The name of God is so holy that Moses was given the second commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,” and Jesus praised His Father’s Name in the most important prayer He taught us. Honoring this commandment has profound effects not only on our spiritual life, but also on our mental and emotional well-being.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that when teens and young adults are exposed to the extreme vulgarity that pervades much of our music, movies, tv shows, books, and even speech, that they become angry or depressed themselves. Many adults have been angry or depressed for so long they don’t remember when that feeling began. Taking the Lord’s Name in vain is a serious sin that harms the soul. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, a doctor of the Church, serious sin also dulls the intellect. According to neuroscientists, repeated actions and exposure to intense emotional states rewire our brains and reinforce those habits. So when young people listen to angry music and think they feel better because the music expresses their feelings, what is actually happening is they have remapped their brains and anger has now become a more comfortable emotion.
There is a way out of this morass. Jesus Himself guides the way: “Hallowed be Thy Name.” Praising the Name of God not only fulfills our obligation to Him, it brings us to the center of His Divine Heart. Praising Him elevates our own souls because it actually fills us with His joy.
Anyone who has attended a Charismatic Conference or Mass understands the power of praise music and its ability to touch us profoundly. For those who are introverts or are struggling with depression or anxiety, Gregorian Chant is profoundly healing. Neuroscientists have demonstrated that when engaged in Chant, the entire brain lights up on imaging machines. Meditating on the Rosary in Chant has been shown to remap and heal the brain.
Praising the Holy Name of God brings us innumerable blessings. We increase in our own humility – the understanding of who God is as Our Creator and who we are as the created. As our souls marvel at His glory, our faith increases and our fears disperse. We increase in gratitude; we change our focus from ourselves and our list of wants, to Him and the many gifts and mercies He has already bestowed on us. His hope within us increases, which in turn increases our generosity toward others and expands our capacity to give and receive love.
Praise Him and He meets us where we are, as we are. Whenever we find ourselves still struggling with attaining peace and joy, then we start with a deep examination of conscience, forgive others from our heart, and go to Confession. We need not have any fear of being rejected because that won’t happen. When Jesus hung on the cross, He saw every sin that each of us would ever commit. He saw each one of us at our ugliest moments and He loved us so much even in those moments that He chose to die; He died for me and He died for you. He delights in forgiving you. He delights in filling you with His Peace. The journey to the center of His Divine Heart starts with a single step. Praise His Holy Name with a sincere heart and He will fill you with His abundant joy.
Here are some Praise Songs you may enjoy:
Here are some Gregorian Chants you may enjoy:
