Read it from the Original.
Start at the Beginning.
(Page 216) I. A vow is a voluntary promise made to God, and a new obligation which a person imposes on himself to do some good action. In addition to all that is prescribed by the natural law and by the statute law of God in the Old and New Testament, we have the power of creating a new law or obligation for ourselves in honour of God, just as we have the power to bind ourselves by contract in secular matters to do certain services or to forego certain rights. A vow gives an additional character of sanctity to a good action. It is one of the chief classes of service which fall under the virtue of Religion. The act therefore which is vowed becomes doubly virtuous; it has its own character of patience, or generosity, or obedience, and it has the acquired character of an act of religion. Vows hold an important position in the religious systems of the Old and New Dispensations. Special regulations concerning their observance were laid down by the law of Moses, and we find the practice confirmed by the example of the Apostles under the New Law. Such a promise is a most sacred kind of contract. In Scripture we read that "It is ruin to a man . . . after vows to retract" (Prov. xx. 25). And again, "When thou hast made a vow to the Lord thy God, thou shalt not delay to pay it, because the Lord thy God will require it" (Deut. xxiii. 21). Be careful about the promises you make to God. Do not make them lightly; fulfil them exactly.
II. The good actions promised under vow are generally things which are not already of obligation, they are works of supererogation, or they belong to those classes of acts which God only counsels as being acceptable to Him, and which are not necessary precepts binding on all men. Such a vow is an offering of something which is our own, which we are free to keep for ourselves. Thereby we can be (Page 217) generous towards God, we can bestow a gift on Him who possesses all things, and we can make some small return to God for His immense bounty to us. Vows have a further advantage and merit when they impose an obligation that is to last for many years. They anticipate time, and in one instant they dedicate to God the service of a long period, and to some extent gain the merit of it in advance. It may truly in such a case be said: "being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time" (Wisd. iv. 13). And then if death cut short the duration of the promised service, God accepts the desire for the fact; "if the will be forward it is accepted according to that which it hath, not according to that which it hath not" (2 Cor. viii. 12). Rejoice that God has so many faithful servants who render Him such generous homage. Especially rejoice if He has given you such opportunities.
III. The most notable vows are those of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, which consecrate to God one's possessions, independence and life. These are the great victory of grace over the material tendencies of nature; they are the counterpoise to the three great influences that rule the world the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life; they avenge the primeval fall, they transform human nature into the living image of the Son of God, and raise a portion of mankind to a condition which rivals in splendour the state of unfallen man. These highest practices of the virtue of religion became possible only when Christ Our Lord had Himself given the example, and poured forth more abundant graces on the world; even now they are possible only to the select few whom He has called to be examples of the highest spiritual possibilities. Only the best are capable of the absolute devotedness which these vows involve, of stern determination, perfect mastery over self, full liberty of will, unswerving courage, the life of faith, and tenacity unto death,
All for Jesus, all for Mary.
Such shall be our password gentle reader.
Til next time.
