08/03/2026 05:44

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Neitherdoes the fact that religion cannot pay in full make it inferior tojustice, since in matters of virtue good will take precedence over theability to pay. But impossibility excuses, as when the penitent has only ageneral recollection about a sin;(b) the number of the sins must be given exactly or, if this isimpossible, approximately. Scripture condemns this lenity when it declares that the parent whospares the rod spoils the child (Prov. Hence, as the law of materialintegrity pertains to the lawful, not to the valid use of Penance, onemay use probabl

(c) It functions in ordinary affairs, for there is a special virtue ofmagnificence that makes wealthy men spend money lavishly in enterpriseof the greatest moment. But material ingratitude is anaggravating circumstance, since it is worse to harm those to whom weowe thanks than to harm others. Thus, justice is offended by injuries orviolence (e. , if one delays a gravely obligatory penance sixmonths, or so long as to be in danger of forgetting it; if one omits tosay a prayer on bended knees when this was chiefly intended by theconfessor).