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PMV
Guest
Please explain what a ‘Perfect Act of Contrition’ is and give me an example of one.
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Spooky7272
Guest
A “Perfect Act of Contrition” is Contrition where you wished you hadn’t sinned not because of punishment, but because you offended God and firmly intended never to sin against Him again. And it’s an “Act of Perfect Contrition” not a Perfect Act of Contrition.
The 5 qualities of the act of perfect contrition are:
We shall study each of these qualities:
Interior
What do we mean when we say that the act of perfect contrition must be interior? We mean that it is an interior act of the mind and will. When a priest says his Divine Office correctly but with distractions (hopefully not intended) he fulfills his obligation that the law imposes on him. If, while you confer the sacrament of baptism, you say the words carefully with the intention to baptize as the Church baptizes, you confer the sacrament even though you had distractions during the rite. The act of contrition does not work as the above cases. It is something even independent of spoken words. The mind and heart must determine everything that is said in the above form of contrition. The mere perfect recitation of the form, as one says his prayers, is not sufficient.
Supernatural
There are many elements or divisions in this quality. The act of contrition must be supernatural as to the “power” with which it is performed. It must be made under the influence of actual grace. Actual grace is the supernatural assistance that enlightens the mind to know the will of God and strengthens the will to do the will of God. Hence, before starting the act of contrition, it is good (and I encourage you to do so) to ask for this special grace. Without it, the act of contrition is useless.
Secondly, the act must be supernatural as to “motive.” Here we have 2 motives. The inferior motive (imperfect contrition) has to do with the dread of the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. The superior motive (perfect contrition) has to do with the fact that we have offended God who is all good. Together with the sacraments of Baptism and Penance, the inferior motive (fearing the loss of heaven and the pains of hell) is sufficient for forgiveness of all sins. However, outside of those sacraments, only the superior motive (being sorry for having offended God who is all good) will suffice for the forgiveness of all sins.
We must answer this question. Just why are you sorry for your sins. Is it because drinking made you sick? That is a natural motive, and it has no relation to forgiveness. While the natural motives are good in themselves, they will never work for forgiveness.
The 5 qualities of the act of perfect contrition are:
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* Interior,
* Supernatural,
* Universal,
* Supreme, and
* Intense.Interior
What do we mean when we say that the act of perfect contrition must be interior? We mean that it is an interior act of the mind and will. When a priest says his Divine Office correctly but with distractions (hopefully not intended) he fulfills his obligation that the law imposes on him. If, while you confer the sacrament of baptism, you say the words carefully with the intention to baptize as the Church baptizes, you confer the sacrament even though you had distractions during the rite. The act of contrition does not work as the above cases. It is something even independent of spoken words. The mind and heart must determine everything that is said in the above form of contrition. The mere perfect recitation of the form, as one says his prayers, is not sufficient.
Supernatural
There are many elements or divisions in this quality. The act of contrition must be supernatural as to the “power” with which it is performed. It must be made under the influence of actual grace. Actual grace is the supernatural assistance that enlightens the mind to know the will of God and strengthens the will to do the will of God. Hence, before starting the act of contrition, it is good (and I encourage you to do so) to ask for this special grace. Without it, the act of contrition is useless.
Secondly, the act must be supernatural as to “motive.” Here we have 2 motives. The inferior motive (imperfect contrition) has to do with the dread of the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. The superior motive (perfect contrition) has to do with the fact that we have offended God who is all good. Together with the sacraments of Baptism and Penance, the inferior motive (fearing the loss of heaven and the pains of hell) is sufficient for forgiveness of all sins. However, outside of those sacraments, only the superior motive (being sorry for having offended God who is all good) will suffice for the forgiveness of all sins.
We must answer this question. Just why are you sorry for your sins. Is it because drinking made you sick? That is a natural motive, and it has no relation to forgiveness. While the natural motives are good in themselves, they will never work for forgiveness.
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Spooky7272
Guest
Universal
The act of contrition must include all of the mortal sins. One may never keep even one pet sin. Thus, if a person living in adultery is very sorry for his sins of eating meat on Fridays, but will not give up his sinful life of adultery, he cannot get rid of even one sin. One either leaves all of his sins behind, or he keeps all of them for God’s just judgment at the moment of death. Unlike teeth, which when left alone, will pass away, sins, however, when left alone will never pass away.
Supreme
When We say that the act of contrition must be supreme, we are saying that we must determine that we would rather die than commit a mortal sin. We must hate mortal sin (venial sin too, if possible) even more than death itself. Just think how careful we are about our lives. We avoid death at great sacrifices. A man will throw his possessions over-board to save his life. He will avoid the company of those who have a contagious sickness in order to save his life. In like manner, we must hate sin, in the act of contrition, as the greatest evil on earth.
Intense
In the above form of contrition, we express this determination with the word “detest.” I might say that I do not like to eat spinach. However, I say that I “detest” eating rotten crow. In like manner, we do not say that we just do not like sin, but we detest it as we detest eating rotten crow.
The act of contrition must include all of the mortal sins. One may never keep even one pet sin. Thus, if a person living in adultery is very sorry for his sins of eating meat on Fridays, but will not give up his sinful life of adultery, he cannot get rid of even one sin. One either leaves all of his sins behind, or he keeps all of them for God’s just judgment at the moment of death. Unlike teeth, which when left alone, will pass away, sins, however, when left alone will never pass away.
