The Lord’s Name

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." Psalm 29:2

I love that there is power simply in speaking the name of Jesus. His name alone drives out demons. Tradition tells us that at Jesus’s circumcision when He was officially given His name, there was a multitude of angels singing and holding beautiful heavenly banners with the simple word “Jesus” on them. Saying Jesus’s name can even be its own prayer. How beautiful for when you can’t seem to think of anything else to pray. I remember in labor I had prayer mantras planned out- in early labor it started as “Jesus, I trust in You, have mercy on me a sinner,” and I would repeat this over and over during a contraction as I offered up the pain. Then as labor progressed, my prayer transitioned to just “Jesus I trust in You”, then towards the end, all I could get out was simply just “Jesus,” repeated over and over as I breathed and offered it up and tried to convince myself I wasn’t dying.

One of the things that bothers me a lot about the entertainment industry is the use of the Lord’s name in vain. It’s hard to watch a movie or a show these days, even children’s shows, where God’s name or Jesus’s name is used in vain. It pains me. Especially when knowing there is so much power in this name and the name of God is such a beautiful prayer. Our Lady has even brought up how grave of a sin this is in two separate Marian apparitions. In Laus specifically she says that there will be no paradise for those who take her Son’s name in vain without remorse. I read recently a wonderful idea that I’m going to share with you today. The idea was that anytime you hear the Lord’s name taken in vain, you can make reparation for it by saying a little prayer of devotion to God’s holy name. If it was the name of Jesus specifically used in vain, say “Jesus I love Your holy name.” If it was God’s name, you could simply pray “hallowed be Thy name” - a prayer He Himself taught us. I loved this idea and it has felt like I am actually doing something to counteract this sin whenever I hear it committed.

My challenge for you today is two fold- try saying a little prayer like this whenever you hear the name of the Lord taken in vain, and try incorporating God’s name into your prayer life, simply speaking the name of Jesus, and even the name of Mary, as a short but sweet prayer whenever you don’t know what to pray.

God, holy is Your name. Jesus, have mercy on us. Mary, I love your blessed name.

For a more humorous approach to this situation, check out this video…