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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.

"Let persons in the world sanctify themselves in their own houses, for neither the court, professions, or labour, are any hindrance to the service of God."
St Philip Neri

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"Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars."
Thomas á Kempis

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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."
St Augustine

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