Dying, in a state of mortal sin, confession not available

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help me out here, what would happen to person, let’s say he’s in a state of mortal sin, he intends to confess his sins, but before being given a chance to do he got into an accident and under imminent death. while dying he was contemplating on his sins, was asking forgiveness from God’s infinite mercy.

would that person’s soul be saved or not?

thank you for the responses.
 
CinderFury said:
help me out here, what would happen to person, let’s say he’s in a state of mortal sin, he intends to confess his sins, but before being given a chance to do he got into an accident and under imminent death. while dying he was contemplating on his sins, was asking forgiveness from God’s infinite mercy.

would that person’s soul be saved or not?

thank you for the responses.
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I’m sure God would take the circumstances into account and forgive him, as long as his intent was serious. 🙂
 
If he sincerely wanted God’s forgiveness, I believe he would recieve it. Just as if he went to confession but wasn’t sorry, he wouldn’t be forgiven. I would depend on the contrition of his heart.
 
If the person was sorry because **only **he did not want to go to Hell and so was sorry out of fear, he would not be forgiven. This is called imperfect contrition. Imperfect contrition is when a person has sorrow for his sins only because he fears the consequences of them or because the sins are offensive to human sentiments. For instance, a person might feel terrible that he has committed adultery just because it is so disgusting a sin.

If the person was sorry because - while he may very well not want to go to Hell and fear this - he had offended God and this alone was enough to inspire sorrow, then he would be forgiven. This is called perfect contrition. Perfect contrition is when a person has sorrow for his sins because he has offended God. Other reasons for sorrow - fear or disgust, for instance - may be present as well in a perfectly contrite person, but the sorrow for having alone offended God would be present as well, whereas it would not in an imperfectly contrtite person.

A good way to judge this is to ask oneself whether or not he would be sorry for his sins if there were no punishment involved. If I knew that there was no punishment for this act but it offended God, would I be sorry for it then?

Of course, one must never take for granted the type of contrition he has, and ought always to get to confession as soon as possible after a mortal sin.
 
I think it would be difficult to ignore the fear of punishment and focus on the love of God when the flames are already licking at ones toes.

It would certainly be good to pray fto support such a one in his repentence at that point. And since there is no time with God, the prayer could be said later. I have a couple I pray for frequently.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
I think it would be difficult to ignore the fear of punishment and focus on the love of God when the flames are already licking at ones toes.
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You might be right about that. That is an excellent reason why we should always pray an Act of Perfect Contrition, including the intention to confess as soon as possible, immediately after we have fallen into mortal sin. Such perfect contrition would restore us to the state of grace.

We should also tell others of what perfect contrition consists (see below!) and encourage them to always make an Act of Perfect Contrition immediately after they have committed a serious sin.

Lazerlike,

Thank you for your cogent explanation of perfect and imperfect contrition. Often perfect contrition is misunderstood as having as its SOLE motive love of God, whereas in actuality other lesser motives such as fear of Hell are compatible with perfect contrition, so long as love of God is the primary motive.

VC

(p.s. I note that true contrition, whether perfect or imperfect, is supernatural and is a grace from God. I would imagine, then, that it is a worthy thing to pray often for the grace of true contrition.)
 
this is why we always must pray to have the grace of a good death or final perseverance, because this grace is autonomous grace, it does not depend of the life -good or bad- we have performed, but it is a free grace we cannot deserve but we can obtain certainly by praying! This is why Saint Alponse Marie de Liguori empathic recommends the devotion of the Three Hail Mary and the necessity of prayer without intermission.
Especially to Our Lady Mary, Mother of God and Our Mother!!! She can obtain for each one of us what we do not deserve to obtain but ask for mercy to obtain…
 
Consider this; the vast majority of people within this world have died and will die without having confessed or even the availability of a priest at their side. This is the natural order of things and makes many of us feel much more blessed at simply being allowed to recieve the sacarments as many are not able. If God demanded that all confess in every circumstance I think he would supply the means to do so.

The church has several similiar teachings such as baptism of intent and baptism of blood, that allthough a person was never baptized in the traditional manner they were indeed baptized through their desire or scrafice (very simplistic definition though)
 
Hi karolus,

this is why we always must pray to have the grace of a good death or final perseverance

Yes, and practice works of mercy. At the Last Judgment, Christ does not speak of adultery, lying or swearing. “Whatever you did to the least of these…”

Verbum
 
CinderFury said:
help me out here, what would happen to person, let’s say he’s in a state of mortal sin, he intends to confess his sins, but before being given a chance to do he got into an accident and under imminent death. while dying he was contemplating on his sins, was asking forgiveness from God’s infinite mercy.

would that person’s soul be saved or not?

thank you for the responses.
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I don’t believe you will get a definitive answer because God is not a posting member of the forum. Only He would be able to answer. My answer would be it might be possible.
 