Supreme
When We say that the act of contrition must be supreme, we are saying that we must determine that we would rather die than commit a mortal sin. We must hate mortal sin (venial sin too, if possible) even more than death itself. Just think how careful we are about our lives. We avoid death at great sacrifices. A man will throw his possessions over-board to save his life. He will avoid the company of those who have a contagious sickness in order to save his life. In like manner, we must hate sin, in the act of contrition, as the greatest evil on earth.
Intense
In the above form of contrition, we express this determination with the word “detest.” I might say that I do not like to eat spinach. However, I say that I “detest” eating rotten crow. In like manner, we do not say that we just do not like sin, but we detest it as we detest eating rotten crow.
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PMV
Guest
If one does an Act of Perfect Contrition, are they definately forgiven of all sins, mortal and venial, as long as they plan to confess their sins to a priest once given the opportunity?
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Spooky7272
Guest
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allhers
Guest
----A perfect act of contritition is to be sorry for having offended God, out of love for HIM. (you’re sincerely sorry that you offended God, whom you ought to love above all things.) In other words, you are sorry because you love HIM so much and you know you offended HIM by sinning.
When I think about the song “How Great Thou Art”, it pretty much says it for me in this verse, …“and when I think that God His Son not sparing, send Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on that cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.”— That just makes me cry so much and makes me so grateful to God, that He loves us so much, that He took even our death and gave us life.(the wages of sin is death.) He is so loving and kind and merciful, it just makes you have a really grateful, thankful heart when you mediatate on His great love for us. (I think we all ought to have perfect contrition, afterall, who else in this whole entire universe will ever love you like that?) He layed down His life for us. He took our sorrows and our sufferings. He literally died for us. Can you imagine?? (I scarce can take it in)!
As the first commandment says-“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” You are sorry that you offended Him first, not because you sinned and you are sorry because you don’t want to go to hell (that is imperfect contrition though).
I heard Fr. Corapi say that a perfect act of Contrition is to say AND mean it, not just say it, something like this: “O God, I love you and I am sorry for having offended You.” —
So, if you obey the first commandment, you won’t have any trouble keeping the other nine (makes perfect sense to me.)
He went on to say that imperfect contrition is alright inside the Sacrament of Confession, but outside of the Sacrament, you need perfect contrition. (In other words, if you don’t go to the Sacrament of Confession, (if you aren’t Catholic), or lets say that its 3:00 a.m. and you just committed a mortal sin, and no Priest that you know of is hearing confession right then–you actually have to have perfect contrition and then change your life to show it. Not just say you do). Actually change the behavior (or sinfulness) that you were committing, to do the best you can means that you really try and eventually, (or sometimes immediately), with the help of the Sacraments, (God’s grace), you actually do change.
…hope I helped, but if I didn’t, don’t quit asking, eventually something someone says or that you read will help you to understand. Sometimes I don’t express very well what it is that I actually mean. I love that verse in the Bible that says, “Come to me all you who labour, and are weary(heavy laden) and I will give you rest.”
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PMV
Guest
When someone makes an Act of Perfect Contrition they are forgiven without a doubt, or do they have hope that they were forgiven?
allhers:
The reason I started this thread is because after I go to confession and unfortunately commit a mortal sin I do not have a chance to go back to confession because the churches I’ve checked in my area only have it on Saturdays, not Sundays or weekdays. Before I knew more about making an Act of Perfect Contrition, near the beginning of the week when I would fall into mortal sin it would make the entire week basically meaningless for me, because I thought I could not possibly be truely happy again and be in a state of grace until I waited for Saturday to go back to confession.
Although said sincerely, could the Act of Perfect Contrition really be this short and then afterwards *know *that your sins are forgiven, or should it be like the usual ‘Act of Contrition’ read in the Confessional? I had the mistake of thinking that the Act of Perfect Contrition required a different, maybe longer prayer.
The reason I started this thread is because after I go to confession and unfortunately commit a mortal sin I do not have a chance to go back to confession because the churches I’ve checked in my area only have it on Saturdays, not Sundays or weekdays. Before I knew more about making an Act of Perfect Contrition, near the beginning of the week when I would fall into mortal sin it would make the entire week basically meaningless for me, because I thought I could not possibly be truely happy again and be in a state of grace until I waited for Saturday to go back to confession.
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PMV
Guest
It would be greatly appreciated if my above post is answered.
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viktor_aleksndr
Guest
I think the most perfect act of contrition is not in the words itself. The perfect act of contrition must come from the bottom of your heart. A perfect act of contrition must be prayed with great humility and true repentance. even if you dont follow the “act of contrition” on the prayerbooks and you make your own act of contrition i think it will not make any difference.
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LindaS
Guest
When I went to Catholic school (many years ago) we were taught that a perfect Act of Contrition was one where you got all the words right. An Act of Perfect Contrition was one where your sorrow for sin was because you had offended God, not just because you would be punished. As I recall, an Act of Contrition has 3 parts, an expression of sorrow (" I am heartily sorry), acknowledgement of offending God ( …because they offend You, my God), and a statement of determination not to sin again ( I firmly resolve… to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin).
Peace,
Linda
Peace,
Linda
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PMV
Guest
Mother Teresa seemed to have stated that we will be forgiven if we pray a prayer as simple as this; “Lord, I’m sorry for having offended you and I promise you I will try not to offend you again (Mother Teresa; A Simple Path, pg. 14).”
Could a prayer as simple as this, if said with sincerity (along with the intentions of the requirements for an Act of Perfect Contrition), without a doubt give us forgiveness?
Could a prayer as simple as this, if said with sincerity (along with the intentions of the requirements for an Act of Perfect Contrition), without a doubt give us forgiveness?
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