A common exclamation nowadays is, "Oh my God." It's so common, that I have been known to use it. One time a woman who is a congregant in the Refuge Church, reprimanded me, for saying it. So if I am aware, I'll change it to, "Oh my gosh!"
I was going to explain to my censorious friend, that I was using an ejaculation. But if she didn't know what a prayer ejaculation was, then she really would think I was a blasphemous papist. After all, ejaculation is a release of sperm! But prayers like the Jesus prayer--"Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner," are ejaculations. They are spontaneous eruptions of praise and prayer.
Instead, we will call prayer ejaculations, aspirations. Now when I am moved to praise God or I am overwhelmed with blessings, I say:
Jesus have mercy.
Lord, have mercy on me.
Thank you Jesus.
Mary, pray for me.
St. Dominic, help me.
