Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume I › Book II. On the Exercise of the Christian Life, or on the Cultivation of the Virtues › Treatise II. On the Cultivation of the Moral Virtues › Dissertation I. On the Precepts of the Decalogue › Part II. On the Second Precept of the Decalogue › Section II. On the Vow › Chapter IV. On the Cessation of a Vow

Article — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Article III. On Suspension

663.

I. Notion. Suspension of a vow is relaxation of the obligation of a vow for a time, made by one who has power over the matter of the vow. By authors it is commonly called indirect irritation.

VowsAnnulment, dispensation and commutation of vows

664.

II. What the subject of the power is is clear from the notion, and is handed down in these words of can. 1312, § 2: "He who has power not indeed over the will of the one vowing, but over the matter of the vow, can suspend the obligation of the vow for so long as the fulfillment of the vow would bring prejudice to himself."

Annulment, dispensation and commutation of vows

665.

III. The extent of the power. The faculty of suspending vows extends to all vows which, and insofar as, prejudice the power or right of the one about to suspend; even to those which were emitted at a time when the aforesaid power or right did not yet have force, for example, if it is a question of novices, to vows emitted before the novitiate. Likewise the faculty extends to vows which the superior approved, unless by approving them he renounced the right to which the vow was prejudicial (St. Alphonsus, III, 242).

Annulment, dispensation and commutation of vows

666.

IV. The use of the power. As was said of irritation, so also suspension made without cause is valid; for everyone validly enforces his own right. It is, however, lightly illicit, insofar as another's progress is impeded without sufficient cause.

Annulment, dispensation and commutation of vows

667.

V. The effect of suspension is relaxation for a time of the obligation of the vow; namely, when the right of the one suspending ceases, it revives, unless in the meantime it has ceased from another cause (can. 1312, § 2).

Corollary. The following can suspend vows - besides those who can irritate them:

  1. A father or the one acting in his place in administering the goods of children can suspend the real vows of pubescent children as long as they lack the right of administering their own goods; likewise their personal vows, insofar as they prejudice domestic governance. The same power belongs to the mother as to personal vows; likewise as to real vows, if she herself is tutor or curatrix (St. Alphonsus, III, 229, 230).

  2. A husband can suspend the vows of the wife insofar as they prejudice the use of marriage, the education of offspring, or domestic governance; likewise the wife can suspend the vows of the husband which prejudice her rights (St. Alphonsus, III, 234, 235).

Corollary. If spouses by mutual consent have emitted a vow of chastity, and in such a way that each has ceded his or her own right, the husband can directly irritate the vow of the wife; but the wife, once freed from the vow, can indirectly irritate the vow of the husband (cf. St. Alphonsus, III, 239).

  1. The Pope can suspend the vows of all the faithful, and the Bishop the vows of diocesan subjects, insofar as they are adverse to the ecclesiastical governance belonging to him.

  2. Religious Superiors and Superioresses can suspend the vows of novices which prejudice probation and religious discipline (St. Alphonsus, IV, 55).

Note. Vows emitted before religious profession are suspended for as long as the one vowing remains in religion (can. 1315).

Annulment, dispensation and commutation of vowsObligations of Husband and WifeThe duties of the husband