. It helps us become better Catholics.

Pax
 
Your best bet? Only use the name of God with reverence and you can’t go wrong. Lots of people run around saying “OMG” or use the Holy Name of Jesus in passing… That IS an offense. I know a lot of people don’t mean it to be, but we need to stop to think about what we say and do. It helps to remember that at the name of Jesus many people bow their heads in recognition of the holiness of the name… You’ll eliminate unthinking slip-ups if you only use God’s name appropriately and with reverence.
The OP could have remarked that he felt God’s Presence without swearing at all…
 
WhiteDove359 said:
Hey guys. Quick qustion, Im hopeing to get a responce before Mass, but… I have to ask you if this is sinful or not because im not sure, my gut tells me so, but im unsure…

I was in the car driveing talking to my mom about what I felt during the Midnight Mass at christmas… I was really 'in the moment" speaking to her and telling her how amazeing I felt and how i felt God that night. Well, I said the following sentence and now Im wondering if thats a mortal sin or any sin what-so-ever… “I swear by Almighty God that I felt the Holy Spirit that night!” …im really wondering because I know that its sinful to “swear by anything”, but because of the nature of what i was talking about makes me wonder…I was just haveing a conversation…very indepth conversation, with my mom about that particualar night…soooo what do you think?
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But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. But let your speech be, yea, yea: no, no: that you fall not under judgment.

James 5:12

I will tell you want I think, for what little that is worth.

If you swear something by God, it had better be true, and you had better do it, and so, you should not normally do it, especially not spontaneously without forethought. Because of course, if you’re wrong, or you do not do it, or cannot do it, or should not do it, you are liable to judgment for it.

Was it the Holy Spirit or not? How do you know? How do I?

So, generally, do not make the habit of saying things like that.

Mortal? It seems quite unlikely to me. Sin at all? Don’t know, were you right or wrong, were you imprudent? It would seem you were spontaneously imprudent, but what do I know? A mark of imperfection at the least? That would seem to be the case.

Generally do not swear by anything at all, because what dominion over what you swear by do you have? You may swear in court, you may swear to God on very special solemn and sure occasions, but do not make that habit of saying it spontaneously and casually to emphasize something.
 
well if gone to confession a few times since ive said it, but i cant recall if i confessed that or not…i probably did NOT confess it. and ive recived communion probably a dozzen times so…now im wondering…mortal sin???
 
I wouldn’t be concerned about it.

If you are, take it to the Confessional.
 
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