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Traditional Catholic Faith => Anσnymσus Posts Allowed => Topic started by: Änσnymσus on June 29, 2025, 08:06:40 PM

Title: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 29, 2025, 08:06:40 PM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit? 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Giovanni Berto on June 29, 2025, 08:44:57 PM
Watch yourself and pray. Think beforehand of words to use in the place of bad words. Otherwise, you'll always say the same ugly words without thinking.
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 29, 2025, 09:51:44 PM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit?
Pray and self awareness, it takes time to break habits.

Also "fr" ripperger :facepalm:
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 29, 2025, 10:28:39 PM
Every time you find yourself swearing, pray the Divine Praises. Bite your tongue or pinch yourself. Swearing is a habit. Most likely you’ve grown up around someone with the habit, or perhaps you live or work with people who do it. Maybe keep a bit of soap on your person and taste it every time you find yourself swearing. In my family, my mother used to make us kiss the top of the dish soap bottle if we used bad language. I didn’t hear any swear words until I got started school. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 29, 2025, 10:36:24 PM
Avoid using even the “replacement” words, like “dang”, “shoot”, “gosh”, etc. I never had a problem with cursing, but I always used the replacement words until I realized that is just didn’t build virtue and wasn’t prudent.
Also, if you’re anything like me, use funny phrases and expressions if you catch yourself almost cursing. Instead of bad language, something like “holy cabooses!” or “muffidy muff!” might lighten the mood. And “what the muffins?” is always funny to say out loud 😂
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: FarmerWife on June 29, 2025, 11:59:54 PM
Avoid using even the “replacement” words, like “dang”, “shoot”, “gosh”, etc. I never had a problem with cursing, but I always used the replacement words until I realized that is just didn’t build virtue and wasn’t prudent.
Also, if you’re anything like me, use funny phrases and expressions if you catch yourself almost cursing. Instead of bad language, something like “holy cabooses!” or “muffidy muff!” might lighten the mood. And “what the muffins?” is always funny to say out loud 😂
The second half of what you said is contradictory. How is saying 'what the muffins' not the same as the "replacement" words? 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 12:19:26 AM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit?
Admittedly, I grew up around parents that learned English in 1990s New York City. Very unglamorous, working-class, pre-Giuliani NYC. Women cursing is nothing strange to me. Both my parents curse like sailors. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: C6H12O6 on June 30, 2025, 12:24:22 AM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit?
Your profanity is due to your feminism. Without manifesting feminism, you wouldn't have such a foul mouth. Rid yourself of your affliction. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 04:21:58 AM
Just .... speak ..... more ..... slowly. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 07:24:36 AM
Avoid using even the “replacement” words, like “dang”, “shoot”, “gosh”, etc. I never had a problem with cursing, but I always used the replacement words until I realized that is just didn’t build virtue and wasn’t prudent.
OP here. Yes, the sermon mentioned using words like that, and how they were replacements for the more objectionable words. Ideally, I'd like to not use those as well.
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 07:27:59 AM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit?
Talking obscenities is a terrible and vulgar thing and *at first* a terribly difficult habit to break. I say *at first* because after only a short time it becomes less and less difficult, but ya gotta start now, you need to start *continually* watching your mouth from this moment on. Do this, and you will find it's like anything else, you *will* break the evil habit.   

If you use God's name in vain at all, it is most important for you to stop doing that immediately, never do that ever again no matter what because *that* is a mortal sin. 

It's not a mortal sin to occasionally say the typical cuss words, but if (God forbid) you were to have a car accident, your last words should be "Blessed Mother" or "Holy God" or "My Jesus" or..... you get the idea, so you do not want your last words to be "oh f___" or anything like that - so get out of the habit starting right now. 

Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not so much as be named among you, as becometh saints:  4 Or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility, which is to no purpose; but rather giving of thanks.

