Second Commandment

Objectives:1. Know the 2nd Commandment2. Differentiate the two types of oaths3. Define the term “vow”4. List the 4 kinds of prayer and

explain each

What is commanded

• You Shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

• Vain=uselessly

• Regulates our conversations with God

God’s Name

• We show respect by the way we address a person:– Your Holiness– Mr. President– Sir

• This pertains especially to God• Because of this, God greatly exalted him and

bestowed on him the name that is above every name,10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,.. Phil 2:9

Oaths

• Calling on the Divine Name to witness to the truth

• Can only be taken in truth, judgment, and justice– Truth: not to support a lie– Judgment: only when necessary not trivially– Justice: must be for something morally good

• Do not use in unimportant matters– Don’t trivialize God’s name

Two types of Oaths

• Promissory: calling on God to witness what I intend in the future

• Assertory: Calling on God to witness the truth of what is being said

Vows

• An oath is made to another person with God as witness

• A vow is a promise to God with others as witness– Commitment to do what is vowed– Recognition of serious obligation– Free will or choice

• Religious life, marriage etc..

Sins against the 2nd commandment

• Blasphemy– Intrinsically evil act– Speaking contemptuously of God or Mary or

the Saints– Old Testament this was punished by DEATH

• Ridicule of the Faith– Sarcastic remarks– Ridiculous caricatures– Media today?

What is prayer?

• Prayer is our response to God’s call– The LORD God then called to the man and asked

him, "Where are you?" (Gn. 3:9)– When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it

more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am." (Ex. 3:4)

– The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am.“ (1Sam.3:4)

• It is always God who initiates prayer.– We respond to His call

The definition of prayer then:

• Talking to God

• Raising our hearts and minds to God in response to His call

When can I be certain my prayer will be answered?

• I ask the Father in the Name of Jesus• I seek what is good for my salvation• I pray with:

– Perseverance• Don’t stop

– Humility• Not my will but God’s be done

– Confidence• Trust that God will hear and respond

• I pray in a state of grace or to return to such

Expressions of Prayer

• Vocal: a conversation interior/exterior – Form prayer: Hail Mary, Glory Be etc..– Spontaneous: one person to another

• Meditation: prayer of understanding– Thinking about some aspect of your relationship w/

God– Requires preparation or planning

• Contemplation: prayer of resting in God’s presence– No words are needed. One close friend to another

Forms of Prayer

• Adoration– Praise God– Worshiping God for His greatness

• Thanksgiving– Thanking God for the answer to a prayer– Thanking God for the many gifts we receive

• Even the desire to pray and thank Him

• Contrition– Sorrow for our sins– Sorrow for the sins of others

• Petition– Asking what we need for our salvation– Material needs

• Must be in accord with our salvation or we will not get it!!

Prayer Forms

Highest form of prayer = the Eucharist

Morning offering

Night Prayers: Rosary?

Grace before meals

Daily Mass?

Liturgy of the Hours

Difficulties in Prayer

• Distractions– Quiet place; Church, your room, outside

• Indifference– Be resolute – Set times. Stick to them.

• Dryness– Persevere– Trust God ask for His help– Holy Spirit