148. Purpose of Amendment

St. Augustine in his youth led a bad life. The prayers of his holy mother, St. Monica, led to his conversion. One day, he was in the garden when he heard a voice say: "Take and read." He took up the Holy Scripture on a nearby table and read. From that moment his conversion started. He made a resolution to amend his ways. This firm resolution he never broke. He became one of the greatest Saints. If we should be so unhappy as to sin, let us imitate his firm purpose of amendment.

What is the purpose of amendment?

— It is the sincere resolution to avoid sin and the near occasions of sin.

"But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he roams through dry places in search of a resting place, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house which I left'; and when he has come, he finds the place unoccupied, swept and adorned. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first" (Matt. 12:43-45).

1. This purpose of amendment must accompany the act of contrition; it is necessary before sin can be forgiven. By it we determine firmly to amend ourselves. "Thou art made whole; sin no more, lest some worse thing befall thee" (John 5:14).

Two young men had fallen into the vice of drunkenness. Every day, they went to the saloon, and with other companions drank till they lost their reason. Being reproved by their parents, they promised to overcome their vice and drink no more.

From that day, the first young man avoided passing the saloon, and never entered it again. The second young man thought that so long as he did not enter, passing in front of the saloon was harmless. He passed in front on the first day. The second day, as he passed, his former companions hailed him, and he entered the saloon, thinking to himself that it was harmless, provided he did not touch wine. After a week of this, he drank a little glass, for old times' sake. It was not long before he fell back into his old vice, while the first young man was cured. The first young man not only avoided sin, but the near occasions of sin. The second young man had no real purpose of amendment; and so he soon returned to his former ways, and fell back into sin.

2. Our purpose of amendment must have reference to God: it must be supernatural. If we decide to amend only because we should be more popular without bad habits, that is not a supernatural purpose.

In Holy Scripture, there was King Antiochus who lamented his sins because worms were eating him up. Today we have criminals, drunkards, evil men, who bewail their wicked deeds because they land in jail or lose their wealth or reputation. For this reason, they determine to improve: but not to improve their souls, only their methods, so that they may not be "found out", — as if God had no eyes to see. Even if such persons determine to amend, their purpose has no merit before Almighty God.

3. Even if, after confession, we should fall again into the same sins that we have so often confessed, we should not despair for by so doing we would become worse. If after confession we relapse into the same sins, our purpose of amendment is weak. We must strengthen our will. We should go oftener to confession, examine ourselves carefully, be watchful against temptation.

A young man once came to St. Philip Neri and told him he was the victim of a bad habit. The saint advised him to go to confession immediately after he fell into the same sin. The young man sincerely wished to get rid of the vice, and followed the advice strictly. In a short time he had not only got rid of his vice, but he had formed new virtues.

4. If we have only venial sins, the best way is to choose the one we commonly commit, and concentrate our efforts to eradicate it. We should correct ourselves of venial sins one at a time. Thus we can be sure of contrition, and a steady advance in virtue.

What qualities should our purpose of amendment have?

— Our purpose of amendment should be firm, efficacious, and universal.

1. Our purpose is firm when we determine to avoid sin at any cost. Then we do not hesitate back and forth, but with decision cut ourselves off from the bonds which formerly bound us to sin and its occasions.

In one of his military expeditions, Alexander the Great, the conqueror of many lands, arrived in Gordium, Phrygia. In a certain fortress, there was what people called the "Gordian knot", so well tied that many had tried to untie it but all miserably failed. It was believed that whoever could untie the Gordian knot would be the conqueror of Asia. When Alexander came, he did not waste time, but drew his sword and cut the knot apart.

2. Our purpose is efficacious when we resolve to use all means to carry out our determination to amend, as by avoiding the occasions of sin, — persons, places, and things that ordinarily led us into sin in the past, and may do so again in the future. A good resolution is like a nail driven fast into the wall, but the resolutions of too many are like a nail badly placed, which falls out as soon as something is hung upon it.

Bad company and improper amusements and reading are such occasions. If we do not avoid them, we are not truly sorry, for our sins. "He who loveth the danger shall perish in it" (Ecclus. 3:27). People who say they wish to become better, but will not fly away from occasions of sin are like a housewife who industriously sweeps away cobwebs, but refuses to kill the spider that weaves them.

3. Our purpose is universal when we are determined to keep away from all mortal sins. A wise gardener uproots weeds, and does not merely cut off the top otherwise they will grow thicker than ever.

St. Sebastian promised to heal the sick proconsul of Rome if he would destroy all the idols. The proconsul destroyed the idols, but did not get well, and complained to the saint about it. The saint told him he had concealed the gold idol inherited from his ancestors, and could not be cured. As soon as he destroyed it, he was healed.

What are the effects of the sacrament of penance, worthily received?

— They are:

1. Sanctifying grace.

The sacrament of penance restores sanctifying grace to the soul that has lost it, and increases it in the soul that already possesses it.

2. The forgiveness of sins.

The sacrament of penance remits the guilt of sins. All sins can be forgiven in the sacrament of penance. However many and wicked the sins may be, they are all forgiven if the sinner makes a good confession, even on a deathbed. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all iniquity" (1 John 1:9).

3. The remission of the eternal punishment, if necessary, and also of part, at least, of the temporal punishment, due to sins.

"Unless you repent, you will all perish in the same manner" (Luke 13:5).

4. The help to avoid sin in future.

The sacrament of penance gives the penitent actual graces and a special strength by which he may overcome temptation and lead a good life. Works of penance are not only for the punishment of past sins; they act as a medicine, as a remedy to weaken the power of evil tendencies.

5. The restoration of the merits of our good works, if they were lost by mortal sin.