   
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 07:56:30 AM
If you use God's name in vain at all, it is most important for you to stop doing that immediately, never do that ever again no matter what because *that* is a mortal sin.
Is saying "Oh my God" a mortal sin? 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: WorldsAway on June 30, 2025, 07:59:57 AM

If you use God's name in vain at all, it is most important for you to stop doing that immediately, never do that ever again no matter what because *that* is a mortal sin.
I agree that OP should stop using God's name in vain immediately (if she is doing that), but most usages of "Oh my God" are venial sins unless used with malice or contempt towards God. Other variations probably constitute grave matter, like when people put the "f bomb" in the middle of our Lord's name. That is the worst :mad:
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 09:11:40 AM
I agree that OP should stop using God's name in vain immediately (if she is doing that), but most usages of "Oh my God" are venial sins unless used with malice or contempt towards God. Other variations probably constitute grave matter, like when people put the "f bomb" in the middle of our Lord's name. That is the worst :mad:
OP here. Thankfully, I don't take the Lord's name in vain. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 09:37:20 AM
OP here. Thankfully, I don't take the Lord's name in vain.
Yeah, you'll see, it is nothing like quitting smoking or giving up sweets etc., but it is a bad habit that needs to be done away with.

Years ago, all the guys I worked with cussed so bad that they'd put sailors and truck drivers to shame, which made it easy for me to swear as bad as them without even thinking about it. I am glad I gave that up - aside from the rare, occasional cuss word I say to myself.



 
  
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Godefroy on June 30, 2025, 09:48:06 AM
During a retreat a priest told us of a time when he and 3 seminarians were in a car that swerved of the road into a tree. 

We asked him what his last words were as he was certain he was going to die? 

We all expected something like "Into thine arms I commend my spirit". 

He was embarrassed to say it was a cuss word. 

We all know that we gain a full indulgence for pronouncing certain words or phrases at the moment of our death. 

We can certainly know that there are none to be gained when pronouncing a cuss word. 

The time to clean one's vocabulary is now. It may just save your soul
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Matthew on June 30, 2025, 11:20:35 AM
I personally don't mind cuss words, though they are most unbecoming from a woman's mouth.

What I am vehemently against, however, is blasphemy. If you're going to speak about God or Jesus Christ, let it be in prayer. The Blessed Lord is not a swear word, or part of one!

What pisses me off is when videos will censor f***, sh***, etc. but then leave the blasphemies in! As if the cuss words (an imperfection?) are a bigger deal than a mortal sin against the 2nd Commandment!
TOTALLY BACKWARDS. You can tell satan is in the drivers' seat.

It's getting hard to watch modern movies, independent films, otherwise good/interesting youtube channels, etc. because EVERYONE DOES IT now. Even young ladies fall into this trap. It's revolting.

No one says "damn" anymore -- they feel the need to use (what they consider to be) the "full version" which involves mixing in the Most Holy Name of God. Saying "damn" feels incomplete to them now, totally worthless.

"Make 'Damn' great again!"
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Ladislaus on June 30, 2025, 11:26:57 AM
I actually think it's done on purpose, where they are almost required by some Luciferian contract to put some blasphemous cuss-word into a moive, using either God or Jesus Christ.
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 03:51:07 PM
Is saying "Oh my God" a mortal sin?
I don't say this outload but sometimes it happens as an intrusive thought or I remember a time when someone else said it or i read omg and read it the bad way... This habit is not good but it's difficult to break.
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: WorldsAway on June 30, 2025, 03:56:56 PM
I actually think it's done on purpose, where they are almost required by some Luciferian contract to put some blasphemous cuss-word into a moive, using either God or Jesus Christ.
Probably for programming as well. More  people than ever going about defiling Our Lord's name in the most terrible ways daily. Satan and his children must be delighted
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on June 30, 2025, 05:11:43 PM
The second half of what you said is contradictory. How is saying 'what the muffins' not the same as the "replacement" words?
Because it’s lighthearted and utterly meaningless, whereas replacement words are designed to take the place of profanity and make it less profane. “What the muffins” is simply an expression, and most expressions can be harmless, just like this one.
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: FarmerWife on June 30, 2025, 07:43:53 PM
Because it’s lighthearted and utterly meaningless, whereas replacement words are designed to take the place of profanity and make it less profane. “What the muffins” is simply an expression, and most expressions can be harmless, just like this one.
'What the muffins', has 'muffins' replacing what would be the curse word. I would consider 'muffins' to be a replacement word. Same with holy 'cabooses'. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 01, 2025, 06:36:43 AM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit?
Just stop. There, fixed. Jokes. If you can't catch yourself before you start cussing, then maybe try to figure out what triggers you to cuss? Is it anger? Is it just not caring what you say? And what about children and young people who overhear you cussing in public or with family? You are setting a bad example and leading them down a road of sin. And cussing makes you look like another low IQ trashy person. Not a Catholic. 

