Need a straight answer on perfect vs. imperfect contrition

[timeandeternity]

I’ve searched everywhere, and can’t seem to find a straight answer to this:
The Catholic Church teaches that *only perfect contrition is sufficient for the forgiveness of grave sins before sacramental confession. Imperfect contrition is not *sufficient for this, but predisposes one to receive forgiveness in the sacrament of confession. On the other hand, I’ve heard many moral theologians say that if one intends to make it to confession asap, but dies before being able to get there, they will be forgiven. I’ve never heard them make a distinction between perfect and imperfect contrition in this example. So, if a person has imperfect contrition, and is on their way to confession, what happens to them?
I seem to have two contradicting pieces of information, and am not sure how or even if they can be reconciled. I and others have asked about this on these forums, and have had many varying opinions, from “God will be merciful and see your intent,” to “The Catholic Church clearly teaches that imperfect contrition is not sufficient for salvation.” I am inclined to go with the latter, since it most obviously sticks to Catholic teaching, but at the same time, this terrifies me. I currently accept it, and will continue to do so, unless someone can give me a *clear *example of Catholic teaching that shows that one can be forgiven with only imperfect contrition in this case. I really don’t want to hear something like, “Well, I can’t imagine that God would be so legalistic; after all, He is a loving God, so He would see your heart and let you be saved.” I’ve already heard this a hundred times, and it’s nothing more than opinion. Please try to find some concrete information!
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Bookcat]

A few things to note first.

Remember that Perfect Contrition does not need to be “perfect in intensity”…and is not so much about “emotions”.

Also Perfect Contrition can coexist with other lesser motives.

And I think sometimes some make it out to be that perfect contrition so rare that only the canonized Saints have it!

Now as to if one does not already have the grace of perfect contrition and dies on the way to confession?

God can give them that grace in the last moments.

He can work in ways we do not understand outside the Sacraments and outside the ordinary way of things.

On the one hand we must avoid of course “presumption” and on the other hand we must have great confidence and hope in Jesus the Good Shepherd.

 

[promethius]

I’ve searched everywhere, and can’t seem to find a straight answer to this:
The Catholic Church teaches that *only perfect contrition is sufficient for the forgiveness of grave sins before sacramental confession. Imperfect contrition is not *sufficient for this, but predisposes one to receive forgiveness in the sacrament of confession. On the other hand, I’ve heard many moral theologians say that if one intends to make it to confession asap, but dies before being able to get there, they will be forgiven. I’ve never heard them make a distinction between perfect and imperfect contrition in this example. So, if a person has imperfect contrition, and is on their way to confession, what happens to them?
I seem to have two contradicting pieces of information, and am not sure how or even if they can be reconciled. I and others have asked about this on these forums, and have had many varying opinions, from “God will be merciful and see your intent,” to “The Catholic Church clearly teaches that imperfect contrition is not sufficient for salvation.” I am inclined to go with the latter, since it most obviously sticks to Catholic teaching, but at the same time, this terrifies me. I currently accept it, and will continue to do so, unless someone can give me a *clear *example of Catholic teaching that shows that one can be forgiven with only imperfect contrition in this case. I really don’t want to hear something like, “Well, I can’t imagine that God would be so legalistic; after all, He is a loving God, so He would see your heart and let you be saved.” I’ve already heard this a hundred times, and it’s nothing more than opinion. Please try to find some concrete information!
Thanks in advance for your help.

God is merciful and you have to trust in that… not be terrified that you’re going to be eternally damned based on some technicality.

As to your question, when one dies en route to confession, we hold that they are still offered the grace and absolution (we hope) because they participate in the sacrament through desire (much as those who are baptised by desire). God is not restrained to the physical bounds of the confessional in offereing absolution or grace.

We cannot, however, say that such a person WILL be saved, merely that they MAY be offered the sacrament through desire.

 

[Pug]

I think the deepest moment of terror is as one contemplates doing a mortal sin, and not later on, if one repents. In the first case, one is imagining or planning on refusing the graces God is giving you such as the grace to stay out of mortal sin, and in the second case one is willingly working with all the graces he is giving you. It is the first that is the most terrifying.

In the second case, I wonder if fear might tend to lead to giving up (that is, stopping cooperating with the graces of repentance). So, if you are in that situation sometime, I’d just repent and move forward. No distracting yourself from your real task of repentance by wallowing in thoughts of how little you can do to aid yourself and how you ought to have done such and such six weeks ago and boy isn’t this a real drag and what was God thinking to have allowed me into such a pickle and why did Trent ever lay out that frustrating distinction between contrition and atrition, etc.

