Contrition and attrition

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ADiosgracias

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How could I know if i have one or another? I can’t separate the terrible sorrow to offend God with not thinking of fear to go hell.
 
Focus on a relationship with God through prayer, frequent mass attendance and spiritual reading. Learn to love God. When you love someone, you don’t want to do anything that you know will displease them.

I would recommend the Diary of St Faustina who had such an intimate relationship with Jesus while on earth.

Focus on union with God so that your contrition will actually be heartfelt sorrow and true repentance - not just fear of hell.
 
Are you saved? Once you are, you shouldn’t have the worry of going to hell. There’s only one unforgiveable sin: Denying Christ. (ie not getting saved) Let’s look at it though - Peter denied Christ 3 times, and who did Jesus build His church upon? Cool, so let’s look at Mark 3:22-30 - And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebub,’ and, ‘By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.’ …‘Assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation;’ because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit’
Now let’s look at Matthew 12:31-32 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
So how did this work with Peter if he denied Christ? You can repent from this, but it must be from the heart. God knows what’s in your heart. In the same manner, you can profess to be Christian, but if you DENY HIM IN YOUR HEART then you are not saved. So, though Peter denied Him for cowardly reasons, He knew Peter did love the Lord. So if you truly love Him in your heart, you’re fine.
So if you are not guilty of this, you should have no fear of hell. So you can safely throw out the attrition and focus on the fact that you’re actually sorrowful for committing sins against God. And repent. And repentance isn’t just asking for forgiveness b/c you know you’ve done wrong. You must actually feel sorry for it and TRY TO DO BETTER! Hope this eases your mind.
 
MeganKichler said:
Are you saved? Once you are, you shouldn’t have the worry of going to hell.
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Catholics do not believe in the concept of “Once Saved Always Saved”
A person loses their salvation if they die with unconfessed and unrepented mortal sin.
 
mfrances said:
Catholics do not believe in the concept of “Once Saved Always Saved”
A person loses their salvation if they die with unconfessed and unrepented mortal sin.
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True, but in context, he seems to be a Christian. So looking at it that way, he is still saved as he is praying for forgiveness. But also note that I put in there God knows what’s in your heart. We don’t know what’s in his heart, but if he does love God, God will know it. Like I said, you can profess to be Christian, but if you do not love God, you really aren’t.
 
I think every Christian, perfectly contrite or not, has a fear of going to Hell. I would say that if the fear is the only thing you have that leads you to repent, then you have attrition. But if you are also sorry for your sins because they offend God, then you have true contrition. You don’t have to not fear Hell before you can be truly contrite 🙂
 
ADiosgracias said:
How could I know if i have one or another? I can’t separate the terrible sorrow to offend God with not thinking of fear to go hell.
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God’s awesome majesty and power commands our respect and biblical “fear”. God is also our Father, which is a relationship of love. God accepts our sorrow and repentance and gives us His mercy, so that we might be in right relationship with him. That relatioship should be joyous and peaceful. God tells us He forgives a contrite heart, we should take Him at His word and not doubt Him. In the Diary of St Faustina, Jesus tells her that one of the things that most offends Him is doubt of His mercy. He is clear that he forgives, don’t second guess God.
 
MeganKichler said:
True, but in context, he seems to be a Christian. So looking at it that way, he is still saved as he is praying for forgiveness. But also note that I put in there God knows what’s in your heart. We don’t know what’s in his heart, but if he does love God, God will know it. Like I said, you can profess to be Christian, but if you do not love God, you really aren’t.
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Nobody knows if they are saved. You have to die in a state of grace to be saved and nobody knows that in advance.
 
thistle said:
Nobody knows if they are saved. You have to die in a state of grace to be saved and nobody knows that in advance.
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then there’s no point in being Christian if there’s only a small chance of going to heaven and God is unmerciful. If you’re repentant in your heart but you can’t confess before you die, then you go to hell? I don’t buy that. That’s saying Christ’s sacrifice was very conditional. I spoke about it to my priest today, and he agreed that God looks into your heart, and even though confession is necessary, it’s not the final solution.🤷
 
thistle said:
Nobody knows if they are saved. You have to die in a state of grace to be saved and nobody knows that in advance.
Click to expand...
then there’s no point in being Christian if there’s only a small chance of going to heaven and God is unmerciful. If you’re repentant in your heart but you can’t confess before you die, then you go to hell? I don’t buy that. That’s saying Christ’s sacrifice was very conditional and not enough. I spoke about it to my priest today, and he agreed that God looks into your heart, and even though confession is necessary, it’s not the final solution and if you die without confession, but are repentant, you may hang out in purgatory for a while, but you’re not damned. what about other Christian denominations? are they going to hell bc they aren’t catholic? if they’ve been baptised and have received Christ, and take part in communion, but never did the minimal requirement of confession, are they doomed? i know i’m saved. i sin… i’m full of fualt. i may end up in purgatory for eons, but i’m going to heaven.
 
MeganKichler said:
i know i’m saved. i sin… i’m full of fualt. i may end up in purgatory for eons, but i’m going to heaven.
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🍿
TrueLight said:
Focus on a relationship with God through prayer, frequent mass attendance and spiritual reading. Learn to love God. When you love someone, you don’t want to do anything that you know will displease them.

