When I converted from Evangelical Protestantism to Catholicism, I made a lot of theological changes in my life. I expected this, but I didn’t expect that I would be making a lot of sociological changes, too. Every group has its own subculture, and that includes religions. Language is one of the biggest differences. How we talk about our faith, how we pray, and how we refer to God all differ. All this had to change for me when I became Catholic.
One thing I immediately noticed is the hesitation among Catholics to say the name Jesus. In my Evangelical world we referred to Jesus on a regular basis. But Catholics were different. They usually didn’t talk about Jesus directly, and even when they did they would often refer to him as “Our Lord” or “Christ.” I later found that this was a cultural tradition that originates from a reverence for the name of Jesus. In the same way you wouldn’t talk about the president by his first name, Catholics didn’t refer to the Lord by his name.
Although the intentions are good, this reticence to use the name of Jesus has its drawbacks—for the name of Jesus has power.
1 Comment
Hi Eric – I am new to your site. I really enjoyed this posting on Jesus’ name. I agree, as a cradle Catholic and as a child going to Catholic School we learn what we see and hear around us thus: “Our Lord Jesus Christ”. So I think that the way we refer to Jesus comes from imitating what we see. Your point of view about mentioning Jesus’ name in conversation with Catholics and other Christians (“I received Jesus at mass today”) would give each other a fresh and more understandable perspective to talk about our faith to each other.
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