What is the requisite contrition/amendment?

[PraiseChrist]

Dear CAF members,

Can someone tell me the necessary contrition that we ought to have?
Also, what if one were to keep falling into sins, like sins against Faith, and they don’t know if they can amend their lives, and be sorry for those things?

Thank you

 

[Gertabelle]

Dear CAF members,

Can someone tell me the necessary contrition that we ought to have?
Also, what if one were to keep falling into sins, like sins against Faith, and they don’t know if they can amend their lives, and be sorry for those things?

Thank you

Just getting your rear end into that confessional shows enough contrition and desire to amend, even if you don’t have belief that you can amend, and even if you have little or no emotional contrition.

If you care enough to confess, even if it’s for fear of hell, or out of obedience “because the Church says I have to” – you are demonstrating God’s grace at work in your heart. Progress in virtue will follow.



God bless you!

 

[PraiseChrist]

Thanks a lot, very good response

 

[Vico]

Dear CAF members,

Can someone tell me the necessary contrition that we ought to have?
Also, what if one were to keep falling into sins, like sins against Faith, and they don’t know if they can amend their lives, and be sorry for those things?

Thank you

The minimum necessary for absolution of mortal sin, is that you regret committing the sin and intend not to repeat it and to avoid near occasions of it. That minimal regret is called imperfect contrition, from the Catechism:

**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

52 Cf. Council of Trent (1551): Denzinger-Schönmetzer Enchiridion Symbolorum1678; 1705.