Contrition of Fear

[Cabeelibob]

The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself, however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.

I’m having trouble understanding. Can someone explain this for dummies? (Taken from the Catechism)

 

[Usige]

Perfect contrition is sorrow for the act commit because of its impact on the other. Imperfect contrition (aka attrition) is more akin to sorrow for getting caught or punished.

So imagine that someone cheated on a test. The teacher said that anyone who confessed to cheating would not be punished, but if caught they would be expelled. Imperfect contrition would be confessing to cheating because they don’t want to be expelled if caught, but they would not have confessed if there were no negative repercussions. Perfect contrition would be confessing because you know it was wrong even if you were certain you could get away with it. The first is motivated by the consequences, where the second is motivated by acknowledging the wrongness of the act itself.

 

[Nelka]

I still struggle with it.

 

[rosejmj]

I have trouble seeing imperfect contrition as coming from God. It is kind of obvious that if you are taught there is a hell and you will go there if you commit certain sins you will be afraid when you commit those sins. Unless you don’t believe in hell or that a certain sin will put you there, Fear seems to be a completely natural reaction

 

[Canvas]

But faith is itself a gift from God…so follow the logical conclusion.

**Ephesians 2:8 **

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

 

[rosejmj]

I don’t think believing something is sinful has to do with faith. Nor does believing in hell. That has been a concept even before and outside of Christianity.