Act of Contrition -what are we saying?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TEPO
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TEPO

Guest
When we recite the Act of Contrition, we say that we intend or resolve to not commit sin and to avoid whatever leads us to sin. That is, depending on *which *act of Contrition we recite.

How does the near occasion of sin apply to Catholics who suffer from addiction, who are plagued with permanent uncontrollable temptation…? Drug addicts, hoarders, gamblers, lusters, etc., are all plagued with mental relapse that’s similar to “flashbacks” -like many faced from the Vietnam war. How can one avoid “whatever leads them to sin”, when “whatever leads them to sin” is a spiritual or mental defect, and is not something they are capable of controlling?

Are these individuals not held accountable due to invincible ignorance sort of like people with “special needs”, or must they find a way to turn-off their brains when they become tempted in order to avoid whatever leads them to sin…?

When we talk about works, are we referring to our intentions or actual results.

catholicsupply.com/existing/practof.html

Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for
having offended you, and I detest
all my sins, because of Your just
punishments, but most of all because
they offend You, my God, who are
all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly** resolve**, with the help of
Your grace, to sin no more and to
avoid the near occasion of sin.

Act of Contrition (modern) My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and
died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy.
Amen.
 
I also noticed that the new AOC excludes the phrase “with the help of Your Grace”… Is this because the Church recognizes that God does not offer His graces equally to everyone?

The modern AOC just says “with your help”, which could include things like miracles, or prayers from others or even the intercession of Saints.
 
The rubrics for this part of the ceremony are:
"PRAYER OF THE PENITENT AND ABSOLUTION
45. The priest then asks the penitent to express his sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words:
**My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. ** …

Other prayers of the penitent may be chosen from nos. 85-92.
Or:
Lord Jesus, Son of God
have mercy on me, a sinner."
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 546.)
 
John_Lilburne said:
The rubrics for this part of the ceremony are:
"PRAYER OF THE PENITENT AND ABSOLUTION
45. The priest then asks the penitent to express his sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words:
**My God,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. ** …

Other prayers of the penitent may be chosen from nos. 85-92.
Or:
Lord Jesus, Son of God
have mercy on me, a sinner."
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 546.)
Click to expand...
Thanks for your post. I’m thinking that the most important part of pennance is expressing sorrow for our sins and those who live a life of constant sorrow are indeed forgiven after each confession-even if they are plagued with addictions and know they cannot honestly refrain from the near occasion of sin. Especially considering that the near occasion of sin can derive from uncontrollable inner temptations (concupiscence).
newadvent.org/cathen/04208a.htm

So I’m left to wonder if God will actually offer Sanctifying Grace to all Catholics who show “resolve” in resisting inner temptation. That is, in the end, must we all show signs of sanctifying grace in order to be saved? If so, then we will not be judged solely on our intentions but by our results… That is, during the second judgement when we will be judged upon our “works”, we will have needed to have lost all the addictions to recieve eternal salvation.

In a nutshell, does the Church teach that I can be saved by real faith, and good intentions, or must I actually become addiction free to be saved in the end? I understand that there is no actual way to calculate ones salvation… But there must be an answer to this.

Is it resolve or intentions…? Do I have to go all-the-way?

(BTW, I honestly believe that I could be perfectly sin free if I tried, especially considering that sin is only a sin when it is done with consent)
 
The official catechism translates the firmiter propono = promise as resolve

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love.** I firmly resolve** with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

In the reality we, the majority, who sin again and again only intend to avoid the near occasions of the sin. So only those has the right to to criticize the ‘intend’, who sold their computers or cellphone if they ever used it for sin. Those who keep it, and find reason for that, deceive themselves about the resolve
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top