The right intentions

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Greenfields

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I was wondering if someone was in a state of mortal sin and was for example killed in a car crash on the way to confession ,where would they stand with God?
Or a dying person unable to have their confession heard,but with all their heart desired that they could?
 
Okay, so this person could not receive the last rites nor the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). If he makes perfect contrition, he has remission of sins. Perfect contrition means to repent and admit your sin out of your love for God, not out of your fear of His wrath (the latter being known as imperfect contrition; a person can have both). The Anointing of the Sick, more popularly known as last rites, is important. Here’s what the CCC says:
[The last rites are for] uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of penance; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul; the preparation for passing over to eternal life. (CCC 1532)
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So without the last rites, confession, or an act of perfect contrition, this man has a mortal sin on his soul. The CCC says on such a matter:
To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him forever by our own free choice. (CCC 1033)
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However, there may be exceptions: God may, as He is merciful and loving, grant this man a pardon. Or, the Church may grant him remission of sins. For example, there were so many people dying during the Black Death (1346-1353) that the Pope allowed for remission of sins for the dying because there was not enough clergy to anoint the sick.

(CA source)
 
Those two situations would require that the person have perfect contrition for their sins. If they do not have perfect contrition, their mortal sins would not be pardoned and they would go to Hell.
 
Hatikvah said:
Okay, so this person could not receive the last rites nor the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). If he makes perfect contrition, he has remission of sins. Perfect contrition means to repent and admit your sin out of your love for God, not out of your fear of His wrath (the latter being known as imperfect contrition; a person can have both). The Anointing of the Sick, more popularly known as last rites, is important. Here’s what the CCC says:

So without the last rites, confession, or an act of perfect contrition, this man has a mortal sin on his soul. The CCC says on such a matter:

However, there may be exceptions: God may, as He is merciful and loving, grant this man a pardon. Or, the Church may grant him remission of sins. For example, there were so many people dying during the Black Death (1346-1353) that the Pope allowed for remission of sins for the dying because there was not enough clergy to anoint the sick.

(CA source)
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Last rites refers to the three Sacraments received at the point of death: the Sacraments of Penance, Extreme Unction, and Viaticum. Last rites doesn’t only mean Extreme Unction, even though you receive Extreme Unction when you are given the last rites. Just to clear that up.
 
Confiteor_Deo said:
Last rites refers to the three Sacraments received at the point of death: the Sacraments of Penance, Extreme Unction, and Viaticum. Last rites doesn’t only mean Extreme Unction, even though you receive Extreme Unction when you are given the last rites. Just to clear that up.
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Oops. Sorry. Thanks for correcting me (I’m new to this field and don’t have much personal experience).
 
Look at the scenario offered carefully. He was on the way to Confession when killed. It would seem reasonable that it was his intention to ask for the full forgiveness of his sins to a priest who would pardon him. Now all the poor bloke has to fall back on is his intention. We can have imperfect contrition from the fear of punishment right alongside a sorrow for the insult to his God. It would be perfectly reasonable to suggest he had both. Only Jesus would know. But if His teachings are any guide He will find a way to welcome a prodigal who after all, was only a few miles back to his Father. Jesus never let a pilpul stand in the way of His mercy. I rely very heavily on that fact myself.
 
Petaro said:
Look at the scenario offered carefully. He was on the way to Confession when killed. It would seem reasonable that it was his intention to ask for the full forgiveness of his sins to a priest who would pardon him. Now all the poor bloke has to fall back on is his intention. We can have imperfect contrition from the fear of punishment right alongside a sorrow for the insult to his God. It would be perfectly reasonable to suggest he had both. Only Jesus would know. But if His teachings are any guide He will find a way to welcome a prodigal who after all, was only a few miles back to his Father. Jesus never let a pilpul stand in the way of His mercy. I rely very heavily on that fact myself.
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It cannot be assumed that a person on their way to Confession has already made an act of perfect contrition (they may or may not have), and the action of going to Confession does not constitute an act of perfect contrition.
 
thistle said:
It cannot be assumed that a person on their way to Confession has already made an act of perfect contrition (they may or may not have), and the action of going to Confession does not constitute an act of perfect contrition.
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As Fr. Eric Filmer Apologist states in a CAF post:

"Although we should strive to have perfect contrition for our sins, CCC #1453 clarifies that having imperfect contrition allows for the forgiveness of our sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Or, in the words of the Baltimore Catechism (#401), “To receive the sacrament of Penance worthily, imperfect contrition is sufficient.”

Thus, if he got to confession, whether his contrition was perfect or imperfect, he would have been forgiven. I find it difficult to accept that God would let him die on the way up the hill and condemn him to hell for all eternity, whilst in good conscience he was doing his best to request the mercy of his Father.
 
Petaro said:
As Fr. Eric Filmer Apologist states in a CAF post:

"Although we should strive to have perfect contrition for our sins, CCC #1453 clarifies that having imperfect contrition allows for the forgiveness of our sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Or, in the words of the Baltimore Catechism (#401), “To receive the sacrament of Penance worthily, imperfect contrition is sufficient.”

Thus, if he got to confession, whether his contrition was perfect or imperfect, he would have been forgiven. I find it difficult to accept that God would let him die on the way up the hill and condemn him to hell for all eternity, whilst in good conscience he was doing his best to request the mercy of his Father.
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However, that is not what the Church teaches. Father is expressing his personal opinion.
 
Confiteor_Deo said:
Those two situations would require that the person have perfect contrition for their sins. If they do not have perfect contrition, their mortal sins would not be pardoned and they would go to Hell.
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Yes that is our understanding; however, we cannot ever say that anyone has went to hell. Only the Church can even say who is Heaven, and that’s through the canonization of saints. God’s Mercy is endless, thankfully. It’s not a ironclad business contract with no exceptions or compassion or Mercy.
 
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