The F- word.
I hate it. I always tell the story of an Irish priest in Lourdes who warned me never to use that word because it is the devil's favorite - he never explained why it was his favorite, but he gave me a severe penance for using it.
Today it is almost common usage - even by people who wear lots of amulets and sacramentals to ward off the devil, even those who drench themselves in old-ritual-blessed holy water and sprinkle exorcism salt around their house and yard. Or - worry about tunnels in Switzerland. Yet they speak the devil's language.
I even hear little kids use it - really little kids, "Oh - that's so f-ing cool!" Where did they learn that sort of language? Many picked it up at home. Even moms and dads use the word and make allusions to what it means as they constantly converse on their phones, in front of their kids as they chauffeur them to and from their latest competitive activity.
Immodest dress, immodest speech - and one expects to be chaste and pure, or even Christian? You think?
"Filthy talk makes us feel comfortable with filthy action. But the one who knows how to control the tongue is prepared to resist the attacks of lust." - Saint Clement of Alexandria
“The man of impure speech is a person whose lips are but an opening and a supply pipe which hell uses to vomit its impurities upon the earth.” - Saint John Vianney
"What could be more out of keeping with our holy religion than impure language? It outrages God. It scandalizes our neighbor. Can a Christian really afford to occupy his mind with such horrible images; a Christian who has been sanctified by contact with the most adorable Body and Blood of Christ?" - Saint John Vianney
O men, how long will your hearts be closed, will you love what is futile and seek what is false? - Ps 4
I hate that word as well and cringe whenever I hear it used. I am guilty of using it though ... on very rare occasions though ... very rare. I am praying though ...
ReplyDeleteThere is no escaping it. It is used almost everywhere. It's considered normal language now. I find it sad that in every news story online, in the comments it is used over and over. It used to be that there was a moderator who would delete those comments. No more.
ReplyDeleteEvery single day I hear the F word at work. I HATE IT. I work in a supposedly professional environment (engineering/consulting) and I NEVER expected to be subjected to this language in such a work place. The same people that use this word also talk about the Lord often - but not in the way He wants to be spoken of. I am beginning to be convinced I was sent there to pray for these people and their salvation.
ReplyDeleteI should add that because I am exposed to this language every day I am also experiencing Tourettes-like events in my mind where I can't help but think these words. It is MOST distressing!!!
DeleteI can relate sadly. Let's keep praying.
DeleteI think the devil loves the word because his greatest assault is against the family and the f word is the complete degradation of marital love. The Bible used to describe marital relations as to "know" the beloved as in, Abraham "knew" Sarah and conceived Isaac. But there is no knowing with the f word; only using the other as an object. The devil wants to make objects out of all relations so that there is nothing but using and abusing. I don't use profanities, but this makes me even more diligent to avoid them. Thanks, Terry. Perhaps a good response would be to make the sign of the cross in atonement whenever you hear the word. Actually, that might suppress it among those around you. If someone says, "I'm sorry." you can reply (as one woman I read about did), "God knows that."
ReplyDeleteIf I crossed myself at work every time I heard the word I'd be crossing myself more times a day than if I went to Mass 3 times in a day. They'd also find a way to terminate/fire me. Hmmm...
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