Catechism of the Catholic Church · Part Three › Section Two › Chapter One · Article 2 (§§2142–2167)
Paragraphs · 26
The Catechism's text is under copyright, so each paragraph is quoted briefly here with a link to the full text at vatican.va.
I. The Name of the Lord is Holy
- §2142 — The second commandment prescribes respect for 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.vatican.va
- §2143 — Among all the words of Revelation, there is one which is unique: the revealed name of God. God confides his name to those who believe in him; he reveals himself to them in his personal mystery.vatican.va
- §2144 — Respect for his name is an expression of the respect owed to the mystery of God himself and to the whole sacred reality it evokes.vatican.va
- §2145 — The faithful should bear witness to the Lord's name by confessing the faith without giving way to fear. Preaching and catechizing should be permeated with adoration and respect for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.vatican.va
- §2146 — , every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.vatican.va
- §2147 — Promises made to others in God's name engage the divine honor, fidelity, truthfulness, and authority. They must be respected in justice. To be unfaithful to them is to misuse God's name and in some way to make God out to be a liar.vatican.va
- §2148 — Blasphemy is directly opposed to the second commandment. It consists in uttering against God - inwardly or outwardly - words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward him in one's speech; in misusing God's name.vatican.va
- §2149 — Oaths which misuse God's name, though without the intention of blasphemy, show lack of respect for the Lord. the second commandment also forbids magical use of the divine name.vatican.va
II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain
- §2150 — The second commandment forbids false oaths. Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms. It is to invoke the divine truthfulness as a pledge of one's own truthfulness.vatican.va
- §2151 — Rejection of false oaths is a duty toward God. As Creator and Lord, God is the norm of all truth. Human speech is either in accord with or in opposition to God who is Truth itself.vatican.va
- §2152 — A person commits perjury when he makes a promise under oath with no intention of keeping it, or when after promising on oath he does not keep it.vatican.va
- §2153 — ' But I say to you, Do not swear at all.... Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one."vatican.va
- §2154 — Following St. Paul, The tradition of the Church has understood Jesus' words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons (for example, in court).vatican.va
- §2155 — The holiness of the divine name demands that we neither use it for trivial matters, nor take an oath which on the basis of the circumstances could be interpreted as approval of an authority unjustly requiring it.vatican.va
III. The Christian Name
- §2156 — The sacrament of Baptism is conferred "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In Baptism, the Lord's name sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his name in the Church.vatican.va
- §2157 — The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
- §2158 — God calls each one by name. Everyone's name is sacred. the name is the icon of the person. It demands respect as a sign of the dignity of the one who bears it.vatican.va
- §2159 — The name one receives is a name for eternity. In the kingdom, the mysterious and unique character of each person marked with God's name will shine forth in splendor.vatican.va
In Brief
- §2160 — "O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth" (Ps 8:1)!vatican.va
- §2161 — The second commandment enjoins respect for the Lord's name. the name of the Lord is holy.vatican.va
- §2162 — The second commandment forbids every improper use of God's name. Blasphemy is the use of the name of God, of Jesus Christ, of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints in an offensive way.vatican.va
- §2163 — False oaths call on God to be witness to a lie. Perjury is a grave offence against the Lord who is always faithful to his promises.vatican.va
- §2164 — "Do not swear whether by the Creator, or any creature, except truthfully, of necessity, and with reverence" (St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 38).vatican.va
- §2165 — In Baptism, the Christian receives his name in the Church. Parents, godparents, and the pastor are to see that he be given a Christian name.vatican.va
- §2166 — The Christian begins his prayers and activities with the Sign of the Cross: "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
- §2167 — God calls each one by name (cf Isa 43:1).vatican.va
Scripture cited · 21 verses
Deuteronomy 6:13 · Psalm 29:2 · Psalm 96:2 · Psalm 113:1 · Psalm 113:2 · Isaiah 43:1 · Zechariah 2:13 · Matthew 5:33 · Matthew 5:34 · Matthew 5:37 · Matthew 10:32 · Matthew 28:19 · John 10:3 · 2 Corinthians 1:23 · Galatians 1:20 · 1 Timothy 6:12 · James 2:7 · James 5:12 · 1 John 1:10 · Revelation 2:17 · Revelation 14:1