The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 278 – The Second Commandment (2025)

Date: October 5, 2025

Episode Overview

Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through the Catechism’s teaching on the Second Commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Drawing on paragraphs 2142–2149, he explores the meaning, gravity, and personal implications of reverence for God’s name, shares insights from Church tradition (notably John Henry Cardinal Newman and St. Augustine), and offers personal stories to encourage a deeper respect for the sacred. The episode emphasizes how God entrusts Himself to us in revealing His name, calls for awe and fear toward God (in the biblical sense), and challenges the commonplace misuse of the divine name in modern culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Sacredness of God’s Name

• The Second Commandment as an Act of Intimacy

  • God’s revelation of His name is an act of profound trust and intimacy.
  • “The gift of a name belongs to the order of trust and intimacy. The Lord’s name is holy.” (01:51)
  • The Catechism underscores that the name should only be spoken to bless, praise, and glorify God.

• Misuse in Modern Culture

  • Fr. Mike observes the frequent and casual use (and abuse) of God’s name—even in everyday media and conversation.
  • “The name of our Lord is taken in virtually every context… The name of the Lord is so often blasphemed.” (00:54)

• Parallel with Other Cultures

  • Personal anecdote: In Cambodia (and other places), names are rarely shared, as to give one’s name is to become vulnerable—a concept echoed in spiritual traditions and exorcisms (13:54).
  • “To share your name with someone is to give them a certain kind of power over you… to share one’s name is in some way to share oneself.” (14:25)

Fear and Awe Before God: John Henry Cardinal Newman’s Insight

• Fr. Mike spotlights Cardinal Newman’s reflections on the necessity of fear and awe before the presence and name of God.
  • Quotable Moment:
    “Are these feelings of fear and awe Christian feelings or not? … They are the class of feelings we should have… if we literally had the sight of Almighty God. Therefore, they are the class of feelings which we shall have if we realize his presence. In proportion as we believe that he is present, we shall have them. And not to have them is not to realize, not to believe that he is present.” (05:55, cited from paragraph 2144; reiterated and discussed at 18:28)
• Fr. Mike connects this to worship and reverence in liturgy and adoration, questioning whether our lack of awe signals a lack of faith in God’s real presence.

Common Sins Against the Second Commandment

• Blasphemy (20:00)

  • Definition: Uttering against God inwardly or outwardly, in hatred, reproach, or defiance; misusing His name.
  • Includes language against Christ’s Church, saints, and sacred things.
  • “It is in itself a grave sin.”
  • Note: Blasphemy involves a willful choice, not merely passing thoughts.

• Profanity and Casual Use

  • Everyday exclamations (“Oh my God”, “Jesus Christ!”) are direct sins against the commandment if not spoken in prayer or reverence.
  • Fr. Mike shares a formative story from his childhood where teachers and a principal treated such language as a serious matter (26:52).

• Oaths and Promises Invoking God’s Name

  • Making false or casual oaths engages the honor, fidelity, and truthfulness of God.
  • “To be unfaithful to [a promise in God’s name] is to misuse God’s name and in some way to make God out to be a liar.” (22:20)
  • The second commandment forbids even the magical use of the divine name (e.g., in spells or curses), referencing Augustine’s caution (29:29).

The Christian’s Call: Witness, Reverence, and Honesty

• Bearing Witness Without Fear

  • “The faithful should bear witness to the Lord’s name by confessing the faith without giving way to fear.” (22:03)
  • Catechists and preachers must speak of Jesus with adoration and respect; danger lies in treating holy things as common.

• Honesty in Prayer vs. Blasphemy

  • Fr. Mike differentiates between honest lament before God (as in Job’s suffering) and intentional words of hatred/defiance.
  • “There is the being honest with the Lord… as opposed to words of defiance, words of reproach, words of hatred.” (33:52)
  • Prayer must always be “the honesty of a son to his beloved Father, even if I don’t understand.”

• Perpetual Reverence

  • Christians must approach the holy—especially the name of God—with utmost care, not only in speech but in all dealings (36:24).
  • “We always have to approach the Lord’s name as we approach He Himself.” (37:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cultural Difference:
  “In Cambodia… you might live next to someone for decades and not know their first name. To share your name with someone is to give them a certain kind of power over you.”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (13:54)

• On Awe and Faith:
  “In proportion as we believe that he is present, we shall have them [feelings of fear and awe]. And not to have them is not to realize, not to believe that he is present.”
  — John Henry Cardinal Newman, cited by Fr. Mike (18:50)

• On the Uniqueness of Christian Blasphemy:
  “Christianity is the only religion [my Bible college instructor] knew of where the adherents would actually use the name of their God as a curse word.”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (22:50)

• Personal Story on Reverence:
  “I’m so grateful… to a teacher named Mrs. Anderson. At one point… I said ‘Oh my God.’ And Mrs. Anderson said, ‘Mike, no, don’t say that. Get back to the back of the line.’… I’m so, so grateful to that teacher, so grateful to that sister, that principal, because it says here in paragraph 2146, the second commandment forbids the abuse of God’s name.”
  — Fr. Mike Schmitz (26:52)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 — Introduction: The Second Commandment and Modern Challenges
• 05:55 — The Sacredness of God’s Name and Cardinal Newman’s Insight
• 13:54 — The Power of a Name: Cultural Insights & Spiritual Application
• 18:28 — How Belief in God’s Presence Is Expressed in Awe
• 22:03 — Bearing Witness to Jesus’ Name Without Fear
• 22:50 — On the Unique Casualness of Christians with God’s Name
• 26:52 — Personal Story: Early Lesson in Reverence for God’s Name
• 29:29 — Misuse of God’s Name in Oaths and “Magic”
• 33:52 — Lament, Honesty, and the Boundaries of Reverent Prayer
• 36:24–37:04 — Concluding Challenge: Approaching God’s Name with Care

Summary Takeaways

• God’s name is holy and a privilege to know; to misuse it is a profound offense and always a grave matter.
• Reverence for God’s name reveals our understanding of His presence and our faith.
• Everyday speech, oaths, and promises should reflect awe for the sacred; blasphemy and casual misuse undermine the respect God deserves.
• Christians must stand out in the culture—bearing witness to the name of the Lord both in reverence and in fearless proclamation.
• Authenticity in prayer is vital, as long as it remains rooted in filial honesty, never in hatred or intentional defiance.

Fr. Mike closes by reminding listeners that the next episode will delve further into false oaths and other ways the Second Commandment is often broken.

For those wishing to deepen their Catholic faith and understanding, this episode serves as both a challenge and encouragement to treat God’s name—and all things holy—with the awe, fear, and love they truly deserve.