Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 6th 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 2165.
While the Second Commandment is specifically about the Holy Name of God, related to the Holy Name of God are the names of His adopted children.
In Baptism we receive our name in the Church. Part of the Rite of Baptism of Children includes the question: “What name have you given your child?” The giving of a name is significant. God charges Adam to name the creatures (cf. Genesis 2:19–20). God reveals His Name to Moses (cf. Exodus 3:14). Sometimes we are named after family members (e.g. my grandfathers William John and Arthur Patchen). Most people only think of the King of the Round Table when they hear the name “Arthur” but I think of my grandfather and the Blessed Arthur Bell, whose name in religion was Francis, OFM, who was martyred at Tyburn in London (+11 December, 1643) “guilty” of being a Catholic Priest.
Those who are responsible for ensuring that the given name is a Christian name are the parents, the God-parents, and the priest. This passage from the Catechism complements and clarifies what is found in the 1983 Code of Canon Law, canon 855: “Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to take care that a name foreign to Christian sensibility is not given.” While Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12) to give the name “Lucifer” would be “foreign to Christian sensibility” insofar as this is a name for the devil. Note should be made that the naming of the child is not to be left to the whim of the parents or the God-parents or the priest. Collaboratively the name(s) should be considered. Variations of the name of Our Lady include not only Mary, but Marie, Maria, Pilar, Victoria, Rosario… Those looking to name a child after Saint John Paul II might do so directly, or obliquely using his baptismal names Karl Josef (Charles Joseph, Carlos Jose) or his childhood nickname “Lolek.” I had classmates who were named after the Theological Virtues of “Faith” and “Hope”
Two reasons given for having a saint’s name include having a model of charity and the assurance of prayer. As a models of charity we can consider just what our patron saints would do in our shoes (e.g. what would Saint John the Evangelist, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney do in my situation???). The more we know our patron saints the better they will serve as role models. As patrons, we are able to count on the intercessory prayers of our heavenly patrons. The aforementioned patron saints have a responsibility to pray for us that we cooperate with God’s grace, so as to follow their lead to Heaven.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr