Note 208 — Chapter II · THE PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

This may be regarded as the communis theologorum doctrina; indeed many theologians (St. Alphonsus mentions among others loco citato Laymann, Sporer, Suarez, Henriquez) hold that a penitent who believes (credat) that he will fall again can always and absolutely be considered as being in good disposition. They do not mean by this a despair of reform, but rather a grave fear which may be consistent with a firm hope in the aids of grace and a fixed determination of never sinning. Besides, as Lacroix explains, the phrase si credat must be taken in a mitigated sense and be understood of the misgiving natural to a careful person. It is the duty of the penitent to take courage and free himself from this misgiving. Compare Lacroix, l. c., and Gury-Ballerini, l. c. Tract. de Pœn. P. II. cp. I. art. II. n. 461, Nota a, and Op. Theol. Mor. l. c. n. 159 ss.