Curt Emich
wrote:
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Hello,
- I have sometimes wondered why it is taboo to name
your child Jesus in most of the Christianized
world?
In most Hispanic countries it's OK.
- Do
you have any insights into why things turned out this way?
Thanks,
Curt Emich
Annapolis, Maryland
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{
Why is it taboo to name your child Jesus in most
of the Christianized world? }
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Mary Ann replied:
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Hi Curt,
The Spanish have always had a very incarnational approach to the faith,
thanks be to God, and a very familiar way with God.
You might say that
we do name our children after Jesus — Joshua is a variant of His Name.
Mary Ann
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John replied:
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Hi Curt,
Thanks for the question.
Hebrew has no vowels. Hence the Hebrew consonants that spell out Joshua
are identical to those that spell out Jesus. The Hebrew name, acy could
be pronounced:
- Yeshua
- Yashua, or
- Yoshua.
Jesus, comes from the Hellenized (Greek) name, Iesou.
That said, I don't know that it is accurate to say Westernized cultures don't use
the name.
Spanish-speaking countries are indeed part of Western Culture.
- Did you mean Anglicized countries?
John D.
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Curt replied:
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HI John,
Yes, I meant most of the
Christianized world with the exception of the Hispanics, who are obviously part
of the Christianized world.
Thanks for the answer!
Curt
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Fr. Nick replied:
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Dear Curt,
Thanks for the question. The answer is simple. There is no prohibition
to naming your child Jesus. In the Hispanic cultures it is pronounced Hey-zeus.
If the family feels it is an appropriate name, they are free to name their
child Jesus.
This would be similar to a Muslim family naming their child Muhammad.
Fr. Nick
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Curt replied:
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Hi Fr. Nick,
Thanks for the reply!
Curt
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