Our Readers frequently ask: What is blasphemy and how do we act toward blasphemers? Fr Marcin Kostka FSSP brings us closer to this problem.
We frequently associate blasphemy with utilizing obscene words. Nothing more wrong. Speaking obscene words is simply a specified vulgarity, which is frequently an expression of deficiency of self-control or individual culture.
But the blasphemy which God's second commandment forbids is simply a grave sin, which involves speaking against God – internally or externally – the words of hatred, reproaches, challenges; it is to talk sick of God, to disrespect him in words, to abuse God's name (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2148). Let us always remember that Satan is the first blasphemer.
If the vulgar words spoken by man are directed against God, they become blasphemy. But blasphemous can besides prove to be mocking, ironic, mocking, disrespecting. As blasphemy many theologians realize not only the word insulting God, but besides the abusive act or thought.
The Second Commandment of the Decalogue commands man to respect God’s Name and to treat the individual of God himself with boy - fear and reverence. God’s name can always be utilized in talking about God and in prayer. God’s Word powerfully forbids utilizing God’s name recklessly or scornfully. Nor should he be utilized to confirm false promises.
Types of blasphemy
Blasphemy, according to the Church Encyclopedia, can be shared:
- According to the intention – erstwhile the blasphemer clearly wants to insult God. specified blasphemy is called Satanic. erstwhile individual speaks blasphemously with attention, but without the thought of insulting God, for example, he is mockingly speaking about saints or about worshiping God, knowing well the meaning of words, we are talking about side-by-side blasphemy.
- According to the manner—blasphemy either is simply committed in thought, as the Scriptures say, He said to the fool in his heart, There is no God (cf. Ps. 53), and this will be the blasphemy of the heart or of the inner; or it may be outward, full of word or deed. You can worship God with your heart, mouth, and deeds. Thus, he can besides be insulted.
- According to the meaning of blasphemous words, simple blasphemy as long as words express an insult to God; heretical, erstwhile words besides contain a denial of an article of faith, e.g. a denial of God's righteousness; profane blasphemy erstwhile God is asked to do evil; and abusive erstwhile the actual thing about God is expressed but with disrespect and a desire to insult him.
- According to the subject – blasphemy refers to God, the Blessed Virgin Mary or the saints.
Hate for holiness
The very essence of sin of blasphemy is hatred (angry, anger), which man directs toward God. We must remember that the sin of blasphemy frequently happens in people who are arrogant and hostile to God, who dare to turn against him. It is done by those who deliberately fight with God, and the tool of this fight is to mock the truths of faith, mock spiritual symbols, usage them in a provocative way. This sin is always a hatred for what is holy.
The prohibition of blasphemy besides extends to words against the Church of Christ, saints or holy things (CCC No. 2148). The intention of the blasphemer then is not only to offend God, but besides to harm the Church and weaken religion in the hearts of men. This is the interior anger of blasphemy. It defines an act against God’s power by rejecting it or assigning it to individual else.
Blasphemy is inherently a mortal sin. Christ says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (Mt 12:31–32). This sin, according to St.Hieronim and Augustine and Thomas of Aquina, is greater than unbelief, perjury, and murder. St. Ephrem says, "You dare open your mouth against the Almighty, whom the angels, the archangels, the cherubims, are watching! next day you will stand before His tribunal! present you dare to say that, and do not fear that the fire from heaven may fall upon you, and you fear not that the earth may part and consume you.
The degree of the sin of blasphemy comes primarily from the fact that a blasphemous man offends God himself. This kind of action is the complete other of worshiping his dignity and recognizing his actions. So blasphemy is simply a sign of godlessness. The Mosaic Law put them on the same level as the most severe punishment: Whoever blasphemes the Lord's name will be punished with death. The full community will stone him (Cep. 24:16).
Although it is by its nature a mortal sin, it can become a regular sin due to deficiency of thought, reasonableness, or by the violent agitation of passion. However, a believer should never put himself in specified danger.
Severe Punishment
Over the centuries, blasphemy has always been punished severely. simply mention the Old Testament's provisions ordering the stoning of blasphemers, or Christian laws to exclude blasphemers from believing communities. all blasphemer was obliged to dismiss blasphemy and to public penance: The blasphemer for 7 days in the penance robe shall stand in the Mass outside the church, and shall fast 7 days on bread and water. If he does not accept this penance, he will not enter the church, and after death he will not have a church ceremony (Breve Benedict XIV Ad execrabile).
In the German Empire and the laws of the Carolins, blasphemy was usually punished with death. In Polish legislation, the Code of Main and Correctional Punishments prescribed for blasphemy, according to the degree of crime, as the highest penalty: deprivation of all rights and exile to dense works in mines for the time from 12 to 15 years, and the lowest: imprisonment from 3 days to 3 weeks.
Perhaps 1 might ask: Why did the state deal with this sin, which should stay a individual substance between God and the blasphemer? due to the fact that blasphemy has always been considered a kind of social misconduct. erstwhile a number of individuals worship something like this, it becomes a public sin, which brings terrible punishments from God to the full country, where specified insults are impunityfully cast upon God. For God cannot mock himself (Gal 6:7).
Today, the reasoning of believers has changed greatly. inactive like a mantra sounds in our ears a slogan about freedom of speech. And it is in the name of free speech that any present dare to insult God and the values associated with him. And we Catholics are ordered to accept it and not resent it. Today, a recurring phenomenon – under the pretext of various "art forms" – is ridicule, mocking of convictions, religiousness and human piety. We may feel helpless toward specified attitudes, although we feel that this insulting of our spiritual feelings and beliefs has a dimension of blasphemy. There are religions that apply very serious sanctions against blasphemers (e.g. Islam), but we – Christians – are required to tolerate, to be knowing and to constantly turn the another cheek.
How to react?
How to respond to blasphemy, to mockery from God, the Cross, the Gospel? How to behave erstwhile individual or in our presence offends, insults, ridicules our spiritual feelings and beliefs, our spiritual values, our guides and shepherds in this way of sanctification. Can we stay silent erstwhile the Holy Name of God is insulted? Can we not respond to the evil, sin, ridicule of God that is spreading around us? Can we let ourselves believe that through our faith, religion and piety we are little valuable people, citizens, members of modern communities? After all, we have this Gospel consciousness that not only can we, but we should boast – to be arrogant that we are on the side of Christ, the Gospel fact and the way of life.
The Holy Father Benedict XVI calls for any disrespect to God, saints and spiritual symbols to encounter a decisive and peaceful reaction of the Christian community, taught and led by its shepherds.
That is, the first basic thing: 1 must not be indifferent to the blasphemy we witness, whether in our immediate surroundings or to those we hear about in the media, which is far from us. This is not about a crusade and force against those who engage in or talk blasphemy.
We Catholics have a work to fight against the blasphemy we are witnessing, through firm opposition, and even to go on trial with a charge of violating our values. We absolutely must not tolerate blasphemy in our presence. Strong opposition and action are needed. It takes the courage of faith, which we profess and civilian courage, to defend the values we powerfully profess.
Another thing is to pray for blasphemers for their repentance and conversion, and to pray for the sin of blasphemy. We request our sacrifice of prayer and renunciation, of our sufferings and of calling to Heaven for mercy.
Covenant with Mary, No 94, May – June 2017
