I made a promise to God - can i revoke it with good intentions

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pwlj_christ87

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Hello All,

I made a promise to God with regards to doing something that I was doing that was leading me to sin. Now, I do feel that I can do this thing, which is not sinful in itself what so ever, and not sin, and do it with good intetinos. the dilemma i have, and inner conflict is that I made this promise to a priest in a confessional, can I simply say a prayer and “revoke” this promise or am i bound by it?
 
basically i feel strong enough to do what i had promised not to do without sinning… and it is for good intentions meaning in accordance with god
 
Making a promise is serious business. I would talk to your confessor.
 
yes it was made privately, as a private vow… would it be sufficient togo back to confession and hae a new priest dispense it or do i have to find the one who did? my parish is quite large and ifficult to find that person,
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
yes it was made privately, as a private vow… would it be sufficient togo back to confession and hae a new priest dispense it or do i have to find the one who did? my parish is quite large and ifficult to find that person,
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If it was a private vow – one needs to ask the actual Pastor. Unless the Bishop has given the authority to other Priests in his diocese.

CIC

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;

2/ the superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life if it is clerical and of pontifical right with regard to members, novices, and persons who live day and night in a house of the institute or society;

3/ those to whom the Apostolic See or the local ordinary has delegated the power of dispensing.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4E.HTM
 
While a p. vow can also change in other ways:

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. 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.

I would suggest bringing the matter to ones Pastor or other Priest with the authority to dispense.
 
I strongly suggest that you heed the advice of those who have replied to you before me.
In addition, I would also suggest that it is never a good idea to quibble, nit-pick or otherwise argue with G*d! Especially when it involves a promise you have made to Him!
It is for this very reason, most priests try to discourage people, especially the young, from making solemn private vows.
It is human nature to change ones mind in the future, but, a solomn vow does not lend itself to mind changing.
 
For reasons others are describing, I typically don’t make private vows to God, other than to love Him with my heart, mind, and soul, and to love others as I love myself. That is always my mission, even if I get turned around from time to time.

I make agreements with myself, though. That way I am on both sides of the transaction and for good reason I can break it. My thoughts are that if you are truly led by the Spirit you should be as agile as possible, within your vocation. Not all feel that way; they like more structure and like to try to control certain specified things in the future, and I love them for that. But here the OP believe it is God’s will to do something against the prior vow – so this is an example of complications that come up when making a vow to God about something I will do. Actually when we are talking about the future, we are always supposed to say, “God Willing” if I intend to do this or that in the future; scripture says otherwise it is boasting. There are additional warnings against taking vows. Now that I’ve gone and said that, I took vows before God to marry my wife in the Church, and come hell or high water I will keep them. But those are public vows, as I understand it, not private vows.

Strictly my personal speculations, and what works for me.

Alan
 
Prior to making private vows (evangelical counsels) I consulted a Catholic priest theologian to confirm for myself that The Lord would grant all the necessary Graces to help me to keep these vows realizing I was totally helpless without God. He confirmed that The Lord would grant these Graces without fail. Thus, if one is depending on the Graces of God, and not one’s own abilities alone, to keep a vow or vows, it is not any sort of pride or boast. It could be viewed, in fact, (for one only) as a witness and testimony to God’s Loving Mercy, His Kindness and Gratuitiousness and His Graces.

A private vows or vow are a vow to God (serious matter) and are not to be entered into lightly to my mind, and one will consult a spiritual director prior to making this move. See Canons 1196 and 1197 below re dispensation from a private vow. Certainly, The Church views private vows as sufficiently serious to cover them in Canon Law.

vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4E.HTM

TITLE V.

A VOW AND AN OATH (Cann. 1191 - 1204)

CHAPTER I.
A VOW
Can. 1191 §1. A vow, that is, a deliberate and free promise made to God about a possible and better good, must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion.

§2. Unless they are prohibited by law, all who possess suitable use of reason are capable of making a vow.

§3. A vow made out of grave and unjust fear or malice is null by the law itself.
Can. 1192 §1. A vow is public if a legitimate superior accepts it in the name of the Church; otherwise, it is private.

§2. A vow is solemn if the Church has recognized it as such; otherwise, it is simple.

§3. A vow is personal if the person making the vow promises an action; real if the person making the vow promises some thing; mixed if it shares the nature of a personal and a real 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;
2/ the superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life if it is clerical and of pontifical right with regard to members, novices, and persons who live day and night in a house of the institute or society;
3/ those to whom the Apostolic See or the local ordinary has delegated the power of dispensing.

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.

Can. 1198 Vows made before religious profession are suspended while the person who made the vow remains in the religious institute.
 
pwlj_christ87 said:
Hello All,

I made a promise to God with regards to doing something that I was doing that was leading me to sin. Now, I do feel that I can do this thing, which is not sinful in itself what so ever, and not sin, and do it with good intetinos. the dilemma i have, and inner conflict is that I made this promise to a priest in a confessional, can I simply say a prayer and “revoke” this promise or am i bound by it?
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A private vow can be dispensed by a priest. You could either ask Father in the Confessional to dispense you, or make an appointment to speak with him away from the Confessional. If you made a private vow to God before a priest, then I think Father was probably somewhat remiss in not ensuring that you understood everything about that vow - but our priests too can be just as human as we are.🙂
If by breaking your promise to God, there is a greater good involved than that contained in your promise, then there is no need for a dispensation.
Probably the wisest move and to ensure your Peace of soul is to speak to a priest.
 
What if it’s in the nature of “I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace….to avoid the near occasion of sin” and what I have in mind is particular TV shows; but later I realize that those are not an occasion of sin, just a bad idea (maybe) to watch during Holy Week; and that maybe I should be more careful about what I confess as sin. I don’t want to unnecessarily bind myself but to be free in Christ to discern. Not sure now if I’ve sinned or not by watching the TV since then….
 
Luvadoxi said:
What if it’s in the nature of “I firmly resolve with the help of Your grace….to avoid the near occasion of sin” and what I have in mind is particular TV shows; but later I realize that those are not an occasion of sin, just a bad idea (maybe) to watch during Holy Week; and that maybe I should be more careful about what I confess as sin. I don’t want to unnecessarily bind myself but to be free in Christ to discern. Not sure now if I’ve sinned or not by watching the TV since then….
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Discuss with your confessor regarding any sin.

For the future note that “resolutions” are not vows. And we yes resolve to avoid the near occasion (in particular of mortal sin) --and such can change. For example Y was a near occasion at this particular time but now something has changed and it is not. Ones confessor can advise one (on the one hand we need to avoid any scruple and on the other hand avoid “rationalization” or fooling ourselves…)
 
Bookcat–thank you so much for your very clear and helpful reply. That is indeed what I’m trying to figure out–whether it’s scruples or just rationalization. I really do appreciate your writing back so soon. I want to discuss with a confessor but I tend to get tongue-tied. Maybe I’ll just print out my post here! I just wanted to make sure I haven’t committed mortal sin, because I have received communion since then. I do realize how the enemy can use rationalization, but at the same time, I believe it’s always been helpful for me to see Christian themes in all media. I’m not watching for the salacious parts, anyway, just the “soap opera” story!
God bless. 🙂
 
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