Today being the Memorial for The Holy Name of Jesus I was thinking about my many years as an atheist how my favorite curse words were all religious in nature. As an atheist to be consistent when blaspheming I should have used words and phrases that were sacred to me. A hammered finger should have received an exclaim of "Charles Darwin", getting cut off on the freeway should have elicited "Primordial Soup!", other incidents perhaps "millions and millions of years" in my best Carl Sagan accent. G.K. Chesterton already wrote on this phenomenon in Heretics.
Blasphemy is an artistic effect, because blasphemy depends upon a philosophic conviction. Blasphemy depends upon belief and is fading with it. If any one doubts this, let him sit down seriously and try to think blasphemous thoughts about Thor. I think his family will find him at the end of the day in a state of some exhaustion.
Wikipedia says this about the memorial.
The veneration of the Holy Name was encouraged by the example of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who apostrophized it in many sermons. But the greatest promoters of this devotion were St. Bernardino of Siena and his follower St. John Capistrano. "They carried with them on their missions in the turbulent cities of Italy a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet, wherewith they blessed the sick and wrought great miracles. At the close of their sermons they exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves, to adore the Redeemer of mankind." (Catholic Encyclopedia) The practice of showing the monogram of Jesus over gates and above doors largely begins with their exhortations, which had an unorthodox air that brought Bernardino before the tribunal of Pope Martin V. But St. John Capistrano defended his master so successfully that the pope not only permitted the veneration of the Holy Name, but also assisted at a procession in which the holy monogram was carried. The tablet used by St. Bernardino is venerated at the basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli at Rome.
And of course there is this passage in Philippians 2:9.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Unless of course if you live in the Diocese of Orange.
9 comments
Blessed be his holy name.
My daughter uses for her swear word “traffic” which I think is great.
“primordial soup”? I like it as an expression! Even if you’re no longer an atheist, it would still be be fun to yell when you’re mad.
Heard one guy scream “Sa-cra-men-to Ca-li-forn-ia!” when he burned his hands. Still, once the hammer finds the thumb, the ol’ standbys still come to the front first thing. 🙂
Our main church has the old, traditional kneelers but they also have a new chapel that is in the Ministry Center which does not give you room to kneel. I always feel awkward when I go to Mass at the Chapel. It just doesn’t feel right, not to kneel before the Lord.
Although, we are fortunate to have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel. It’s wonderful!
Using Chesterton’s logic, the fact I shout, “Jesus Peace be upon him Christ,” when I am dealing with stupid people, means I believe in Allah and Jesus.
Perhaps, I am the first Muslimlic. A hybrid warrior destined to wage Jihadusade against the international forces of idiocy.
Or perhaps, Chesterton is simply wrong.
Holy Name devotions were a big Dominican apostolate at one time…wonder what happened?
Fr. Philip, OP
http://hancaquam.blogspot.com
My favorite swear word is “fishheads!” I also tend to say “God Bless It.” Probably somewhat sacreligeous, that second one. No wonder I spend so much time in confession.
Wonder what would happen if Political Correctness affects even our swearing? Will we now be required to say the names of all the founders of religions so no one will be offended/left out?
Ah, but you see, swearing may not indicate current beliefs, but the beliefs of previous generations.
Example : Catholics were persecuted in Elizabethan England, yet the censor apparently didn’t think it necessary to cut Catholic-derived oaths such as “s’blood”, “Odd’s bodkins” and ” by’r’Lady” in Shakespeare’s plays. The oaths survived the practice of the Faith for a while.
A sadder contemporary example: practice of the Faith has dwindled drastically in Quebec, yet it is still common for a Montrealer who hammers his thumb to exclaim (in French, of course), “Oh, tabernacle !”