When are you actually using the Lord's name in vain?

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I have three all somewhat related questions regarding using the Lord’s name in vain. I’m a little confused in general about what is using the Lord’s name in vain actually is, when it becomes sinful, and when it becomes a mortal sin. Are the sayings that invade our society that I’m sure most people hear on a daily basis examples of using the Lord’s name in vain. While no human on earth is perfect, I have heard priest’s use terms in homilies that I avoid using and previously thought to be sinful so that threw a whole additional wrench in my thought process. Also would terms like God forbid where you might literally be praying for God to prevent something to happen be sinful?

I would assume that most of the time using the Lord’s name in vain is sinful, but when would it become mortally sinful?

Now the third question is, assuming it is a sinful situation of using the Lord’s name in vain, when does it even become a sin? A specific basis for these questions are when I read terms that I wouldn’t use in internet forums, conversations, etc. Now if I hear someone say something using the Lord’s name in vain it would not be my sin, but I’m not sure how that translates into actually reading it. I also sometimes have issues when I hear what I think to be using the Lord’s name in vain in a song lyric or on a TV show then I get those things stuck in my head to the point that I’m then thinking of those terms in my own internal dialogue long after I’ve heard them. Would these situations be sinful?

I feel that my third question is probably just my scrupulosity getting the best of me, but I was wondering what others thought.
 
Mortal sins in taking Gods name in vain are - using Gods name intentionally as a curse, using words of hatred, reproach, or defiance towards God, or speaking ill of God, and also apart from using His name, other sins that fall under the second commandment are - seriously wishing evil on another, serious slander or insult of a sacred person or object, making an oath in a secret society, telling a lie or withholding a serious sin in confession, lying under oath, swearing false oaths.
those are the mortal sins that fall under this commandment, but the ones that fall under venial are -
using Gods name lightly, in surprise or anger(habitually, not thinking), cursing thoughtlessly, using the names of Mary, a Saint, the Pope, or other sacred persons irreverently, using vulgar or inappropriate language.

so, to answer your question, it’s mortally sinful when we use Gods name intentionally in a hateful or malicious manner, and it is venial when we use His name needlessly or without thinking.

if you are worried about when others speak or write Gods name in vain, you can turn that into something good by instead praising Gods name in some kind of small prayer, such as “Jesus, mercy!” or “Praised be Jesus Christ!” or “My Lord and My God, My God and my All!” or other similar small prayers of praise of the name of God,
and by doing that, you make reparation for the blasphemes against the Holy name of God, and also appease His anger and implore His mercy on the sinner who blasphemes.

i hope that answers your question, but if not, i’d be glad to answer any other questions.
ok, take care.
 
What about the currently overused expression “OMG” or outright saying “Oh my God” ?? :confused:
 
Razz(name removed by moderator) said:
What about the currently overused expression “OMG” or outright saying “Oh my God” ?? :confused:
Click to expand...
Those are the ones that cause me the most trouble since they are pretty much everywhere and especially the acronyms since you can read/mean them multiple ways. omg can also be oh my gosh/goodness. TGIF can also be thank goodness it’s friday.
 
As the Scholastics would say “always distinguish”

Various authors distinguish between “profanity” and “Blasphemy” in using or rather misusing God’s name …or that of the Saints etc. (the CCC too uses these terms)

Profanity in this sense is to take what is holy (like the name of God) and use it in a profane (ordinary) way …often described as a venial sin…(or perhaps not a sin due to habit …or inadvertence etc)… still of course something not to be done!

Blasphemy on the other hand is objectively gravely sinful…which in this sense would be to use the name of God in a way that expresses hatred etc towards God (or similar…see the CCC for more details)

As for the habit of saying “oh my God” --this should not be done…but would usually fall into I think the area of profanity…and often in the habit area…or inadvertant use…which may mean no sin happened at all…

Here is the CCC for the full treatment:vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a2.htm (one will also note there that technically what using God’s name in vain is)

Here are the Catholic Answers Apologists:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=469417&highlight=name+of+god

Hardon: catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=32193

of course talk with your confessor too as to particular questions that come up for you.

Jokes or comments that are irreverent to God or holy things…can be mortal or venial…depending on the intention and the matter.

