Act of Contrition without a priest - invalid?

[Verbum_Caro]

Right, Ruthie, I had intended to cite the Catechism as well but it slipped my mind.

I should mention, also, that the three reasons I gave above for why confession to a priest is still necessary was not meant to be an exhaustive list.

For instance I can think of three other reasons why confession to a priest are important:

4)Because sacramental confession requires only imperfect contrition (attrition)

5)Because sacramental confession provides a level of surety that extra-sacramental does not

6)Because confession to a priest preserves the incarnational reality, and speaks to us on a human level

VC

 

[Nan_S]

Yes, it is in the Catechism.

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.

*Emphasis *mine.

Ruthie

That’s what I was looking for! I was crawling all through the Catechism concordance on the Vatican’s website, and I can’t believe I missed that! Thank you .

Paragraph 1452, coupled with 1484, gives the complete answer, and the documents from Trent (which I didn’t have, so thank you also, Verbum Caro,) provide the foundation. The already-baptised RCIA member desires to receive sacramental confession to alleviate the guilt of mortal sin, and will receive it “as soon as possible” at the proper time in the RCIA process; the desire to receive the sacrament fulfills the provision of 1452.

Likewise, the adulterous man in danger of death is not granted an exemption from the necessity of seeking out sacramental confession should he live long enough to do so. If he lives, he also faces the penance requirement to undo the evil he has done and make things right with his wife.

CCC 1484 “Individual, integral confession and absolution remain the only ordinary way for the faithful to reconcile themselves with God and the Church, unless physical or moral impossibility excuses from this kind of confession.”

 

[Verbum_Caro]

You’re welcome. Looks like you’ve got it NanS.

Do you also see that the “danger of death” part isn’t part of it? I think that is important, because the person you were discussing this with seemed to be under the impression that one had to be “in danger of death”.

Also – although the desire to receive the sacrament of confession is necessary it isn’t sufficient on its own to fulfill Paragraph 1452. . . you still need perfect contrition.

What do you think?
VC