§ II. On Dispensation of Vows

Dispensation of a vow is its absolute condonation, made in the name of God by a legitimate superior.

I Say 1st. Non-reserved vows can be dispensed for a just cause, provided that the dispensation does not injure a right acquired by others:

1st. The Ordinary of the place, as regards all his subjects and also pilgrims;

2nd. The Superior of an exempt clerical religion, as regards the persons who are enumerated in can. 514, § 1;

3rd. Those to whom the power of dispensing has been delegated by the Apostolic See (Can. 1313). - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 256. Canon 514 enumerates professed, novices, or others living day and night in a religious house by reason of service or education or hospitality or infirm health.

I Say 2nd. For the validity of dispensation, a just cause is always required, because since vows are made to God alone, man cannot dispense from them except as delegated; but a delegate cannot validly dispense without a just cause, as has been said in the tract on Laws, n. 101. Thus commonly with St. Alphonsus, n. 250.

Question 1. What are the just causes of dispensing in vows?

Response. The good of the Church, of society, of the family, and also of him who is bound by the vow; for example, if on account of the vow he is oppressed by scruples or grave temptations; if he experiences notable difficulty in fulfilling the vow; if the act of vowing was not perfectly deliberate, etc. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 252.

Question 2. In vows made for the utility of some third party, can a superior dispense without the consent of him in whose favor they were made?

Response. Affirmatively, if the vow was not accepted, as is clear of itself; indeed even if it was accepted, provided, however, that the vow is principally in honor of God, and the promise is not onerous, that is, imposes no burden which has already been accepted. The reason is that then God is the principal cause of the promise, and that third party in whose favor the vow was made, if he acquired any right, did not acquire it except dependently upon the good pleasure of God. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 254. Baller., note (a), p. 329.

Question 3. What vows are reserved to the Pope?

Response. Besides vows emitted in a religious community, the private vows reserved to the Apostolic See are only the vow of perfect and perpetual chastity and the vow of entering a religion of solemn vows, which have been emitted absolutely and after completion of the eighteenth year of age (Can. 1309). - But these are not reserved unless they are absolute, determinate, perfect by reason of matter and liberty. Therefore reservation does not obtain, 1st, if a vow is emitted from fear, even only light fear, unjustly inflicted; 2nd, if someone obliges himself to emit a reserved vow after ten years; 3rd, if the vow is conditional, even according to the more common opinion when the condition has been fulfilled, because a vow ought to be emitted from sole and perfect affection toward the promised thing; 4th, if the vow is penal, as, I vow to enter Religion if once I shall have become drunk; for the same reason as in a conditional vow; 5th, if it does not tend directly to the virtue to which the matter of the vow pertains; 6th, if the vow is disjunctive, as, I vow either to enter Religion or to fast for a month; 7th, if it is emitted with the mind of inducing only a light obligation. Besides, circumstances added to a vow are not reserved, as, I vow to enter Religion this year. - Cf. St. Alphonsus, n. 258. - Lacroix, nn. 544 and following.

The vow of virginity or of mere integrity of the flesh and the vow not to marry are not reserved.

By whom and in what manner vows which are accustomed to be emitted in some diocesan institutes can be dispensed, you may see in Conc. Plen. Balt. III, n. 93.