Perfect Contrition

[Podo2005]

Hi,

I have a question regarding confession & perfect contrition. My understanding is that if a person is sorry for his sins out of love for God then all his sins are forgiven (even mortal sins) provided he has a firm intention of getting to confession as soon as possible. My question is this… how does one practice perfect contrition? Is it a feeling? (i.e. Immense sorrow out of Love for God) or is it an act of the will? (Even though I feel really bad/dirty etc I have a firm intention of not sinning again because I Love God). Any commentary on this would be appreciated

Your brother in Christ,
Zachary

 

[Spirithound]

Hi,

I have a question regarding confession & perfect contrition. My understanding is that if a person is sorry for his sins out of love for God then all his sins are forgiven (even mortal sins) provided he has a firm intention of getting to confession as soon as possible. My question is this… how does one practice perfect contrition? Is it a feeling? (i.e. Immense sorrow out of Love for God) or is it an act of the will? (Even though I feel really bad/dirty etc I have a firm intention of not sinning again because I Love God). Any commentary on this would be appreciated

Your brother in Christ,
Zachary

Hi Zachary,
The best way to perfect your contrition is to grow in the love of God. Deepen your prayer life, read Scripture, celebrate the sacraments. As for what contrition is, it is an act of the will. You are correct that you can feel really bad and dirty but have a firm intention to avoid that sin in the future.

 

[Bookcat]

Hi,

I have a question regarding confession & perfect contrition. My understanding is that if a person is sorry for his sins out of love for God then all his sins are forgiven (even mortal sins) provided he has a firm intention of getting to confession as soon as possible. My question is this… how does one practice perfect contrition? Is it a feeling? (i.e. Immense sorrow out of Love for God) or is it an act of the will? (Even though I feel really bad/dirty etc I have a firm intention of not sinning again because I Love God). Any commentary on this would be appreciated

Your brother in Christ,
Zachary

As the Catechism notes:

“When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity).”

but we should quickly add that *feelings *can be good and helpful and thus more fully engage our person…but are not required for contrition.

 

[JerrySeibert]

Bookcat, you amaze me at your posts. What an awesome knowledge of faith.

 

[WetCatechumen]

Hi,

I have a question regarding confession & perfect contrition. My understanding is that if a person is sorry for his sins out of love for God then all his sins are forgiven (even mortal sins) provided he has a firm intention of getting to confession as soon as possible. My question is this… how does one practice perfect contrition? Is it a feeling? (i.e. Immense sorrow out of Love for God) or is it an act of the will? (Even though I feel really bad/dirty etc I have a firm intention of not sinning again because I Love God). Any commentary on this would be appreciated

Your brother in Christ,
Zachary

Indeed. Perfect contrition is a gift from God, and not something that can be fabricated. You can pray for it, and you can strive to be freed from your sins with the help of Christ. Ultimately, this contrition is initiated by the sorrow of your heart, not sorrow that you have lost the joy of heaven or that you have gained the suffering of hell, but the true sorrow that this person, God, whom you love, you have offended and rejected by your actions. Love for him and desire for union with him is what will cause the cleansing of your sins.

Has feelings associated, but it is more than feelings. Has will associated with it, but it is more than will. It is a gift and it represents a desire, a true longing of the heart, more than a feeling, for reunion with the one you love.

It’s like you had a fight with your wife. There are basically three reasons you can apologize to her:

1.) Life is fun when she’s happy with you. She makes you food. You cuddle with her. You make love to her.
2.) Life is unpleasant when she’s unhappy with you. She doesn’t make you food. She doesn’t want to see you. You sleep alone.
3.) You love her, and the fact that you hurt her and made her mad grieves you because you don’t want her to suffer by your action, and you don’t want to be separated from her because you love her, and not because of the good or bad things that happen to you as a result of being in her good favor.

When you repent of sin for the first two options, that’s good. When you repent for the third, that’s best.

 

[Victorious]

I have a question regarding confession & perfect contrition. My understanding is that if a person is sorry for his sins out of love for God then all his sins are forgiven (even mortal sins) provided he has a firm intention of getting to confession as soon as possible. My question is this… how does one practice perfect contrition? Is it a feeling? (i.e. Immense sorrow out of Love for God) or is it an act of the will? (Even though I feel really bad/dirty etc I have a firm intention of not sinning again because I Love God).

Yep, an act of perfect contrition results in forgiveness even of mortal sins. It is contrition based on sorrow for having offended God (as opposed to imperfect contrition, which is based on fear of damnation, but which is sufficient for sacramental absolution).

It takes God’s grace to make an act of perfect contrition. I don’t know how you’d know for certain if you made one. It would certainly be a terrible thing to presume on.