Catholic Word of the Day: RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT, 04-30-09

CatholicReference.net ^ | 04-30-09 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT

The firm and sincere decision that a penitent makes to avoid the sins that person is confessing in the sacrament of penance. A true purpose of amendment includes the determination to avoid at least all grievous sins, the near occasions of them, to use the necessary means to amendment, to make due satisfaction for the sins committed, and be ready to make restitution or repair whatever injury may have been done to others.

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

A vital part of the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation.

[stuartcr]

How does one avoid doing something, that God knows one will do?

[Salvation]

That’s what this is all about. Amending one’s life and avoiding that sin.

An example would be the use of pornography. Amendment would include
Turning the computer around so that the entire family can see what you are perusing. Setting time limits on yourself on the use of the computer — in other words, not using it in the middle of the night. Canceling the channels that have pornography on them.

I think you get the idea. It takes action and a firm resolution of amendment for the sinner to avoid sins.

If one sins again, that is what is so wonderful about the Sacrament of Penance. He/She can avail themselves of the sacrament again and again.

[Salvation]

Another thing, once the sin is confessed and forgiven by God through the words of absolution that the priest uses, God FORGETS the sin.

[Salvation]

Catholic Word of the Day – not linked – but you can do a search to find them.

La Salette	Liturgy	Andacollo
Kings, Book of	Physiologus	Old Catholics
Baltimore Catechism	Armagh, Book of	Nature
Eulogia	Orders, Sacrament of	Missionary
Dominus Vocbiscum	Ichthus-Fish	Abbacy of St.Jerome
Invalid	Doctrinal Demythology	Metaphysics
Ecclesia Docens	Apostolic Signatura	Octaves
Religion as feeling	Temperament	Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Congregation for Catholic Education	Sponsor	Mystery Play
Paschal Candle	Imitation of Christ	Voluntarism
Matter, Sacramental	Notion	Chancel
Gabbatha	Gregorian Masses	Ordo
Resolution of Amendment

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[Salvation]

FYI -- the words of absolution:

 

1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:

God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and the resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and sent the Holy Spirit among us
for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the Church
may God give you pardon and peace,
and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

[agere_contra]

We are not predestined to do anything.

God knows our end, but we have free will at every moment.

[stuartcr]

But if God knows you are going o sin 3 weeks from now, how do you avoid it?

[stuartcr]

God knows the future, but forgets the past?

[MHGinTN]

What? ... How is you seeing a car accident your fault for the accident? You really do go to idiot extremes to remain an unbeliever, stuartcr. But this time you've gone round the bend and over the falls. Bwahahahaha ... you aren't even good at substantiating the premise you start with in your obsessively determined circular reasoning fashion! LOL

[stuartcr]

Does God know what we will do before our end?

[stuartcr]

I’m not God, I don’t create people knowing what they will do and what will happen to them. If God knows there will be an accident 3 weeks from now, how could there not be the accident?

I’m a firm believer in God, just not they way you are, obviously.

[MHGinTN]

It would appear that your notion of God is a puppetmaster whom you can blame for every failing you have or will have. You equate foreknowledge with causing. You refuse to believe God has given humankind free will. Yes, I’d say we are worlds apart in our concept of God and Mankind.

[stuartcr]

You are confusing blame for responsibility, and assigning human traits to God. I don’t blame God for anything. He does what He does for reasons I do not need to know.

I equate foreknowledge with cause only with God, as He is the creator of everything, knows all, and is all powerful.

[MHGinTN]

You just posed that whatever you do, good or bad, is God’s fault because He does not stop you from doing bad though He may reward you for doing good. Argue if you wish, Yes, that is precisely the position you’ve taken whether you will admit it or not. I suspect you are unable to admit it because you are so dependent upon the definition you’ve fabricated of God responsible for everything and nothing laid at your feet.

[stuartcr]

Do you believe that God knows what you will do 3 weeks from now?

Whether I am responsible for what I do or not, I still suffer the consequences, don’t I?

[Salvation]

I omitted mentioning one thing this morning.

Grace!

A Sacrament is an Outward Sign instituted by Christ to give Grace.

So in confessing our sins, we receive more grace to resist those temptations.

Here are a couple of links, one on the Sacraments in general, and one on the Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation for more detail for you.

Beginning Catholic: Catholic Sacraments: Vehicles of Grace [Ecumenical]
Beginning Catholic: The Sacrament of Reconciliation: Rising Again to New Life [Ecumenical]

BTW, these are excellent questions, ones that many have.

[Salvation]

**but forgets the past?**

Only if you confess those sins, amend your ways, are truly sorry, and do the Penance prescribed by the priest.

Reading Scripture, saying a prayer for someone, or the old and usual three Hail Marys, etc.

[Salvation]

**God has given humankind free will.**

And God is always waiting for us to come to him to ask forgiveness for our sins.

[annalex]

I equate foreknowledge with cause only with God

But you shouldn't.

God lets you genuinely decide your actions upon your own will, including choices for good or bad, repentance, etc. Not because he lacks the power to override your will, but because he loves you as you are with the will you have.