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15. Means of Making Satisfaction

1. Since hardship or punishment is the remedy for sins, itis the means for making satisfaction for sins. For satisfactionlooks to the future as well as to the past; it seeks to remedy harmdone and to prevent it from being done anew. For both purposes,penal works, works involving some sort of pain, are to be used.

2. Submitting with patience to the trials and hardships oflife that come upon us in the way of Providence, is a good andprofitable way of making satisfaction for sins.

3. Satisfaction should take something away from us (goods,comfort, convenience, etc.) for the honor of God. By givingalms, we take material things from ourselves to honor Godin our fellowmen. By praying we submit all we are and allwe have to God. By fasting we deprive the body of itscomfort and convenience. Here, then, are suitable means of makingsatisfaction: almsgiving, prayer, fasting.

"A man should keep himself down, and not busy himself in mirabilibus super se."
St Philip Neri

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"Obedience is the true holocaust which we sacrifice to God on the altar of our hearts."
St Philip Neri

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"God commands not impossibilities, but by commanding he suggests to you to do what you can, to ask for what is beyond your strength; and he helps you, that you may be able."
St Augustine

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