Is the Act of Contrition Some Kind of Oath?

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Here’s what the Catholic Encyclopedia had to say on oaths

newadvent.org/cathen/11176a.htm

I’m wondering about the ’ I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin Amen’ part

Isn’t it some kind of promise??
 
In the act of contrition, you are speaking to God, not calling upon Him to witness your statement, so it is not an oath. When you say the words you quoted, you are telling God that you really mean to try not to sin again by cooperating with the help He gives you and by avoiding what leads you to sin. It is NOT a solemn promise or a vow. It is an expression of your love for God and your desire not to offend Him by sin any more.

Don’t forget the love part in the midst of all your fears.

Don’t make more of it than it really is. Hard habits to break, I know.

Betsy
 
Well I was saying the Act of Contrition last night and as I got to the amendment part, a dear friend popped in my head whom I love being around with. Although being around that friend can cause sin, I don’t think it can truly be the near occasion of sin described in the act, even though it’s possibe for me to sin when around that person (especially when I become careless with my speech) the same way I can around other people.

As I got to the ’ I firmly resolve…’ part I had a sort of opressive feeling that went like, it won’t be true unless you lose contact with her, and being the srupulous nerve wreck that I am I figured it might be a temptation for me to choose between her company and God. I panicked assuming it was satan tempting me and quickly said Amen to end the prayer and choose God. Now I don’t know if I prayed that I will firmly try and avoid her or what, which really really bother’s me. If it’s God’s will for me to do so then I will try, even though it really really really will be hard since I do care about her and to lose all contact with her will be difficult for me, but with His help I’ll be able to. But of it’s not His will, then I’ll be more than happy to continue my friendship with her and avoid the near occasion of sin when around her, be it a topic of conversation or something else. It’s just figuring out what it is that I should do is difficult since I don’t know if I somehow promised I would lose contact with her or what. I plan on adding this to my list of things to talk about with my Confessor but I just had to see what others thought since this is really bothering me. I was starting to think it was an oath.:confused:

:o Sorry if this is another thing I should have stayed away from the forums for. Internet service will probably be cut off within a few days so I’ll have to stay away from the net.😃
 
No, it’s not an oath by any stretch of the imagination.

You know, of course, that her being an occasion of sin is probably blown out of proportion due to your scruples. If you start losing contact with your dear friends because of this, it begins to warrant professional (medical) intervention.

Betsy
 
I probably do need medication…It’s just that when I read
Most of the time, it’s implicit. Like the ancient oaths, our oaths are often nonverbal gestures. Remember Abraham walking through the severed animals? Well, as a sign or symbol, that’s little different from the priest raising the eucharistic bread and wine in separate vessels. That action symbolizes the separation of the body and blood of Christ in the action that we retraced on our own bodies at the beginning of Mass - the sign of the cross. That sign, like the word “amen,” is an ancient oath formula. When we celebrate the sacraments, we are sealing and renewing our covenant with Jesus Christ.
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I panicked since I did say amen. I feel like maybe I implied it or something. I just want to get to my Confessor soon, if he says it’s not a promise/oath/vow then I’ll probably have to leave it at that, even though I might doubt it. I 'll be glad to forget about it but it might take a while for the fear of the thought of finding out at judgement that it was a promise/oath/vow after all to wear off. If he says I have to cut off contact with her, well then I will with God’s help. I really hope it’s the first one.
 
Honey, God reads your heart. He knows exactly what you mean to do and what you don’t, and He plays fair. He sent Jesus to die for you. Die for you. That’s love. Someone who loves you is not trying to get you on a technicality or a trick. He yearns for you. He’s crazy about you. He doesn’t want you in hell. What he takes seriously from you is what you mean to do, not what you do by accident. Would anything else be either just or merciful??? NO!!

You really, really should see a doctor and try some meds if he says that’s appropriate for you. Someone in my family used to have terrible, terrible scruples, just like you, and when he got diagnosed with OCD and given the proper meds, he was able to have a nice, normal relationship with God, based on LOVE. Imagine that. Talk to your parents about seeing a doctor. Please.

Betsy
 
It’s a promise. In order for there to be contrition one must have a “firm purpose of amendment”. A contrite heart must resolve to sin no more unless it lacks sincerity. Is it an oath? Perhaps, but done out of love rather than legalism. Sort of covenental. Hope this helps…God Bless…teachccd:)
 
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