Broken Private Vows

[TheDumbFox]

Can anyone tell me what the consequence of a broken private vow might be? Like if one were to promise or vow to God to go visit a holy place or to do a charitable work or some other good, but failed to do so, what would be the result of such? Would it be a sin? Mortal or venial? Have always been curious about this. Thanks!

 

[Maximilian75]

The only canonically binding vows are those made with the supervision of a spiritual director, and with the blessing of an abbot/abbess/bishop, and even these can be dispensed. Vows made in silent prayer are binding only so far as the maker allows them to be, and are not binding.

 

[Ron_Conte]

It depends on why it is broken. If you promise or vow something privately to God, and later you realize that it is actually contrary to God’s will, then you should consider yourself released from the promise. It could be not a sin to break such a promise, or it could be a venial sin, or it could be a mortal sin. A private promise or vow could be a mortal sin to fail to keep, if it is a grave matter and perhaps then a mortal sin of omission. But I would not say that every promise to God, broken, is mortal.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

As a parent if your young child resolved by their own ideas that they will kiss you on the cheek and say, “I love you” as soon as they wake up, you would smile and feel loved. If they fail in this practice that was their own idea, it doesn’t generally upset, anger or damage your relationship.

Do you damage your relationship with God when you fail to do the practices YOU came up with? Probably not. Like your Lenten pennances. If you botched it along the way, all is not lost.

 

[Seagull]

20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee
that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council,
as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them:
for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men,
which have bound themselves with an oath,
that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him:

Paul escaped under heavy duty Roman protection…
But I have always wondered - if any of those 40 maniacs - kept their murderous vow ?

You know…they kick at the dirt on day number 3…wandering around…
people looking at them snickering…
especially if any of those ‘vow guys’ were married…
their wives egging them on, the entire time, to go another day…lol !