Confession, Forgiveness, Perfect Contrition

  • Thread starter Thread starter Phillip_47
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Phillip_47

Guest
So my questions is this: I think I have done mortal sin (actually pretty sure but it’s so hard to admit). And I can’t go to confession immediately, until several days later. And I know that in order to be forgiven you before confession you have to have perfect contrition and the intention to go to confess. But I only have one of those, because I’m sure I have imperfect contrition. I cant help it but right now all I feel is fear of hell.

So is my sin forgiven if I were to die suddenly? Am I forgiven right now?

Honestly this scares me sometimes. I do my best but it’s difficult.
 
Phillip_47 said:
So my questions is this: I think I have done mortal sin (actually pretty sure but it’s so hard to admit). And I can’t go to confession immediately, until several days later. And I know that in order to be forgiven you before confession you have to have perfect contrition and the intention to go to confess. But I only have one of those, because I’m sure I have imperfect contrition. I cant help it but right now all I feel is fear of hell.

So is my sin forgiven if I were to die suddenly? Am I forgiven right now?

Honestly this scares me sometimes. I do my best but it’s difficult.
Click to expand...
Don’t be scared. That is what the enemy wants.

For me, it’s a delicate balance. You need some degree of courage to confess, and you want to receive absolution. Yet, you want to make a truthful confession when you say you will resolve to sin no more.

So, why not take some time to absorb some good content first. Increase your sense of holiness and increase your desire to repent and be renewed.

Divine Mercy Sunday is this week. Find a church or shrine that does something special to celebrate. confess, and maybe even receive indulgences.
 
I might be remembering this inaccurately, but I believe a priest once told me (or I read in a book) that perfect contrition is not just the emotion of feeling sorry solely for love of God, but the willful act itself of being sorry solely for love of God.

What you are describing was basically my situation for months before and after confirmation. I was very scrupulous (and have clinically diagnosed OCD which just made it worse). I resolved to only go to one parish for confession and was blessed to have the priest there agree to be my confessor. That’s one of the key pieces of advice for the scrupulous.

Why not ask God to give you the grace of perfect contrition? We can’t do this by ourselves, and God loves us and wants to save us. I read a great book recently, Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe, who hammered home the point that losing one’s sense of peace and hope in God was a tool of the enemy. Trust in God and be at peace. Go to confession when you can. But until then, be hopeful. 🙂
 
A few things to note.
  1. If one falls into a mortal sin - resolve to get to confession as soon as possible (which is a part of the act of perfect contrition). Seek to be sorry for your sins out of love of God about all. Remember Jesus and his love for you and how good the Good Shepherd is.
  2. Seek out confession. It can be calling up the Church for an appointment - asking a Priest before or after a daily Mass…going to a Monastery or Shrine etc.
  3. Contrition does not require a particular “feeling” (though feelings are good to have). Tis more a matter of grace and will.
  4. Perfect Contrition (arising out of love of God above all -CCC 1452) - can co-exist with lesser motives (such as fear of hell). Just because one has fear of hell does not mean per se that one does not also have perfect contrition.
  5. Turn to Jesus the Good Shepherd right away - say Jesus I love you - forgive me - I love you for your Jesus my Lord …etc. Turn with faith and trust and seek the grace of perfect contrition - focus on him - on his goodness and be sorry (in your will…your emotions may not follow).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top