I used to cuss a lot and thought nothing of it before I got serious about the faith. So I became conscious of everything that came out of my mouth so I would stop cussing. You should too. Try practicing speaking less. Then not as much diarrhea will come out of your mouth.
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 01, 2025, 08:29:48 AM
Try practicing speaking less.
OP here. Thanks, that is an excellent idea. 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Ladislaus on July 01, 2025, 07:25:36 PM
I struggle a lot with this. I've just listened to Fr. Ripperger's talk on language, and it really brought home how awful this habit is, especially for a woman (which I am). Other than mentioning it in confession, how can I rid myself of this habit?

There are different degrees of "language" / "profanity".  Blasphemous types of profanity should be avoided with extraordinary effort.  Since these are habits, and often engaged in unconsciously, one technique I've heard recommended is to wear a rubber band on your wrist, and every time you use profanity, you'd snap the rubber band so that it inflicts some pain, as a method of negative reinforcement to break a habit ... and I've also heard of the donation jar where you'd have to put some discretionary spending money as a fine.

As for the "scatalogical" cuss words, they're more vulgarity than direct offenses against religion, and are more in the nature of, say, someone walking around flatulating in front of others.  It's more unbecoming, contrary to the dignity of a Christian, etc. ... perhaps moreso for a woman than a man, for some reason, perhaps because women are supposed to be less crude, since crudeness conflicts more with the feminine than the masculine.  For those words too, the above approaches might help as well.

Finally, if the scenarios in which you use these words are spontaneous expressions of frustration, try to come up with substitutes.  Instead of using the typical, come up with something else that's less vulgar that you can get in the habit of using and thereby displacing or replacing the previous habit.  You stub your toe and mutter a scatalogical term.  That's not really an act of the will, except to have allowed the habit to form in the first place perhaps, nor is it grave matter, or even venial sin really ... just crudeness, which falls more into the category of imperfection.  I know that if I hurt myself accidentally, smashing a finger, etc., I might respond with "son of a ..." (and not finish the rest).  Of course, if others hear it, they can fill in the blank, as it were, but it's less crude, because it could be anything, and perhaps you could even say, "son of a codfish" or something dumb like that.  And "son of a gun" is actually an attempt at substitution for the more crude form.  It's why people replaced damn with "darn", others God with "Gosh".  Now, that latter substitution I do not care for since it's still an obvious mangling of God's name ... so I would avoid that.  LOL ... my dad, with his accent used to say, "son of a betch" ... so I would sometimes half-humorously use that.  Or, one time he in his anger calls us "little shits", and then immediately amended it and said "little chiefs", so we would joke later about how he had pretended to have said "chiefs", even though the expression was nonsensical ... so we would jokingly use "chief" as a quasi-humorous substitute "cuss-word".

But "son of a ..." or "son of a gun", or some other ridiculous exclamation that you get in the habit of using might displace the original more vulgar habit.  Sometimes it takes a habit to overcome another habit, since it's not a behavior that you consciously engage in and therefore might be incapable of consciously preventing.

Ideally, one would get to a point (and, again, it's "pain" scenarios that tend to elicit these responses), or watching some kind of tragedy taking place like your car getting smashed by a tree, etc. ... where if you're close to God, you see God in everything.  So if I clobber my thumb with a hammer, I might raise my mind to God and accept the pain with love in reparation for my sins, etc.  That would be at a higher level, though, and would require a constant awareness of God's presence so that you think of Him out of habit no matter what happens, even if it comes on suddenly.  That's the idea, so that, as per the car accident someone cited, in terms of the last words the person uttered, you might instead think of God.

So perhaps, to sum up:

