Morals of the Church
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Article — Marc, Institutiones Morales

ARTICLE I: On the Vain Usurpation of the Divine Name

¶595.
  1. DEFINITION. Vain usurpation of the divine name is every appellation of the name either of God or of Our Lord Jesus Christ, made without just cause, or without due reverence.

But this is accustomed to happen from a threefold cause: from impatience, from admiration, from a superfluous manner or custom of speaking. But if with due reverence, and by way of invocation, the name of God is usurped, it is a good and meritorious act.

PRINCIPLES. I. Vain usurpation of the name of God is a sin against religion. For in it the holy and terrible name of God is held like a profane thing. Whence (Exod., 20, 7) it is commanded: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

II. Nevertheless, appellation of this sort, of itself, does not exceed venial fault. For in it grave offense of the divine majesty does not appear. But often it is free of fault, on account of inadvertence.

Hence: 1. The vain usurpation of the names of the Saints, or of the words of Sacred Scripture, is a sin of the same species against religion, because the irreverence brought upon the Saints redounds upon God.

  1. In anger to usurp the demon without imprecation is not of itself a sin against religion, because no reverence is due to him. Yet assiduous naming of him does not befit a Christian, and by reason of scandal can be grave, if namely clerics or religious do this (III, 131, 11).

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