Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 5th 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 2164.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola (AD 1493 – 1556) founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) has sage advice in his Spiritual Exercises, 38, when it comes to keeping the Second Commandment, including two negative and three positive points.
The two negative points made by Saint Ignatius in order that we keep the Second Commandment are to “not swear by the Creator” and to “not swear by a creature.” The Second Commandment of God, after all, is not to take the Name of the Lord God in vain. To swear by a creature is likewise an offense against the Creator through His creation, His creatures. Sacred Scripture is replete with this sort of directive: we are “no to swear at all, neither by Heaven for it is the throne of God (Matthew 5:34); nor are we to swear by our head, because we can not make one hair white or black (cf. Matthew 5:36); to swear by the temple of God is to swear by it and by Him that dwells therein (cf. Matthew 23:21; we are not to swear ”by Heaven, nor by the Earth, nor by any other oath" our yes meaning yes, and our no meaning no (cf. James 5:12). Saint Ignatius knew Sacred Scripture and the Almighty God who is the Primary Author, deserving respect.
The three positives requirements Saint Ignatius gives us for keeping the Second Commandment are as follows:
First, we are only to swear when what we swear is true. The link between swearing an oath and invoking God to witness the truth of our words is recognized in the Letter to the Hebrews 6:16 which teaches us that “men swear by one greater than themselves: and an oath for confirmation is the end of all their controversy.” God is the true and faithful witness among us (cf. Jeremiah 42:5).
Second, we are only to swear when what we swear is with necessity. If we are so trustworthy that people believe us without any recourse to an oath all the better. In courts of law and solemn contracts oaths show the depths of our sincerity. So we pledge to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help us God. The raising of our hand to Heaven (and the God of Heaven) when taking an oath has basis in Scripture (cf. Genesis 14:22; Exodus 6:8; Deuteronomy 32:40; Ezekiel 20:5).
Third, we are to only swear with reverence. Our reverence extends not only to God who is the Just Judge, the way, the truth, and the life, but also to our neighbors who have a right to the truth and to ourselves who are likewise made for the truth.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr