Limits of vows?

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Suppose a person makes a vow - under what circumstances can that vow be set aside? Say for example one had made a vow to fast at a certain time. When the time comes the person is ill - I would assume in that case the vow would not apply? What about a case where the performance of a vow might cause offense or scandal?
 
The term “vow” is ambiguous. Religious (such as monks and nuns) take Vows. Such a Vow may not be overlooked without the permission of the person’s Religious superior.

Diocesan priests take Sacred Promises (not Vows, although the distinction is not clear to me). Such promises may not be overlooked without the permission of his Bishop.

At Confirmation, laypeople make a promise (which is neither a Vow nor a Sacred Promise) to the Church, which includes adherence to the precepts (rules) of the Church. Canon Law already makes provision for exceptions to these rules, such as the rule of fasting does not apply to the elderly or persons who are ill and in need of nutrition.

A person who makes a vow/promise which is recognized by the Church is bound by the terms (or exceptions) that the Church stipulates. A person who makes a private “vow” to God is bound by the dictates of his own conscience.
 
I don’t understand why I’d make a vow to God that I’m going to do fast at some time in the future. Plan, maybe, but not vow. That’s like saying, “come hell or high water,” well here comes high temperature – oops should have left an out. Why not say instead, “Lord, if it be your will, I desire to fast on the following days.” Then if you get sick and you don’t believe God wants you to become more sick by fasting, then you’re covered. If it be for some reasons such as, “oh well I changed my mind just for today,” with no real reason, then you still have to reconcile that with your stated desire.

James 4:13-16
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”— you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.” But now you are boasting in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Matt 5:33-37
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one."

Food for thought…

Alan
 
I was indeed thinking of private vows - my understanding is that these are recognized by the Church as binding, and that the person making it may not set it aside under ordinary circumstances.
 
Bookcat said:
Canon Law: vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4E.HTM
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Can. 1197 The person who makes a private vow can commute the work promised by the vow into a better or equal good
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Ok. So I’m guessing this would also imply that if a greater good would be served by breaking or suspending the vow, that would be allowed. That’s actually what I was thinking about with the fasting example, e.g. if one were in a case where refusing to eat with someone might cause offense (especially among those who might not understand or practice vows).
 
DarkLight said:
Ok. So I’m guessing this would also imply that if a greater good would be served by breaking or suspending the vow, that would be allowed. That’s actually what I was thinking about with the fasting example, e.g. if one were in a case where refusing to eat with someone might cause offense (especially among those who might not understand or practice vows).
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That is not what is meant there – but more like one who makes a vow to say go on Pilgrimage from the US to Fatima – could commute it to a Pilgrimage to say Lourdes…

I do not know the particulars of what say a single instance such as I vow to fast on all Fridays except Solemnities or Holy Days and one day I want to out of charity to eat and could commute it to something else that day…

In any case ones Pastor can commute etc private vows.

One could easily call ones Pastor and ask him to commute ones vow to mean that one fasts unless for reason of charity or avoiding of offense one does not …(he can commute it to a lesser thing vowed…) then it would thus change the vow for the future…
 
Bookcat said:
That is not what is meant there – but more like one who makes a vow to say go on Pilgrimage from the US to Fatima – could commute it to a Pilgrimage to say Lourdes…

I do not know the particulars of what say a single instance such as I vow to fast on all Fridays except Solemnities or Holy Days and one day I want to out of charity to eat and could commute it to something else that day…

In any case ones Pastor can commute etc private vows.

One could easily call ones Pastor and ask him to commute ones vow to mean that one fasts unless for reason of charity or avoiding of offense one does not …(he can commute it to a lesser thing vowed…) then it would thus change the vow for the future…
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I get this. It just seems rather unnecessarily legalistic if one had to word all private vows to be prepared for every eventuality, even when a greater good would come from breaking the vow than from honoring it.
 
DarkLight said:
I get this. It just seems rather unnecessarily legalistic if one had to word all private vows to be prepared for every eventuality, even when a greater good would come from breaking the vow than from honoring it.
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All you have to do is say, “if it be Your will” and you’re covered. It’s not so complicated to make a promise that you can willfully and deterministically keep. The problem is not intent, but wording of the vow. “Lord, I promise to go to adoration every day, according to Your Will.” That’s not so hard.

