Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 3rd Sunday of Easter.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are eight (8) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Second Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not take the Name of the Lord, your God, in vain.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2162.
Blasphemy is a sin against the Second Commandment. The Second Commandment forbids the improper use of God’s Holy Name. The Greek words blasphemein translates as “to injure reputation” and blasphemos as “evil speaking.” The Vulgate uses blasphemare to designate abusive language directed against a people at large or against individuals (cf. 2 Samuel 21:21; 1 Chronicles 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:30; Titus 3:2).
The Catechism highlights four specific parts to blasphemy which are not all obvious, specifically: using the Holy Name of God, of Jesus Christ (true God and true man), of the Virgin Mary (Mother of God), and of the Saints (friends of God) in an abusive fashion. The abusive use of Our Lady and of the other Saints is an affront to God and His Holy Name because, respectively, Mary is the Mother of God and the Saints are the friends of God.
Three further considerations highlight different aspects of blasphemy, namely heretical blasphemy; imprecatory blasphemy, and contumacious blasphemy. Heretical blasphemy involves declarations contrary to orthodox faith, such as “God is cruel and unjust” or “the noblest work of man is God.” Imprecatory blasphemy calls down curses or malediction. Contumacious blasphemy expresses contempt of or indignation against God.
Blasphemy is direct when we formally intend to dishonor God or indirect when we use blasphemous words without intending or knowing (as when children imitate the bad example of their elders).
Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP, teaches us that blasphemy is a sin against the supernatural virtue of Faith and the natural virtue of religion, in that by blaspheming we attribute to God what does not belong to Him, deny Him that which is His, asking Him to damn someone or to be damned Himself (cf. ST II-II Q. 13, A. 1).
Merriam Webster reminds us that blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God or that which is sacred. Synonyms for blasphemy include: sacrilege, profanation, irreverence and impiety.
Penances for blasphemy have varied over time. In the Middle Ages the blasphemer would be required to stand at the door of the church throughout the Holy Mass for seven Sundays without shoes or cloak, wearing a rope around the neck on the last Sunday (cf. Decretals (V, xxvi). Pope Saint Pius V decreed fines to be paid by blasphemers, increasing upon the second occurrence and resulting in exile for a third occurrence. Those unable to pay the fines were to stand at the door of the church with their hands tied behind their backs for the first offense, flogged for the second offense, a third offense bringing the piercing of the tongue and a sentence to the galleys (cf. Cum primum apostolatus).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr