Means of Making Satisfaction

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

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

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