Swearing on the Holy Bible?

[Maariia59]

So today during class, I swore on the holy bible, and immediately after that I felt guilty. But I was unsure if I had committed a mortal sin. I’ve heard that if you make a promise on the holy bible and you break it later on, then that is a mortal sin. But I swore on the holy bible on a small thing, my friend asked me if I was standing on my heels, it’s a long story but I was pulling a prank on her, and I said “I swear on the holy bible, I’m not standing on my heels”, then suddenly after that I felt confused/guilty. Did I commit a mortal sin?

 

[Maariia59]

Oh another thing I forgot to mention:

There was another time when I swore on the holy bible, like I said I’m unsure if I have committed a mortal sin, this may sound extremely stupid but that’s just the way I am. There was a time when kind of “faked” my height, because I absolutly hate it when people make comments on my height, I have no idea why but when they do I feel really hurt and my eyes start to water. I know it’s a stupid reason to get worked up over but honestly it’s something I need to get more comfortable with. So anyway I swore on the holy bible that I wasn’t standing on my heels or anything. After that incident I was pondering about it for quite a while, did I commit a mortal sin or a venial sin?

 

[tobinatorstark]

So today during class, I swore on the holy bible, and immediately after that I felt guilty. But I was unsure if I had committed a mortal sin. I’ve heard that if you make a promise on the holy bible and you break it later on, then that is a mortal sin. But I swore on the holy bible on a small thing, my friend asked me if I was standing on my heels, it’s a long story but I was pulling a prank on her, and I said “I swear on the holy bible, I’m not standing on my heels”, then suddenly after that I felt confused/guilty. Did I commit a mortal sin?

can you describe your posture at the time you swore on the Holy Bible

 

[Maariia59]

Well I didn’t put my hand on the holy bible; it was just something that slipped out of my mouth. Whenever I try to get my point straight across I have a habit of saying “I swear to god it’s true” and this habit started before I knew that was counted at saying god’s name in vain. This sounds kind of silly but I also had some emotional issues to deal with that that time to, so, eh I’m so confused.

 

[LilyM]

What tob means to ask, I think, is were you actually lying when you swore? For example about your height - were you swearing that you were taller when you really are?

You must know that swearing to a falsehood is incredibly wrong and is a grave sin. To swear in any event isn’t going to convince anyone who doesn’t want to be convinced, so it serves no useful purpose anyway.

It may be enough of a habit with you not to be a mortal sin (someone who doesn’t know you well can’t advise you on that), but it’s an incredibly bad habit and one that you need as a matter of importance to break yourself of.

Some people use ‘swear jars’ - they have to pay money every time they use a rude word. Perhaps you could do the same for using vain expressions like ‘swear to God’ or ‘I swear on the Bible’.

 

[Maariia59]

Actually my friend was like “you’re standing on your heels” and then I said “I swear on the holy bible I’m not standing on my heels”, like it was a little joke I played on her, but then afterwards I began to think about it if it was a mortal sin or not, because I didn’t put my hand on the bible, and I’m guessing it wasn’t under my “complete” will because it was a habit.

 

[LilyM]

Actually my friend was like “you’re standing on your heels” and then I said “I swear on the holy bible I’m not standing on my heels”, like it was a little joke I played on her, but then afterwards I began to think about it if it was a mortal sin or not, because I didn’t put my hand on the bible, and I’m guessing it wasn’t under my “complete” will because it was a habit.

You talked about breaking a promise that you make when you swear, which makes me think you’re not always truthful when you do swear - otherwise why would you worry about it? That, of course, is a grave sin and possibly mortal.

Smoking may not be a mortal sin if you’re addicted to nicotine, but it’s nonetheless a very harmful - not to mention stupid - habit in lots of different ways and the sooner you break yourself of it the better. Same with swearing - make a deal with your friend that if you ever say something like ‘swear to God’ or ‘swear on the Holy Bible’ that you have to pay her $10 or something (the penalty needs to be enough to really hurt to get rid of something habitual).

 

[centurionguard]

Maybe I’m wrong in making some assumptions here in this topic; but, I had never thought it was right to swear on a Holy Bible in the first place. I realize that secular courts of law use bibles for swearing on. However; constitutionally speaking whether one resides in the United States or Canada one can refuse to swear on a bible. Secondly; bibles used in a court of law are (“not blessed”)
In Matthew Chapter 5: verses 33-37 (Douay Rheims Version)
33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.

