R
ready
Guest
What is an act of perfect contrition? Thanks for your help!
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Bookcat
Guest
Contrition
1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50
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.51
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.52
vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII
(note that perfect contrition is not the only way venial sins may be remitted…the CCC simply says that it does…there are many ways such can be forgiven)
1451 Among the penitent’s acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again."50
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.51
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.52
vatican.va/archive/catechism/p2s2c2a4.htm#VII
(note that perfect contrition is not the only way venial sins may be remitted…the CCC simply says that it does…there are many ways such can be forgiven)
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McatholicN
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Aren’t venial sins forgiven in confession and when we pray the forgiveness prayer at mass?
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Thanks. Bookcat!
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Bookcat
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ready
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It is my understanding that all of our sins are forgiven in confession and when we pray the penitential prayer (I confess to Almighty God, etc.) during Mass. Note: the penitential prayer remits only venial sin.
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Bookcat
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Yes…our sins can be forgiven in confession …though if your say not sorry for a venial sin …it is not forgiven for example…
one must of course be sorry etc for all mortal sins in confession for it to be valid…if one holds one back…it is an invalid confession…though if you forget one honestly…such can be absolved too (one is sorry for em all etc)…but one is obligated to confess it in the next confession after one remembers it…
Yes venial sins can be forgiven in the penitential prayer (rite) at Mass (but it does not mean that all are…for some may be not repenting etc…and there are various other ways)…mortal sins can be too …from “perfect contrition” during that rite if one has it ( or at anytime) but one is to go to confession before Holy Communion…and one needs to confess the mortal sins still…
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Bookcat
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here is a work that came out prior to the CCC from the well respected moral Theologian Fr. John Hardon…(his dictionary)
catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=35519
catholicreference.net/index.cfm?id=35519
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ready
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Thanks, Bookcat!
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ready
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Thanks again!
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ready
Guest
If a person is lost on a deserted island and there is no priest, but the person makes acts of perfect contrition while he is alone on the island: will that person’s venial sins that he is sorry for be forgiven by God or would just his mortal sins be forgiven? Thanks for any help on the matter!
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thistle
Guest
Is that a joke?
Do you really think that if mortal sins are forgiven venial sins might not be??
Venial sins do not require to be confessed.
R
ready
Guest
Bookcat pointed out in his post that venial sins we don’t repent of do not get forgiven in confession. That made me wonder about being on a deserted island with no priest and making an act of perfect contrition. I just wanted to make sure both venial and mortal sins were forgiven. Yes, a silly question now that you point it out.
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Bookcat
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It depends…
On if he has the perfect contrition of course…and of course if for example he is “holding onto” --“not sorry etc for” some sin…(venial that is)…some venial sins may still not be forgiven then…but the same goes for confession. (one can have life…and still some venial sins that are not forgiven)
(in the case of mortal sins…either they are all forgiven together (directly or indirectly) or not are forgiven…(one either has life or not)
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ready
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Thanks, Bookcat! You are a wonderful help!
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Bookcat
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Your welcome (of course one still needs to confess any mortal sins even if one believes one had perfect contrition (part of the very nature of perfect contrition…) unless of course one IS on a desert Island and one DOES get eaten by a shark before one gets back to civilization (and of course if one forgets a mortal sin…and it is absolved indirectly…one still needs to confess it at the next confession…which one does not need to make sooner…unless for it is going to take one beyond the “confess all mortal sins at least once a year mark”)
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Bookcat
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1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father’s mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:60
(some other ways venial sins can be forgiven)
1394 As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.228 By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him
CCC 1437 Reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and the Our Father - every sincere act of worship or devotion revives the spirit of conversion and repentance within us and contributes to the forgiveness of our sins.
Code:
Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made. . . . When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.611394 As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins.228 By giving himself to us Christ revives our love and enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in him
CCC 1437 Reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and the Our Father - every sincere act of worship or devotion revives the spirit of conversion and repentance within us and contributes to the forgiveness of our sins.
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ready
Guest
Thanks, Bookcat for the extra info!
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MarianD
Guest
Is another requirement for perfect contrition complete remorse? Sometimes, I am sorry for my sins not because I hate doing them, but because I know God hates them. Sometimes I think “I don’t see what’s wrong with this, but because God hates it, I’m sorry and won’t do it again” and try my best to not do it again. Is such a feeling still perfect contrition?
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ready
Guest
You should go back to one of Bookcat’s posts where he provides us with a link to Fr. Hardon’s definition of “perfect contrition.” Fr. Hardon does a good job defining it. Bookcat also quotes the Catechism of the Catholic Church in another post. Reading both posts should help you.
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