Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 38-39
Written 1533 CE. Published 1548 CE.
Source: Ignatius of Loyola: The spiritual exercises and
selected works. Ed.: George E. Ganns. Paulist Press, NJ USA. 1991. p. 132-133
It is not permissible to swear, either by God or by a
creature, unless it is done with truth, necessity, and reverence.
With necessity, that is, to affirm with an oath, not just
any truth at all, but only one of some importance for the good of the soul, or
the body, or temporal interests. With reverence, that is, when in pronouncing
the name of our Creator and Lord one acts with consideration and manifests that
honor and reverence which are due to him. In an unnecessary oath, it is a more
serious sin to swear by the Creator than by a creature. However, we should
note, it is harder to swear by a creature with the proper truth, necessity, and
reverence than to swear by the Creator, for the following reasons.
The First. When we desire to swear by a creature, our very
desire to name a creature makes us less careful and cautious about speaking the
truth or affirming it with necessity than is the case when our urge is to name
the Lord and Creator of all things.
The Second. When we swear by a creature, it is not as easy
to maintain reverence and respect for the Creator as it is when we swear by the
name of the Creator and Lord himself. For our very desire to name God our Lord
carries with it greater respect and reverence than desire to name a creature.
Consequently, to swear by a creature is more permissible for persons
spiritually far advanced than for those less advanced. The perfect, through
constant contemplation and enlightenment of their understanding, more readily
consider, meditate, and contemplate God our Lord as being present in every
creature by his essence, presence, and power. Thus when they swear by a
creature, they are more able and better dis-posed than the imperfect to render
respect and reverence to their Creator and Lord.
The Third. To swear continually by a creature brings a risk
of idolatry that is greater in the imperfect than in the perfect.