One way to blaspheme is to reject or make fun of God or the teachings of the Church etc

See the CCC for more…

Let us “hallow” his name…let us bless it …praise it… especially the name: Jesus

Addendum (in looking at one of the older moralists): Profanity as mentioned above …is as I said…not blasphemy (see ccc) …but rather is characterized by the disrespectful use of the Holy Name in anger or thoughtlessness…

(sometimes it can be serious of course too…for example when the anger that causes it is aimed at God or via scandal etc)
 
In regards to thoughts …

(from previous posts of mine)

Regarding thoughts

while Jesus makes it clear that one can sin in ones thoughts…just cause some lustful thought happens does not mean that one sinned…

(and one can have a sufficiently good reason to think about sexual matters…for instance studying moral theology…but care must be taken to avoid things that would be a problem…but that is another question)

What should we do with unwanted sexual thoughts or other bad thoughts…thoughts against God etc? Those pesky temptations that can come …even though we are not seeking them etc…

(there are of course some things we should avoid that cause them…and there can be sin if it is something one should reasonably avoid…but often they come uninvited)

First…Relax. Do not worry.

Now are they mortal sins?

For a mortal sin one needs a grave matter …full knowledge AND deliberate consent!!!

A. If you do not want the thought…it the thought displeases you: it can be a sign actually that you did not give consent or do not give full consent.

B. Even if you felt a temptation for the thought – and were drawn to it —but rejected it and maybe even turned to God : again a sign not full consent.

C. But what if one has a tempting thought --say of a sexual nature and even hesitated for a moment…but then rejected it for one did not want to sin? : it can be partial consent perhaps (and thus a venial sin)-- or it may be no sin at all but rather a strong temptation that drew you but then you saw what was happening and turned away.

D. A temptation can even be very strong or the thoughts very often – but this does NOT mean one has consented! so worry not…even it they go on for a long time…

remember --for it to be mortal there must be that deliberate consent!

What to do? on the spiritual side–relax first of all and remember the above.

Next – know that the more one fears the thoughts the more likely they are to come… or said another way --the more a person seeks to avoid the thoughts the more likely he will have a problem with them. (but do not worry about this either!)

for example: for the next 10 seconds try NOT to think of an apple.

tick tock …

tick tock…

Ok what did you think of? Most likely an apple.

So it is best to ignore them and just not consent and then turn your attention to some other good thing…for instance whatever you are doing. Simply do not consent and move on. and do not worry

another point – thoughts can just happen --they are the stuff with which we think…it is up to us to consent and take them further or not. and just because they are REAL VIVID and almost “think themselves” does not mean per se that one has given ANY consent.

they can be annoying…but need cause no actual harm …
Another help…is the distinction between “first thoughts and emotions” (as Baur calls em) what they call the prima of the prima…“the first of the first” (as one of my Professors called em…he was a Dominican)…these are involuntary things that just come up…such are not sins. They can tempt one of course to sin…or one can then proceed to some sin…but they are the stuff of the mind and emotions which “happen to one” …and really the are opportunities for growing in virtue etc as well…

How to deal with these? First of relax…don’t scruple…don’t fear them…to try to swat them all as the come…just simply turn to other things…or the thing you are doing…or to God…(of course do not consent)…but if you are too defensive against them…they may get worse actually…and confuse you more…instead turn to God or again other good things…accept that hey…somethings wild thoughts will come to you…

(and these can happen to all of us by the way…)

There is a story from the desert of the early Centuries of the Church where a younger hermit when to an older one with the problems of thoughts happening to him all the time…the older hermit told him to go outside open his cloak and catch the wind.

The younger hermit said such is not possible…

the older hermit replied --neither is it possible to stop all the thoughts that can come to you…your choice is to say “yes” or “no”.

So relax about “unwanted thoughts”…sometimes they just come…you know like unwanted phone calls from politicitians and salepersons etc…but you can always say “no thank you” or just ignore the call and go about your business
 
Wow, this thread helps me a lot. I am OCD and maybe a little scrupulous and have a problem trying to avoid using/hearing the Lord’s name in my thoughts even though I don’t want to. When it happens, depending on my mood I sometimes freak out and run to confession worried I committed a mortal sin, even though I know I don’t want those thoughts.

Thanks.
 
When you swear an oath to God and break it. That’s it.
 
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