89. What is meant by resolutions?
89. What is meant by resolutions?
By resolutions are meant firm purposes of the will to avoid sin and practice virtue.
90. Are resolutions very important?
Yes, because they constitute the principal fruit of mental prayer; without them this exercise would, for the most part, remain sterile.
91. How can we succeed in making good resolutions?
By making pious considerations and holy affections; these will naturally give rise to good resolutions; the mind perceives what is good, the heart feels drawn thereto, and finally the will, aided by grace, decides on doing it.
92. Is it useful in meditation to devote some moments exclusively to the resolutions?
Yes, although the resolutions are substantially implied in the considerations and affections, and may have been determined already in the course of the meditation, at least in a general way, still it is useful and even necessary to devote some moments exclusively to the resolutions, in order to give them more force and precision.
93. Are the resolutions not the effect also of grace?
Undoubtedly, since it is God who works in us not only the good thoughts and pious affections, but also "to will and to accomplish, according to his good will." {Philippians 2:13). In order to make good resolutions, we must, therefore, multiply and fervently renew our invocations to God, to Our Lord, to the Blessed Virgin, and to our Guardian Angel.
94. Must we make the resolutions which we sometimes find pointed out in meditation books?
No, this is not necessary; for such resolutions may not always prove to be the most useful to us in our actual condition.
95. What qualities should our resolutions have in order to be really profitable?
In order to be really profitable, our resolutions should be:
1. Precise, not vague or general.
2. Practical, not theoretical.
3. Personal, i.e., relating to our duties, our wants, our inclinations, and especially to our predominant passion.
4. Proximate, not for the distant future.
5. Firm.
6. Persevering, i.e., constantly renewed until a satisfactory result is obtained.
96. Finally, to what general end should all our good resolutions be directed?
They should be directed to the accomplishment of God's holy will. It is in conforming our will to His adorable will that we can attain true wisdom, perfection, and happiness.
- taken from Catechism of Mental Prayer, by Father Joseph Simler