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Shondee
Guest
If you were to die before able to go to confession, but had every intention of going at the first opportunity, what happens?
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thistle
Guest
If you are in a state of mortal sin and simply intend to go to Confession but die before getting there you go to Hell.
If, however, you make an act of perfect contrition which is conditional upon the firm intent to get to Confession but die before getting there you would be saved. The problem is how would anyone actually know if they had really made an act of perfect contrition.
Perfect contrition means the primary motivation for the contrition is genuine sorrow for having offended God.
On the other hand an act of imperfect contrition is primarily motivated by fear of going to Hell and even with the intent of going to Confession this does not forgive mortal sins if you die before getting to Confession.
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thistle
Guest
If you are in a state of mortal sin and simply intend to go to Confession but die before getting there without having made an act pf perfect contrition you go to Hell.
If, however, you make an act of perfect contrition which is conditional upon the firm intent to get to Confession but die before getting there you would be saved. The problem is how would anyone actually know if they had really made an act of perfect contrition.
Perfect contrition means the primary motivation for the contrition is genuine sorrow for having offended God.
On the other hand an act of imperfect contrition is primarily motivated by fear of going to Hell and even with the intent of going to Confession this does not forgive mortal sins if you die before getting to Confession.
CCC 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.
CCC 1453 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.
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Shondee
Guest
…how could a loving God do that? some churches only have conffessions heard for one hour once a week. I’ve seen priests at my parish turn people away because there isn’t enough time. How can that be true?
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ahs
Guest
A loving God doesn’t “do that”. You must remember, it is not God that caused us to sin. We choose sin. It is “we” who “do that”, and God allows us the freedom to live as we please, even if it means we reject Him for all eternity.
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Shondee
Guest
No, i mean, how can your intense desire for penance not count for ANYTHING?
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ahs
Guest
Oh. Well, we can’t be sure that it doesn’t. We can never really know the extent of God’s mercy…until we experience it I suppose. God can do ANYTHING afterall, including giving a person “perfect contrition” prior to/during death. But we should not bet on that. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. God knows our hearts…He knows our sincerity…or lack of.
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thistle
Guest
It means get off your butt and get to Confession before you die!
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Pitcharan
Guest
God will never snub a repentant sinner. He will do any number of miracles to ensure that a repentant sinner’s confession is heard.
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Shondee
Guest
That’s uncharitable. SOME of us live in a city with no catholic churches, or a church that only hears confessions for one hour a week and doesn’t take appointments. What then?
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thistle
Guest
Don’t commit a mortal sin!
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thistle
Guest
Are you Catholic? Your profile doesn’t indicate any religion.
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Suni_Moon
Guest
So, let me get this straight… If you’re seriously regretting what you did, and you’re seeking forgiveness, and you want to confess… But you die before you can… You go to hell?
So… Basically you people responding arenimplying that if someone committed a mortal sin, rushed to confession, but got hit on a bus on the way there, they’d got to hell?
… Okay, I’m done. I am DONE.
I know a bit about what your church teaches, and that doesn’t sound right.
CAF, sometimes you seriously disgust me. DISGUST ME.
So… Basically you people responding arenimplying that if someone committed a mortal sin, rushed to confession, but got hit on a bus on the way there, they’d got to hell?
… Okay, I’m done. I am DONE.
I know a bit about what your church teaches, and that doesn’t sound right.
CAF, sometimes you seriously disgust me. DISGUST ME.
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Shondee
Guest
Well Missy high and mighty, I’m glad YOU’RE perfect, but SOME of us DO stumble. that’s what confession is FOR.
and yes, I’m Catholic
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thistle
Guest
So your answer is to rush off sulking without even trying to learn the teachings and what lies behind them.
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Suni_Moon
Guest
No, she means how can a loving God ignore attempts to make it to confession… Because as I said, you’re implying that if someone had the intent to confess, but couldn’t make, they’d go to hell if they died right then.
You’re seriously implying that?
This isn’t a matter of getting off your lazy butt and getting to confession, this is a matter of someone TRYING to the best of their capability to repent here, but having their lives cut short before managing to, and YOU are implying they would go to hell.
… And then you people often turn around, and wonder why non christian people seem so opposed to Christianity…
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thistle
Guest
First off I’m a man. Second I’m not perfect but thanks for your sarcastic comment anyway!
When I stumble I do everything I can to get to Confession as soon as possible. You just seem to be complaining.
By the way you have the right to contact a priest and set an appointment for Confession outside normal Confession times. Have you done that?
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Luvtosew
Guest
Shondee, go to confession as soon as you can,
and lets pray that Thistle doesn’t get in a deadly accident on his way to confession.
and lets pray that Thistle doesn’t get in a deadly accident on his way to confession.
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ThereWasADream
Guest
Thistle, you are wrong. Not only that, but you are being really…uncharitable about it. I’m starting to not like that word anymore but it’s true.
The very act of being sorry for a sin and intending to confess is a perfect act of contrition. This of course does not replace a confession, because if the person is truly sorry for their sin and fully intends to go to confession, they will.
As answered by a CAF Apologist: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=74147&highlight=mortal
The very act of being sorry for a sin and intending to confess is a perfect act of contrition. This of course does not replace a confession, because if the person is truly sorry for their sin and fully intends to go to confession, they will.
As answered by a CAF Apologist: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=74147&highlight=mortal
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Pitcharan
Guest
Thistle will never ever have a deadly accident on his way to confession. He is being grossly misunderstood just because he empahsized the need of the hour rather bluntlyShondee, go to confession as soon as you can,
and lets pray that Thistle doesn’t get in a deadly accident on his way to confession.
I dont think that Thistle is wrong; he might have sounded so but I don’t think his remarks where made uncharitably. I feel he means very good and I see nothing bad in his suggestions. Could you specify the ‘uncharitable’ thing if any?
Only the HS can discern ‘perfect contrition of heart’.
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