Confession/Act of Contrition

[La-Petite-Fleur]

If a person commits a mortal sin, but repents & says a perfect Act of Contrition (with the desire to confess), will they be forgiven? I’ve always wondered about instances of emergency or sudden fatal accidents: what if someone (who lived their life for Christ) had made the mistake of committing mortal sin, and they said the Act of Contrition, but died before they could get to the confessional or to a priest? Would they still go to hell, or are they forgiven?

 

[rfk]

They are forgiven. From the Cathechism 1452

Para. 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 (Cf. Council of Trent [1551]: DS 1667).

 

[jimm]

It is my understanding that if you are in Mortal Sin and fully intend on going to Confession, but on the way or they day before, you get killed God knows your heart and you are forgiven. In My discussions with a priest although a perfect act of contrition does work, it is rarly perfect, there are some requirements for this prayer. As the one above says read the Catechism. start at 1450 and go on, God bless.

 

[drforjc]

jimm,

but what if you were on your way to confession due to imperfect contrition? Do you automatically receive the perfect contrition necessary?

 

[rfk]

Well, it is quite impossible for a human being to truly know if they had perfect contrition or imperfect contrition.

If that person was killed on the way to confession, then I have to change my focus from the person’s actions to our Lord. I place great trust and faith in the Divine Mercy of our Lord, and hope that he would judge generously.

It is analoguous to how the Church looks at the death of an unbaptized infant, From the CCC 1283

1283 With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God’s mercy and to pray for their salvation.

 

[jimm]

TO DRFORGC - God Knows your heart, what you truly are, are you remorsefull for your sin, truly remorsefull, and God knows your sins, (every one of them), you can’t just say "well, I think I will go to confesssion Saturday, in my example earlier I am talking about that it is your fondest desire to go to confession, it is burn, a single purpose, and something that at all cost you want to make happen.

 

[La-Petite-Fleur]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I was thinking along the same lines as well, just wanted to make sure.