Can you dissolve a private vow you make on your own?

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sdegutis

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I remember researching the Catholic answer to this a few years ago, and finding the answer that any private vow you make and want to dissolve (or “undo”) you have to bring to a priest and have them do it. But then I talked to two priests separately about it this week at our parish (one is the pastor, one was a visiting priest) and they both told me you can dissolve it on your own. What does the Catholic Church have to say about this answer? Also, apologies if this is in the wrong forum, I’m not quite sure where it fits in.
 
Yes, you may. And it is quite easy to do. You just dissolve it.
 
Canon Law seems to suggest not making another vow, but substituting a more reasonable good for the vow.

Can. 1197 The person who makes a private vow can commute the work promised by the vow into a better or equal good; however, one who has the power of dispensing according to the norm of ⇒ can. 1196 can commute it into a lesser good.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4E.HTM
Other passages from Canon law regarding a private vow:
Can. 1193 By its nature a vow obliges only the person who makes it.

Can. 1194 A vow ceases by the lapse of the time designated to fulfill the obligation, by a substantial change of the matter promised, by the absence of a condition on which the vow depends, by the absence of the purpose of the vow, by dispensation, or by commutation.

Can. 1195 The person who has power over the matter of the vow can suspend the obligation of the vow for as long a time as the fulfillment of the vow brings disadvantage to that person.

Can. 1196 In addition to the Roman Pontiff, the following can dispense from private vows for a just cause provided that a dispensation does not injure a right acquired by others:

1/ the local ordinary and the pastor with regard to all their subjects and even travelers;
 
Did you make a vow or a promise?

Vow- you bind yourself as a person to it.

Promise- like a contract which can be broken.
 
Oh, I guess this thread got moved to the Spirituality forum. Weird, I would have pegged it in at least Philosophy if not Moral Theology. Okay then.

Hoosier Daddy and atassina:

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut. That’s my initial guess too, which is why I was asking if there was some official Church source on the matter. I read briefly about promises/vows/oaths in the Catechism of the Church, but it was very brief and didn’t explain much.

@Trishie:

Thanks for the quotes. So through my (basic) understanding of moral theology/philosophy, if I find out over time that my private vow was actually not in God’s will for me (and possibly even a sin), then it seems I should be able to just change my vow to God to be inline with his will, and I wouldn’t need to have a priest do this for me. That’s at least how I’m interpreting the whole “better or equal good” part, anyway.
 
Now of course - what someone may have made may not be a private vow.

But if it is -such can be commuted by the person to a equal or better good.

(and it can “cease” due to the factors involved…ones Priest can guide one there too).

and

Ones Pastor or Bishop (or one given the authority by the Bishop) can dispense it (or commute it to a lesser thing…)
 
Bookcat said:
One cannot.

That is if it was actually a private vow.
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You seem pretty confident. Can you elaborate? Can you cite a Catholic source explaining what is required and why dissolving it yourself would not be valid?
 
sdegutis said:
You seem pretty confident. Can you elaborate? Can you cite a Catholic source explaining what is required and why dissolving it yourself would not be valid?
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If one has made an actual private vow (and some who think they have – have not but only made a resolution or tried to make an invalid vow or a null vow-like vowing something sinful etc) - one does not have the power to undo it. Only commute it. (tis the nature of a vow).

But ones Pastor etc as I mentioned does have such authority as per Canon Law (Can. 1196)
 
Bookcat said:
If one has made an actual private vow (and some who think they have – have not but only made a resolution or tried to make an invalid vow or null-like vowing something sinful etc) - one does not have the power to undo it. Only commute it. (tis the nature of a vow).

But ones Pastor etc as I mentioned does have such authority as per Canon Law (Can. 1196)
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So if you make a vow and later you begin to realize that it was not in God’s will although not actually sinful, you can commute it to a new vow that fulfills the same intention while aligning with what you now know to be God’s will? That’s how I’m interpreting this canon law, and it seems legitimate to me.
 
sdegutis said:
So if you make a vow and later you begin to realize that it was not in God’s will although not actually sinful, you can commute it to a new vow that fulfills the same intention while aligning with what you now know to be God’s will? That’s how I’m interpreting this canon law, and it seems legitimate to me.
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One can commute it to an equal or *greater *Good (not a lesser good).

But one may wish simply to discuss with ones Pastor -it may be that the best thing is just have it dispensed.
 
Such is about the ‘work promised’ (CIC 1197)

If I vowed to go on a pilgrimage to Fatima. But found that I have the opportunity to instead use my money to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to the places where Christ walked etc… I could commute it to such.

I would suggest discussing with ones Pastor. He can even commu**te it for you. That way you have his judgment assisting yours as well.
 
A Pastor of your Parish is the only one who can dispense private vows/promises. NOT yourself.
 
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