34 But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:

35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your speech be yes, for yes: or no, for no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

Can anybody add to this for clarification ?

 

[Newbie2]

Jesus said it simply and clearly, Let you yes mean yes and your no mean no.

Stick to that.

 

[Maariia59]

Thank you for all those that have replied

But I’m unsure if it’s a mortal sin or not, like today I was with my friend, and I said “I swear to god” about two times or so. I never intended to say it but it’s something that slipped out of my mouth because of my bad habit. So in this case it’s not a mortal sin?

 

[LilyM]

Thank you for all those that have replied

But I’m unsure if it’s a mortal sin or not, like today I was with my friend, and I said “I swear to god” about two times or so. I never intended to say it but it’s something that slipped out of my mouth because of my bad habit. So in this case it’s not a mortal sin?

We’re not priests or moral theologians, we can’t give a definite or authoriative answer, but it’s probably not.

The much more important question is what are you doing to stop this habit, since it seems from Our Lord’s comments that it displeases Him?

 

[Methodi]

Thank you for all those that have replied

But I’m unsure if it’s a mortal sin or not, like today I was with my friend, and I said “I swear to god” about two times or so. I never intended to say it but it’s something that slipped out of my mouth because of my bad habit. So in this case it’s not a mortal sin?

No, Its not, its just probably a habit You have, I have known good people who said things like you, Like I swear to God Or Gospel truth, I dont think it`s a biggie unless you know your telling an untruth which probably you are not

 

[o_mlly]

Maybe I’m wrong in making some assumptions here in this topic; but, I had never thought it was right to swear on a Holy Bible in the first place. I realize that secular courts of law use bibles for swearing on. However; constitutionally speaking whether one resides in the United States or Canada one can refuse to swear on a bible. Secondly; bibles used in a court of law are (“not blessed”)
In Matthew Chapter 5: verses 33-37 (Douay Rheims Version)
33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.

34 But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God:

35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your speech be yes, for yes: or no, for no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

Can anybody add to this for clarification ?

The bible is only symbolic; the essence of swearing is to bring God into the agreement. When we swear, we invoke God’s help (grace) to execute an action which without His help would be impossible for us to do alone (all goodness e.g. truth, comes from God). The normative words ending all oaths is, “… so help me God.” If we invoke God’s grace, He gives it freely (ask and you shall receive). But if we ask for and willfully reject God’s grace, we commit an evil.

I think Jesus illuminated the fact that in matters of truth, God is always involved whether we call specifically upon Him or not. To lie is to commit evil – period.

Peace,
O’Malley

 

[centurionguard]

The bible is only symbolic; the essence of swearing is to bring God into the agreement. When we swear, we invoke God’s help (grace) to execute an action which without His help would be impossible for us to do alone (all goodness e.g. truth, comes from God). The normative words ending all oaths is, “… so help me God.” If we invoke God’s grace, He gives it freely (ask and you shall receive). But if we ask for and willfully reject God’s grace, we commit an evil.

I think Jesus illuminated the fact that in matters of truth, God is always involved whether we call specifically upon Him or not. To lie is to commit evil – period.

Peace,
O’Malley

To lie is to commit evil – period.

 

[o_mlly]

…

I’m not sure how much you’ve assimilated in the Catholic catechism but I can assure you the Holy Bible is not defined as ONLY symbolic.

The Bible in relation to our goal, a personal relationship with the Trinity, is God’s symbol. In the context I used – a courtroom device without a single quote, the Bible is man’s symbol. We are not a people of the book but rather a people of the Word – the person Jesus Christ. The Bible, the church, the sacraments and all our sacramentals are signs, instruments that help bring about our salvation and right relationship with the Trinity.

Signs are abstract, persons are concrete. Signs signify something beyond themselves, something real. Our salvation cannot be a mere idea, however true, profound, or useful, because that would be only another sign, another finger, another clue—like fingers pointing to other fingers, like having faith in faith, or hope in hope, or being in love with love. Rather, keep your mind on Jesus; use his gracious gifts, follow the signs but do not substitute the sign for the goal.

Peace,
O’Malley