1) think of some negative reinforcement to combat the habit (rubber band snapping, etc.)
2) find less-vulgar substitute words and being trying to use them in situations where you might have theretofore used a vulgar form
3) practice a constant awareness of God's Presence, so that such awareness becomes habitual and you see Him in everything, even sudden calamities
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Seraphina on July 01, 2025, 11:13:29 PM
Avoid using even the “replacement” words, like “dang”, “shoot”, “gosh”, etc. I never had a problem with cursing, but I always used the replacement words until I realized that is just didn’t build virtue and wasn’t prudent.
Also, if you’re anything like me, use funny phrases and expressions if you catch yourself almost cursing. Instead of bad language, something like “holy cabooses!” or “muffidy muff!” might lighten the mood. And “what the muffins?” is always funny to say out loud 😂
It wasn’t a curse, just rude, but my sister grade class were always telling each other to “shut up.” Our teacher got tired of hearing it and banned the expression. One day she told us anyone who said it would receive a recess detention after accuмulating seven shut ups and few other rude expressions. We’d spend the recess detentions cleaning the classroom accompanied by the Archies song, Sugar, Sugar. Instead of shut up, we had to call out “BANANAS!” 
I don’t think that’d work in a sixth grade class today, the kids grow up too fast, but it worked back in 1969. Thank you, Miss Kelly, and by the end of the year, Mrs. Woods. She got married over Spring break! 
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 15, 2025, 08:14:46 PM
I actually think it's done on purpose, where they are almost required by some Luciferian contract to put some blasphemous cuss-word into a moive, using either God or Jesus Christ.
Watched the new Superman movie today with my caregiving client and while watching the movie I remembered these posts. So much blasphemous and irreverent language is used. No wonder so many non-Catholics use the name of God irreverently when cinema spews this foul language.  What bugged me most about the movie was at the end of the film they played this Iggy Pop song about being a punk rocker (admittedly there is a humorous aspect how Superman liked punk rock in his youth so the song choice is a little clever) but there's a lyric in that song that's very demonic.
  
"See me die on Bleecker Street
I'm bored with being god
See me sneering in my car
I'm driving to my star"

diabolical nonsense!


On that note, Lad, how do you feel about saying Oh my goodness instead of Oh my Gosh?
Also, if you have a worldly work acquaintance or relative who said our Lord's name in vain, how would you correct them? 

Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 16, 2025, 09:37:02 AM
My family is from Brooklyn where even compliments and niceties had bad words in them. 
It was really hard for me , especially talking with my brother to not fall into old patterns.

I never used blasphemies but the words were course and hard to hear, especially on a female.

For years it was my #1 confessional sin and so repetitive that it got to the point where the priest thought I wasn't taking it seriously, which maybe I wasn't. 

In the back of my mind I always questioned if it was really even a sin, or maybe just a vulgar habit I could keep getting away with.

A traditional priest eventually told me that my language revealed what the state of my heart was, and that got me.
I hated to think that my heart was that course and ugly and how could Jesus reside in communion, even for a moment in that dirty heart- ugh!

I started taking it VERY seriously then, and I am much better now, almost cured except for rare instances ( I think it will always be a weakness for me ).
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 16, 2025, 09:39:55 AM
My family is from Brooklyn where even compliments and niceties had bad words in them.
It was really hard for me , especially talking with my brother to not fall into old patterns.

I never used blasphemies but the words were course and hard to hear, especially on a female.

For years it was my #1 confessional sin and so repetitive that it got to the point where the priest thought I wasn't taking it seriously, which maybe I wasn't.

In the back of my mind I always questioned if it was really even a sin, or maybe just a vulgar habit I could keep getting away with.

A traditional priest eventually told me that my language revealed what the state of my heart was, and that got me.
I hated to think that my heart was that coarse and ugly and how could Jesus reside in communion, even for a moment in that dirty heart- ugh!

I started taking it VERY seriously then, and I am much better now, almost cured except for rare instances ( I think it will always be a weakness for me ).
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 16, 2025, 09:40:24 AM
My family is from Brooklyn where even compliments and niceties had bad words in them.
It was really hard for me , especially talking with my brother to not fall into old patterns.

I never used blasphemies but the words were coarse and hard to hear, especially on a female.

For years it was my #1 confessional sin and so repetitive that it got to the point where the priest thought I wasn't taking it seriously, which maybe I wasn't.

In the back of my mind I always questioned if it was really even a sin, or maybe just a vulgar habit I could keep getting away with.

A traditional priest eventually told me that my language revealed what the state of my heart was, and that got me.
I hated to think that my heart was that course and ugly and how could Jesus reside in communion, even for a moment in that dirty heart- ugh!

I started taking it VERY seriously then, and I am much better now, almost cured except for rare instances ( I think it will always be a weakness for me ).
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: josefamenendez on July 16, 2025, 09:41:40 AM
That was me above.
Please delete the last two posts as I can't- they were accidents
Title: Re: How to stop using profanity?
Post by: Änσnymσus on July 16, 2025, 09:53:52 AM
It could be complete coincidence but since Trump's on camera f-bomb the use of likewise profanity in the workplace has increased from 0 to daily among 2 male co-workers.  I find it shocking since it's not just once but every 3rd word when they get annoyed.  Neither of them seem to be conservative or MAGA types at all, rather liberals or libertarians.