 

[thistle]

I’ve searched everywhere, and can’t seem to find a straight answer to this:
The Catholic Church teaches that *only perfect contrition is sufficient for the forgiveness of grave sins before sacramental confession. Imperfect contrition is not *sufficient for this, but predisposes one to receive forgiveness in the sacrament of confession. On the other hand, I’ve heard many moral theologians say that if one intends to make it to confession asap, but dies before being able to get there, they will be forgiven. I’ve never heard them make a distinction between perfect and imperfect contrition in this example. So, if a person has imperfect contrition, and is on their way to confession, what happens to them?
I seem to have two contradicting pieces of information, and am not sure how or even if they can be reconciled. I and others have asked about this on these forums, and have had many varying opinions, from “God will be merciful and see your intent,” to “The Catholic Church clearly teaches that imperfect contrition is not sufficient for salvation.” I am inclined to go with the latter, since it most obviously sticks to Catholic teaching, but at the same time, this terrifies me. I currently accept it, and will continue to do so, unless someone can give me a *clear *example of Catholic teaching that shows that one can be forgiven with only imperfect contrition in this case. I really don’t want to hear something like, “Well, I can’t imagine that God would be so legalistic; after all, He is a loving God, so He would see your heart and let you be saved.” I’ve already heard this a hundred times, and it’s nothing more than opinion. Please try to find some concrete information!
Thanks in advance for your help.

The Church teaching is clear on this. Imperfect Contrition does not forgive mortal sins. The intention to go or the actual act of going to Confession does not turn imperfect contrition into perfect contrition.

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.

 

[Bookcat]

The Church teaching is clear on this. Imperfect Contrition does not forgive mortal sins. The intention to go or the actual act of going to Confession does not turn imperfect contrition into perfect contrition.
.

But* God *can…

 

[thistle]

But* God *can…

Of course God is able to do anything.
However, I feel that its a cop out when people use this line because it means they either do not understand or truly believe a Church teaching and the only way they can try to find a loophole is to say God do whatever he wants.

 

[tominrichmond]

Right, and the problem with the “God can do anything He wants” theory is that it tends to lead to presumption. I’ve seen the same attitude with respect to infant baptism, where “God can do anything He wants” so don’t fret about children dying without sacramental baptism. A dangerous road to begin walking.

Bottom line: absent sacramental confession and absolution, the only way to obtain forgiveness of sins is by perfect contrition. Since it is difficult if not impossible for humans with our infinite capacity for self-delusion and justification to assess whether we’ve reached a level of perfect contrition, it is morally hazardous to rely on perfect contrition in lieu of sacramental confession.

There is a reason, after all, why Our Lord established His sacraments. They are the ordinary channels of grace.

 

[Bookcat]

Right, and the problem with the “God can do anything He wants” theory is that it tends to lead to presumption.

Hence my post…forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=8500082&postcount=2

 

[Warrior1979]

Of course God is able to do anything.

However, I feel that its a cop out when people use this line because it means they either do not understand or truly believe a Church teaching and the only way they can try to find a loophole is to say God do whatever he wants.

Others believe it put the focus where it belongs…on God.

 

[Sheadad]

Others believe it put the focus where it belongs…on God.

There is nothing wrong with putting the emphasis on God when it applies. But it doesn’t apply in this case as the nature of the sacrament is designed for man to be reconciled to God. God doesn’t get reconciled to us, we get reconciled to him by absolution. We as human beings are asked to participate in God’s plan for salvation through the sacrament of reconciliation. By participating, we make every possible effort or even consider it an emergency to get there right away. God could take care of it all, sure; but as a previous posts states, do you really want to go down that road? The end result is basically Calvanism. Take a look in Genesis and see how Abraham behaved after the Lord spoke to him. The VERY next sentence after each occasion of the Lord speaking to him he moved and moved fast. I for one would like to follow my father Abrahams example and bust my butt to confession every chance I get. Christ himself left this sacrament for us and there is NO way I’m going to leave it to chance wondering about perfect or imperfect contrition.

But to give the question credit, it always goes back to what would happen if we couldn’t get there and although it may be tough, don’t forget that Holy Mother Church is Christ’s legacy on earth. What she says about contrition goes on heaven and on earth, period.

 

[Warrior1979]

God could take care of it all, sure; but as a previous posts states, do you really want to go down that road?

It is the road we all take anyway, since in the end it is God that decides our fate. That doesn’t mean we should live a hedonistic lifestyle, or disobey God, but in the end God decides as He wishes.

 

[promethius]

Right, and the problem with the “God can do anything He wants” theory is that it tends to lead to presumption. I’ve seen the same attitude with respect to infant baptism, where “God can do anything He wants” so don’t fret about children dying without sacramental baptism. A dangerous road to begin walking.

