REVERENCE FOR GOD - VIRTUE FOR APRIL

God has made a special commandment out of the natural duty and obligation of respecting His name. That this should be necessary sometimes strikes us as very strange. God is a Father, Provider, Protector, Preserver of us all; He became Man and died for us on the Cross. He resides in the tabernacles of our churches to be near us, and He wanted to reward us all with a happiness that will never end.

On the basis of these things we are bound to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and will, and love is diametrically opposed to disrespect, irreverence, scorn and contempt in using a lover’s name. A good mother does not have to command her children not to abuse her name; a worthy father has never been known to have to implore his sons to speak respectfully of him. Yet such is the perversion of human nature in regard to God that He has to make a special commandment that His creatures may not take His name in vain.

The chief forms of irreverence against God are blasphemy, unnecessary swearing, perjury, cursing, and profanity. (Examination of Conscience for Adults by Rev. Donald F. Miller, C.SS.R)

Aspiration for the month:

Blessed be the name of God.

Prayer for the month:

My Lord and Saviour, who was reviled by the chief-priests, falsely accused by criminals, condemned by Pilate, mocked by the throngs and ridiculed by the soldiers who put Thee to death, let me atone by sorrow and penance for all my sins and the sins of the world against Thy holy name. Teach me to use the great gift of speech Thou hast bestowed upon me to honor and praise Thee for the rest of my life. Grant me the power to silence unholy language on the lips of others, and to teach those dependent upon me the reverent and holy use of Thy name. With all the mountains and hills I praise Thee; with all the seas and rivers I glorify Thee; with all the plants and animals I honor Thee as Lord and Master. May the heavens and earth be filled with Thy Glory; and may the lips of all men be taught to acclaim Thy good ness, Thy mercy, and Thy love.

Scriptures for the month:

You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. For the Lord will not leave unpunished him who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7
To the Kind of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I Timothy 1:17