I would recommend the Diary of St Faustina who had such an intimate relationship with Jesus while on earth.

Focus on union with God so that your contrition will actually be heartfelt sorrow and true repentance - not just fear of hell.
Click to expand...
Excellent advice. 👍 I’m working on growing a more intimate relationship with God, and as I do, I become less and less afraid of Hell and more and more hurt at my failings before the one who loves me more than anything.
 
MeganKichler said:
then there’s no point in being Christian if there’s only a small chance of going to heaven and God is unmerciful. If you’re repentant in your heart but you can’t confess before you die, then you go to hell? I don’t buy that. That’s saying Christ’s sacrifice was very conditional and not enough. I spoke about it to my priest today, and he agreed that God looks into your heart, and even though confession is necessary, it’s not the final solution and if you die without confession, but are repentant, you may hang out in purgatory for a while, but you’re not damned. what about other Christian denominations? are they going to hell bc they aren’t catholic? if they’ve been baptised and have received Christ, and take part in communion, but never did the minimal requirement of confession, are they doomed? i know i’m saved. i sin… i’m full of fualt. i may end up in purgatory for eons, but i’m going to heaven.
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There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church.
Not all Catholics are saved but everyone in Heaven is Catholic.
 
Cat. of Catholic Ch. 818 - howver, one cannot charge with the sin of separation those who at present are born int these commmunities and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the catholic church Accepts them with respect and affection as brothers… All who have been justified by faith in baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are Accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the catholic church."
 
c.o.t.c.c. 819 - “furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the catholic church: the written Word of God; the life of grace, faith, hope, charity, with other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements. Christ’s Spirit uses these churches and ecclesial communities As A Means of Salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the catholic church. all these blessings come from Christ and lead to Him, and are in themselves calls to catholic unity”

from Catechism of the Catholic Church. complete and updated. includes modifications from editio typica. “this catechism is conceived as an organic sentation of the catholic faith in its entirety”
 
MeganKichler said:
c.o.t.c.c. 819 - “furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the catholic church: the written Word of God; the life of grace, faith, hope, charity, with other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements. Christ’s Spirit uses these churches and ecclesial communities As A Means of Salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the catholic church. all these blessings come from Christ and lead to Him, and are in themselves calls to catholic unity”

from Catechism of the Catholic Church. complete and updated. includes modifications from editio typica. “this catechism is conceived as an organic sentation of the catholic faith in its entirety”
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What is your point? You are agreeing with my previous comments.
 
well, if you’re saying that all Christians are catholics bc of the call of unity, then yes. but if you’re saying only the catholic denomination is going to heaven and baptists (etc) are going to hell, then the above contadict your statement. i’d like proof that only those of the catholic denomination are going to heaven and all other christian denominations are going to hell with non believers.
 
MeganKichler said:
well, if you’re saying that all Christians are catholics bc of the call of unity, then yes. but if you’re saying only the catholic denomination is going to heaven and baptists (etc) are going to hell, then the above contadict your statement. i’d like proof that only those of the catholic denomination are going to heaven and all other christian denominations are going to hell with non believers.
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You are quoting bits from the CCC without understanding what they mean.

In the first place the Catholic Church is not a denomination. It was the only Church established by Christ.

What does the Catholic Church teach?
  • Baptism is necessary for salvation (but does not ensure it as you must die in a state of grace).
  • There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church.
So how can you be baptised and Catholic/deemed to be Catholic? There are 4 ways:
  • Sacramental Baptism as a Catholic
  • Baptism of Blood (non-Catholic dying for the Catholic Faith)
  • Baptism of Desire - Explicit (e.g. a catechumen going through RCIA)
  • Baptism of Desire - Implicit (invincible ignorance which means those who through no fault of their own do not know Christ, His Gospel, or His Church but still live a life according to the teachings of Christ in that ignorance)
You can debate who may or may not be included under invincible ignorance but outside the above 4 there is no salvation.

Anyone who consciously rejects Christ or his Church (The Catholic Church) and dies unrepentant will not be saved.
 
i don’t think you’re picking up what i’m putting down. as there are different types of Christianity, it is a denomination. regardless, i read the context before taking those bits and peices out. i have never once heard, read, been taught, that those outside of the catholic chucrch are going to hell. in fact, several catholics (including priests and my bishop) have taught that “the church” includes all those that have been baptised and believe in Christ are all a part of the body of Christ. not just those who profess to be catholic. I don’t think Christ is going to say “ah. I see you confessed you were a sinner, really were sorry in your heart for your sins, got baptised, live a great life in service to God, buuuut you never went to a catholic church and became catholic. greatful for the love and worship, but sorry, you’re going to hell.” i just do not see where that fits in to HIS teachings.
 
i see a little more precision here. ok. yes any of those who deny christ and his teachings are going to hell. just so i’m clear, we are both saying that yes you have to accept him, have to be baptised (whichever way) and that all churches (no matter their denomination - for lack of better word) are all a part of the church as long as they teach , we’ll for simplicity call them the truths? this may be where the misunderstanding lies.
 
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