148 



THE MEANS OF GRACE 



trition itself, and consequently, like the latter, and 

 for the same reasons, must be : 



a) Universal (proposition universale) , i. e., it 

 must comprise all mortal sins which one might 

 possibly commit in future and, in a general way, 

 the lessening of venial sins. 3 If none but venial 

 sins form the matter of confession, it is sufficient 

 to resolve to avoid at least one of them, or to 

 diminish the total number. 4 



b) The purpose of amendment must be firm, 

 *. e., the penitent must be determined to suf- 

 fer any hardship rather than again offend 

 God by a mortal sin. 5 Distrust of one's strength 

 or fear of relapse do not impair the firmness of 

 purpose which a sinner must have to amend his 

 life. All that is required is that he humbly trust 

 in God and be firmly determined to cooperate with 

 divine grace in fighting temptations. 6 Actual re- 



S Cfr. St. Thomas, Sutntna Theol., 

 3a, qu. 87, art. 1, ad 1: "Homo in 

 gratia constitutus potest vitare omnia 

 peccata mortalia et singula; potest 

 etiam vitare singula peccata venialia, 

 sed non omnia. . . . Et ideo poeni- 

 tentia de peccatis mortalibus requi- 

 rit, quod homo proponat abstinere ab 

 omnibus et singulis peccatis mortali- 

 bus, sed ad poenitentiam peccatorum 

 venialium requiritur, quod homo pro- 

 ponat abstinere a singulis, non ta- 

 men ab omnibus, quia hoc infirmi- 

 tas huius vitae non patitur; debet 

 tamen habere propositum se prae- 

 parandi ad peccata venialia minu- 

 enda, alioquin esset ei periculum 

 deficiendi, quum desereret appetitum 



proficiendi sen tollendi impedimenta 

 spiritualis profectus, quae sunt pec- 

 cata venialia." 



4 Cfr. J. P. Gury, Comp. Theol. 

 Mor., Vol. II, n. 344, 347. 



6 Ibid., n. 34: "Poenitens habere 

 debet voluntatem omnino determina- 

 tarn non relabendi in peccatum, non 

 obstante quocunque incommodo out 

 timore humano, secus enim non vel 

 let totaliter et sincere ad Deum con 

 verti." 



eOp. cit., n. 346: "An censeri 

 debeat firmum propositum illius, qui 

 habet quidem animum non peccandi 

 sed credit certo se relapsurumT R, 

 Neg., quia practice loquendo, Hie, 

 qui vere vult non peccare, a peccato 



