The Role of Formal Address in Upholding Spiritual Etiquette
The requirement that she be addressed with the formal "You" can be seen as an attempt to preserve the unique, respectful, and otherworldly nature of communication within the spiritual domain. This insistence reflects a desire to emphasize that spiritual relationships and modes of address should not be superficial or casual, but instead should be observed within a specific, ritualistic, and respectful framework. In this case, such a manner of address helps avoid any perception of worldly traits that might diminish the significance of spiritual communication.For example, one source states:"Therefore, addressing a priest in a worldly manner is a distinctly marked distancing and a clearly expressed unwillingness to see in one's interlocutor what he himself considers the most important in his life and service... Thus, if a person has no particular reason to underline their non-church identity, it is better not to use such forms of address, which for the clergyman carry a secular, and thus profaning, diminishing nuance." (source: link txt)This citation underscores that using forms of address that differ from those established by tradition (in this case – the respectful "You") is intended to preserve the spiritual status and "holiness" of the relationship with the religious sphere. However, the mere requirement of addressing someone with "You" does not in itself serve as evidence of genuine faith. Rather, it indicates that the believer adheres to certain traditional standards of respect and seeks to avoid the encroachment of secular behavior into spiritual communication.Thus, if a believer insists on such a form of address, it first reflects her desire for relationships to be perceived through the lens of spiritual significance and respect, and second, it is more a matter of observing church etiquette than a direct confirmation of the depth or authenticity of her faith.