Chapter III. On Vow

319. Definition. A vow is a deliberate promise made to God ¹ concerning a better good.

¹ A vow is an act of latria due to God alone. Wherefore when we vow certain things to the Saints, the sense is that these things are vowed to God in honor also of the Saints; just as we build churches and altars to God in honor of the same. St. Alphonsus, lib. 3, n. 194.

Division. A vow is distinguished:

1. Into solemn or simple, according as it is made solemnly and accepted by the Church, or held ratified, or is emitted with solemnity and the acceptance of the Church set aside ².

² And hence there is also the distinction between violation of a simple and a solemn vow, as we touched upon where sacrilege was discussed. Other things which pertain to a solemn vow are more conveniently reserved to the tract on particular states.

2. Into personal or real, according as an action or omission, or some thing separable from the action of the person, is promised.

3. Into temporary or perpetual, according as it is promised to be observed only for a certain time, or throughout the whole of life.

We must treat: 1. of the conditions required for a vow; 2. of the obligation of a vow; 3. of its cessation.