Getting saved at the last minute?

[followingtheway]

Let’s say I was a Catholic at columbine high school and that I did a couple of mortal sins before the school shooting. Then all of sudden I hear the attackers, the end is near, I look back to the mortal sins, I committed. Is there any way for someone in this situation to be absolved of their sins?

 

[funion987]

Catechism says perfect contrition will save you there:

1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again.”

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.

 

[MidnightSun12]

Unfortunately, I understand that perfect contrition is something that is extremely rare. I mean, how many of us truly turn away from sin purely out of our love of God (and not even just a little bit because we are afraid of hell)? Even during the last minutes of life when a person seems to truly repent for their past mistakes, how many truly repent and how many would fall right back into their old ways if their lives were spared and they continued to live??

This is why we always have to frequent the sacraments of reconciliation and always seek to develop a strong prayer life between God and our Holy Mother. We never know when our time is going to come, and when we’re dealing with the possibility of damnation it is MUCH better to be safe then sorry!

 

[Shin]

There’s a good book on how to make a good confession that goes into what makes good contrition, and how to make an act of perfect contrition.

There are four qualities necessary for good contrition on any level, without which it is not acceptable.

It’s good to know the answer to the question, “What are they?”