Let us not try to impose limits on God’s mercy. While perfect contrition is indeed what restores a man to a state of grace, I cannot perceive God turning is back on a poor soul fearful of hell, and begging his forgiveness. Even we men are capable of forgiving our offenders with such base motives.

I would also consider the OP’s scenario that indicated that the man was on his way to Confession. Surely the Lord can consider that too. He is not limited to his sacraments.

BUT: Confession is the ordinary means by which mortal sins are forgiven. THEREFORE, one is obligated to confess them at the soonest opportunity.
 
Also, remember that God desires that all be saved, including this man. God is not going to play “gotcha!” with his eternal salvation. God will provide this man all the grace necessary for the man to truly and sincerely turn to Him at the moment of his death. After that it is up to the man, for God does not kidnap humans, even kidnap them into heaven.
 
Lazerlike42 said:
If the person was sorry because **only **he did not want to go to Hell and so was sorry out of fear, he would not be forgiven. This is called imperfect contrition. Imperfect contrition is when a person has sorrow for his sins only because he fears the consequences of them or because the sins are offensive to human sentiments. For instance, a person might feel terrible that he has committed adultery just because it is so disgusting a sin.

If the person was sorry because - while he may very well not want to go to Hell and fear this - he had offended God and this alone was enough to inspire sorrow, then he would be forgiven. This is called perfect contrition. Perfect contrition is when a person has sorrow for his sins because he has offended God. Other reasons for sorrow - fear or disgust, for instance - may be present as well in a perfectly contrite person, but the sorrow for having alone offended God would be present as well, whereas it would not in an imperfectly contrtite person.

A good way to judge this is to ask oneself whether or not he would be sorry for his sins if there were no punishment involved. If I knew that there was no punishment for this act but it offended God, would I be sorry for it then?

Of course, one must never take for granted the type of contrition he has, and ought always to get to confession as soon as possible after a mortal sin.
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Do we need perfect contrition to be absolved when we go to confession, or simple contrition is enough?

Is the priest in Persona Christi when he grants us absolution?
 
Yes, this would be an extraordinay form of perfect contrition. A good example of this is the good thief.
 
Cristiano said:
Do we need perfect contrition to be absolved when we go to confession, or simple contrition is enough?
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Cristiano,

No, perfect contrition is not necessary to receive sacramental absolution. SOME form of contrition is, however. Imperfect contrition is sufficient.

That doesn’t mean, however, that we shouldn’t strive for perfect contrition in the confessional. Although absolution isn’t dependent on it, perfect contrition would dispose one to receive and cooperate more with the sacramental grace. It is a commendable aspiration. The traditional “Act of Contrition” that many people say in the confessional (I am heartily sorry for my sins. . .) encompasses perfect contrition.

VC
 
Cristiano said:
Do we need perfect contrition to be absolved when we go to confession, or simple contrition is enough?

Is the priest in Persona Christi when he grants us absolution?
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Verbum_Caro said:
Cristiano,

No, perfect contrition is not necessary to receive sacramental absolution. SOME form of contrition is, however. Imperfect contrition is sufficient.

That doesn’t mean, however, that we shouldn’t strive for perfect contrition in the confessional. Although absolution isn’t dependent on it, perfect contrition would dispose one to receive and cooperate more with the sacramental grace. It is a commendable aspiration. The traditional “Act of Contrition” that many people say in the confessional (I am heartily sorry for my sins. . .) encompasses perfect contrition.

VC
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You are correct!👍

The questions were posed to the specific posters because he appeared to imply that in the case of imperfect contrition and lack of confession (even if the intent is present) if you die you go directly to hell.

The questions were aimed to make us reflect on the full meanings and impact of contrition, confession and the mercy of God.:hmmm:
 
Remember, according to the Catachism of the Catholic Church,
1441 Only God forgives sin.
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The Sacrament of Penance is reconciliation with the Church.

So, in the OP’s scenario, the person has already ask God for forgiveness of his sin, and he/she is forgiven.

However, death came before confession, so absolution and reconciliation was not received.

God’s mercy prevails in all things.

Jim
 
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