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FuzzyBunny116
Guest
If we have imperfect contrition, does that mean the only way to have mortal sins forgiven is to go to Confession?
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GoLatin
Guest
Yes.:yup:
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thistle
Guest
Imperfect contrition is going to Confession to confess mortal sins when the main reason is you do not want your immortal soul condemned to Hell.
Perfect contrition is when you go to Confession to confess mortal sins when the main reason is you feel really bad that you have offended God who loves you.
Perfect contrition is when you go to Confession to confess mortal sins when the main reason is you feel really bad that you have offended God who loves you.
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Sir_Knight
Guest
Perfect contrition does not require sacramental confession for our sins to be forgiven but since there is always the possibility that our contrition is not perfect, it is a good idea to use the confessional and be certain that our sins were forgiven.
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Traditional_Ang
Guest
Sir Knight:
It’s also a good idea because Reconciliation is a HEALING Sacrament. It is in that Sacrament that God begins to HEAL the Soul of the penitent sinner.
Karl Jung claimed psychiatrists would go bankrupt if every Catholic went reguarly to the Confessional.
I believe this scripture applies to Confession and to what God does with our tendency to sin if we do as Pope John Paul II did and Pope Benedict XVI does and go frequently:
Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:4-5. NAB
This is the Sacrament to use if you’re having a hard time with sins that are really clobbering you.
In Christ, Michael
Sir Knight:
It’s also a good idea because Reconciliation is a HEALING Sacrament. It is in that Sacrament that God begins to HEAL the Soul of the penitent sinner.
Karl Jung claimed psychiatrists would go bankrupt if every Catholic went reguarly to the Confessional.
I believe this scripture applies to Confession and to what God does with our tendency to sin if we do as Pope John Paul II did and Pope Benedict XVI does and go frequently:
Fear not, you shall not be put to shame; you need not blush, for you shall not be disgraced. The shame of your youth you shall forget, the reproach of your widowhood no longer remember. For he who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. Isaiah 54:4-5. NAB
This is the Sacrament to use if you’re having a hard time with sins that are really clobbering you.
In Christ, Michael
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thistle
Guest
Sir Knight:
I would say that if you are in a state of mortal sin you must go or sincerely intend to go to Confession as soon as possible whether the act is Perfect or Imperfect Contrition.
I’m not quite clear on what you say. I could understand an act of Perfect Contrition out of Confession but the intent to go to Confession as soon a spossible thereafter must be there otherwise that would be like many Protestants who say there is no need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation because you can confess your sins in prayer directly to God without having to do so to a priest or am I misunderstanding you.
I would say that if you are in a state of mortal sin you must go or sincerely intend to go to Confession as soon as possible whether the act is Perfect or Imperfect Contrition.
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Sir_Knight
Guest
“Perfect Contrition” means that we are sorry for our sins because we have offend God and the fear of punishment is nowhere in the picture.
“Perfect Contrition” is very difficult to obtain for most of us because there still might be SOME fear of punishment and of there is ANY fear of punishment, then the Contrition isn’t Perfect.
Therefore, it is best to go to sacramental confession where we are assured of having our sins absolved even if our Contrition isn’t Perfect as long as we are sorry for them.
If, however, our Contrition was Perfect, sacramental confession would not be required for the removal of those sins.
“Perfect Contrition” is very difficult to obtain for most of us because there still might be SOME fear of punishment and of there is ANY fear of punishment, then the Contrition isn’t Perfect.
Therefore, it is best to go to sacramental confession where we are assured of having our sins absolved even if our Contrition isn’t Perfect as long as we are sorry for them.
If, however, our Contrition was Perfect, sacramental confession would not be required for the removal of those sins.
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Verbum_Caro
Guest
Sir Knight:
I think **thistle **might be on the right track here, as regards the intention to receive thesacrament as soon as possible. See The Council of Trent, 14th Session, Chapter IV (Contrition):
If, after the danger of death is resolved, and the person in fact did not die, and then is able to go to confession, he would be obligated to do so.
What do you think?