If a “better” opportunity presents itself, then one just has to discern whether it really is something God is offering as alternative. The problem I have is that the disclaimers always apply even if not acknowledged – if you don’t think they do then you have a serious problem with boasting – but if we just plain ignore them, we tend to forget they are there and our ego starts holding us Personally Responsible For The Future.

We don’t need a list of legal disclaimers “lawyer speak” that we hire somebody to read really fast at the end of the commercial. If we but acknowledge our mortal limitation simply, the way St. Paul told us, then we’re covered.

Alan
 
DarkLight said:
I get this. It just seems rather unnecessarily legalistic if one had to word all private vows to be prepared for every eventuality, even when a greater good would come from breaking the vow than from honoring it.
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Seems perhaps …but it is not. Yes sometimes people make private vows that are too broad or do not take normal life into account etc etc such can be taken care of with their Pastor if need be. Vows are make of words and intentions …and sometimes we can error and make things too strict or something. The Church provides for such mistakes via ones Pastor etc. And of course as one reads in the CIC there vows are very particular things (being a better good etc) and involve particular aspects…(such as when they cease to bind etc)…alot is covered there. This too helps keep persons from being bound in ways that are not good etc.
 
Bookcat said:
Seems perhaps …but it is not. Yes sometimes people make private vows that are too broad or do not take normal life into account etc etc such can be taken care of with their Pastor if need be. Vows are make of words and intentions …and sometimes we can error and make things too strict or something. The Church provides for such mistakes via ones Pastor etc. And of course as one reads in the CIC there vows are very particular things (being a better good etc) and involve particular aspects…(such as when they cease to bind etc)…alot is covered there. This too helps keep persons from being bound in ways that are not good etc.
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👍
 
This is interesting to me. Francis, in his Rule, allows for exceptions to fasting (LR Chapt 3:9), receiving money (LR Chapt 4:1-3, which is a little confusing but it means they can receive things they would have bought if someone else buys it), and the vow of obedience (LR Chapt 10: 4-6) even. Basically, charity is the most important thing someone can have. Even in 1224 they were thinking about how to deal with extenuating circumstances.

Let me give you an example. You make a vow, as a Franciscan or otherwise, to fast on Fridays all day until dinner when you only have soup and crackers. If you live in part of NJ that has been torn up and you spend 12 hours trying to help with the clean up you are going to need more food then that to “recharge.” Francis would, and the Church would I think, understand that. God would understand that.

If you are in an abusive marriage and get a divorce does God hold that against you? I wouldn’t think so.

I don’t God has a “checklist” and marks you as a yes or no for everything you do or dont do. We use the term “vow” but really mean “promise” in private vows i think. Don’t let fear paralyze you either. If you need to make a snap decision- do it. Luther has a great line where he says “If you are going to sin then sin boldly” by which he means if it is a sin at least you made a decision, took a stand, and stood up for something. Isnt that the point of the story of the Good samartian?
 
Reading all this, it makes me wonder why a person would take a private vow. If you have an intention to perform some good act - a work of mercy, fasting, prayer or whatever - what is the purpose of the vow? The act does not become more meritorious because you made a vow ahead of time, or does it? I just don’t see the point.
 
louisak said:
:confused:

I admit Luther did say some good things, but I don’t get this.
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Luther’s point is that it is important to make a stand, I think. If that happens to be a sin at least you made a decision and werent wishy-washy about it. You committed to the action. Much like the Samaritan crosses the road and “sins” so to speak.
 
louisak said:
The act does not become more meritorious because you made a vow ahead of time, or does it?
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Yes it does via the virtue of religion --and offers what is vowed in a particular way as worship (Latria) of God.

There are other aspects and reasons…but that is one for ya.
 
CCC:

2102 "A vow is a deliberate and free promise made to God concerning a possible and better good which must be fulfilled by reason of the virtue of religion,"21 A vow is an act of devotion in which the Christian dedicates himself to God or promises him some good work. By fulfilling his vows he renders to God what has been promised and consecrated to Him. The Acts of the Apostles shows us St. Paul concerned to fulfill the vows he had made.22

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a1.htm#I

One needs to though to be not entering into such lightly of course as all here would admit.
 
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