Forgivness Of Sin Without A Priest

[Cruce]

If one is close to death and there is no priest available (say a car accident) does an Act of Perfect Contrition wipe away mortal sin and restore us to a state of grace? It would seem harsh to go to Hell just because a priest isn't at hand.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Cruce' date='04 December 2009 - 08:49 PM' timestamp='1259981358' post='2014632']
If one is close to death and there is no priest available (say a car accident) does an Act of Perfect Contrition wipe away mortal sin and restore us to a state of grace? It would seem harsh to go to Hell just because a priest isn't at hand.
[/quote]
Yes.

[Cruce]

Does a perfect act of contrition work for a non-Catholic? Say someone who was driving to the parish to enroll in RCIA then totaled the car :s

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Cruce' date='04 December 2009 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1259981711' post='2014639']
Does a perfect act of contrition work for a non-Catholic? Say someone who was driving to the parish to enroll in RCIA then totaled the car :s
[/quote]
If they were perfectly contrite for their mortal sins, then yes. The tricky part is what exactly their mortal sins are..... but I'd say it's definitely possible.

[PizzaSandwhich]

God only knows, literally.

[Nihil Obstat]

(You may get a more complete answer if you post this in the Q&A section. )

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

I mean, there is NO Guarantee, but we have faith, the Church teaches that the Baptized can be granted eternal life with God, its a condition. some are baptized by water, according to the trinitarian formula, some are baptized in blood of martyrdom, some are baptized in desire, i think that covers your case.
CCC 1259-1260
For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
"Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery." Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity.

[CatherineM]

I have no clue who will eventually end up in Hell. That is so above my pay grade. I, however, don't intend to try to escape Hell by loophole. If you don't take a drink, you never get the hangover. So, if you never do the moral sin, or at least don't do one while a large truck is bearing down on you, you won't have to worry about if God will forgive you or not. Get thee to confession and put your mind at ease.

[Cruce]

Don't commit mortal sin? Much easier said than done.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='Cruce' date='04 December 2009 - 11:41 PM' timestamp='1259991712' post='2014816']
Don't commit mortal sin? Much easier said than done.
[/quote]
Boy, don't I know it. I once had a priest say when he say me coming in the confessional, "not you again." Another one dropped his book just like what happened in "league of their own" when Madonna went in the confessional.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Cruce' date='04 December 2009 - 09:49 PM' timestamp='1259981358' post='2014632']
If one is close to death and there is no priest available (say a car accident) does an Act of Perfect Contrition wipe away mortal sin and restore us to a state of grace?
[/quote]

Not only can one be forgiven of a mortal sin by an act of perfect contrition when one is dying, one can be forgiven in such a manner at any time, provided one has the intention of confessing as soon as one can.

"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." ([i]Catechism of the Catholic Church[/i] 1452)

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Resurrexi' date='05 December 2009 - 03:29 AM' timestamp='1260005351' post='2014928']
Not only can one be forgiven of a mortal sin by an act of perfect contrition when one is dying, one can be forgiven in such a manner at any time, provided one has the intention of confessing as soon as one can.

"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." ([i]Catechism of the Catholic Church[/i] 1452)
[/quote]
I was wondering about an interesting angle in this situation after I left for the night. If the person were unbaptized, but intending to be baptized, would baptism if desire erase their sins?

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' date='05 December 2009 - 01:07 PM' timestamp='1260036456' post='2014993']
I was wondering about an interesting angle in this situation after I left for the night. If the person were unbaptized, but intending to be baptized, would baptism if desire erase their sins?
[/quote]

The following is from a theology book I have, and it should answer your question:
[quote]
Baptism of desire is the explicit or implicit desire for sacramental baptism associated with perfect contrition (contrition based on charity).

Baptism of desire works ex opere operantis. It bestows sanctifying grace, which remits original sin, all actual sins, and the eternal punishments for sin. Venial sins and temporal punishments of sin are remitted according to the intensity of the subjective disposition. The baptismal character is not imprinted, nor is it the gateway to the other sacraments. [/quote]

[Nihil Obstat]

That does indeed answer that.

[Christie_M]

what is the Act of Perfect Contrition?