VC
Sir Knight,
I think **thistle **might be on the right track here, as regards the intention to receive thesacrament as soon as possible. See The Council of Trent, 14th Session, Chapter IV (Contrition):
So it looks like sacramental confession would be required if it were possible to get to it. Thus, were the example to be that someone who is danger of death experiences perfect contrition and then dies, the perfect contrition would absolve him of the guilt of sin. But included in that perfect contrition would be his desire to go to confession.
If, after the danger of death is resolved, and the person in fact did not die, and then is able to go to confession, he would be obligated to do so.
What do you think?
VC
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Sir_Knight
Guest
What do I think? Well, I was under the impression that perfect contrition was enough to have the sin(s) removed but that it was extremely difficult, if not impossible, for most of us to obtain perfect contrition and therefore sacramental confession should be received. Additionally, even if we did obtain perfect contrition, we could never be 100% sure of it. Thus another reason to use sacramental confession where we know with complete certainity that our sins are forgiven.
Please don’t misunderstand my position. I am not arguing AGAINST sacramental confession. Just the opposite. Due to all of the “if’s”, “and’s” and “but’s” regarding ‘perfect contrition’, I am arguing FOR sacramental confession. I am merely saying that IF one WERE to have ‘perfect contrition’, I am of the OPINION that sacramental confession would not be required.
Please don’t misunderstand my position. I am not arguing AGAINST sacramental confession. Just the opposite. Due to all of the “if’s”, “and’s” and “but’s” regarding ‘perfect contrition’, I am arguing FOR sacramental confession. I am merely saying that IF one WERE to have ‘perfect contrition’, I am of the OPINION that sacramental confession would not be required.
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Verbum_Caro
Guest
Sir Knight,
I know that you are arguing for sacramental confession, don’t worry!
I think that your definition of perfect contrition, and the fact that it can absolve one of the guilt of sin (or rather God absolves by virtue of the act), needs to be tweaked just a little bit:
namely, that in order to have perfect contrition one must intend to go to sacremental confession if possible and as soon as possible.
See the Catechism:
**
God Bless,
VC**
I know that you are arguing for sacramental confession, don’t worry!
I think that your definition of perfect contrition, and the fact that it can absolve one of the guilt of sin (or rather God absolves by virtue of the act), needs to be tweaked just a little bit:
namely, that in order to have perfect contrition one must intend to go to sacremental confession if possible and as soon as possible.
See the Catechism:
**
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
God Bless,
VC**
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Mordocai
Guest
The beautiful thing about confession is that, how can anyone be guarenteed that they’re even sorry for hurting God? With confession, Christ meets us halfway: Literally in the confessional. Imperfect contrition becomes enough for God to extend His mercy, which is all He really wants to do God will deliver justice, but He desires mercy. This enables Him to do it, because without this Sacrament, He has to rely on US being perfectly sorry, and well, He knows that aint cuttin’ it 
We’re not so reliable ya know. God knows us well enough to know we need forgiveness and grace OFTEN, but He can’t forgive outside the confessional if we aren’t sorry for hurting Him! Hence Christ’s creation of confession.
The way I figure it, is if us Catholics are right about this stuff,
WHAT A GIFT!!!
If we’re wrong, WHAT BLASPHEMY!
And since I’ve experience incredible grace through the Sacraments, I know they are Gifts of God. They are the sum total of God’s wisdom of mankind, knowing what we need and how we need it.
Does all that make sense or was I just rambling?
++ Sacraments!
God will deliver justice, but He desires mercy. This enables Him to do it, because without this Sacrament, He has to rely on US being perfectly sorry, and well, He knows that aint cuttin’ it We’re not so reliable ya know. God knows us well enough to know we need forgiveness and grace OFTEN, but He can’t forgive outside the confessional if we aren’t sorry for hurting Him! Hence Christ’s creation of confession.The way I figure it, is if us Catholics are right about this stuff,
WHAT A GIFT!!!
If we’re wrong, WHAT BLASPHEMY!
And since I’ve experience incredible grace through the Sacraments, I know they are Gifts of God. They are the sum total of God’s wisdom of mankind, knowing what we need and how we need it.
Does all that make sense or was I just rambling?
++ Sacraments!
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