Bottom line: absent sacramental confession and absolution, the only way to obtain forgiveness of sins is by perfect contrition. Since it is difficult if not impossible for humans with our infinite capacity for self-delusion and justification to assess whether we’ve reached a level of perfect contrition, it is morally hazardous to rely on perfect contrition in lieu of sacramental confession.

There is a reason, after all, why Our Lord established His sacraments. They are the ordinary channels of grace.

First off, God can do anything He wants is not a theory, it’s a reality.

Second, I disagree with the statement that absent sacramental confession and absolution the only way to obtain forgiveness is by perfect contrition. I sincerely doubt you believe that statement either. Let’s say hypothetical Person X is a living saint. They have never had any personal sin in their entire life. Then one day, they mess up and sin one time. Feeling contrition, but maybe not PERFECT contrition, they rush to the parish to confess. As they go to turn into the parish, a semi truck runs a light and kills them. Now you’re going to tell me that this person who lived a holy life and was seeking out the sacrament burns in hell forever for this? If that’s the case, God can keep heaven, because salvation would be pointless.

The point of saying that God can do what He wants is that God knows our intent as well or better than we do, therefore participation in a sacrament BY DESIRE is possible. This is not to say that sacramental grace is not still required, but that confession and absolution are not necessary if God chooses to ignore that particular formula in the case of a child who dies without baptism or a person who dies en route to confession.

 

[thistle]

First off, God can do anything He wants is not a theory, it’s a reality.

Second, I disagree with the statement that absent sacramental confession and absolution the only way to obtain forgiveness is by perfect contrition. I sincerely doubt you believe that statement either. Let’s say hypothetical Person X is a living saint. They have never had any personal sin in their entire life. Then one day, they mess up and sin one time. Feeling contrition, but maybe not PERFECT contrition, they rush to the parish to confess. As they go to turn into the parish, a semi truck runs a light and kills them. Now you’re going to tell me that this person who lived a holy life and was seeking out the sacrament burns in hell forever for this? If that’s the case, God can keep heaven, because salvation would be pointless.

The point of saying that God can do what He wants is that God knows our intent as well or better than we do, therefore participation in a sacrament BY DESIRE is possible. This is not to say that sacramental grace is not still required, but that confession and absolution are not necessary if God chooses to ignore that particular formula in the case of a child who dies without baptism or a person who dies en route to confession.

Perfect Contrition forgives sins (die on the way to Confession you are saved).
Imperfect Contrition does NOT forgive sins (die on the way to Confession you are not saved).

This is the Church teaching and the teachings of the Church have the authority of God supporting them.

The unbaptised is a separate issue and not the subject here.

 

[fred_conty]

First off, God can do anything He wants is not a theory, it’s a reality.

Second, I disagree with the statement that absent sacramental confession and absolution the only way to obtain forgiveness is by perfect contrition. I sincerely doubt you believe that statement either. Let’s say hypothetical Person X is a living saint. They have never had any personal sin in their entire life. Then one day, they mess up and sin one time. Feeling contrition, but maybe not PERFECT contrition, they rush to the parish to confess. As they go to turn into the parish, a semi truck runs a light and kills them. Now you’re going to tell me that this person who lived a holy life and was seeking out the sacrament burns in hell forever for this? If that’s the case, God can keep heaven, because salvation would be pointless.

The point of saying that God can do what He wants is that God knows our intent as well or better than we do, therefore participation in a sacrament BY DESIRE is possible. This is not to say that sacramental grace is not still required, but that confession and absolution are not necessary if God chooses to ignore that particular formula in the case of a child who dies without baptism or a person who dies en route to confession.

This hypothetical example is unbelievable for two reasons. The person in love with God and that close to God would not commit the sin. Or if so, they would only have perfect love in their heart to begin with, which is what perfect contrition is.

Another name for imperfect contrition is self-centered contrition, because of the fear of punishment and not because they grieved the one they loved, which is not self-centered but focused on our divine saviour who deserves all our love. By the way, everyone, and I mean all christians, should look at the cross, see the pain, and it will be easy to love him perfectly which he deserves. This is praying the cross.

Habitual sinners are very self-centered and find it difficult to think of anyone else except themselves and maybe their friends. In this case, perfect sorrow would be difficult. So Jesus gave his Church the power to forgive them in confession because He desires everyone to be with Him in paradise.

 

[Bookcat]

Perfect Contrition forgives sins (die on the way to Confession you are saved).
Imperfect Contrition does NOT forgive sins (die on the way to Confession you are not saved).
.

God can bring the imperfect contrition to be perfect contrition…in those last moments…

God can give them that grace in the last moments. Such is possible.

He can work in ways we do not understand outside the Sacraments and outside the ordinary way of things.

On the one hand we must avoid of course “presumption” and on the other hand we must have great confidence and hope in Jesus the Good Shepherd.