Perfect And Imperfect Contrition

[let_go_let_God]

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.

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.


A couple of quick questions.

The difference between perfect and imperfect contrition is that a person is actively seeking Reconciliation VS the knowledge that one should receive penance or is afraid for the state of their soul?

Can imperfect contrition become perfect?

If one dies in a state of mortal sin but is seeking perfect contrition, (knowing that we cannot judge) would they still be sent to hell?

I hope this made sense. I'm trying to get as much clarification for my youth group kids as possible.

God bless-
LGLG

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Short answers in [b]bold[/b], elaboration in [i]italics[/i].

1. [b]No, the difference is in the state of contrition itself. Let's put it this way: perfect contrition is being truly sorry because I have offended the God I love; imperfect contrition is being sorry because I fear punishment. Perfect contrition is based on the love of God primarily, whereas imperfect contrition is based on fear of punishment (which is really love of self, that is, the desire not to make oneself suffer, but this is a good love of self, not a bad, prideful kind). That is the essential difference between the two. However, they also have different effects. Perfect contrition is completely open to the grace of God and so may remove even mortal sin outside of Confession.[/b] [i]However, a truly sorry person will still want to do things the way God has set forth, that is, go to Confession, because a person who is perfectly contrite will be in favor of God's will. So the whole "perfect contrition forgives mortal sin" can never be used as an excuse to avoid Confession (as I've heard it used by some). The Church mostly emphasizes that power of perfect contrition in reference to those who may die before being able to make perfect contrition. Hypothetical example: a seminarian in Poland during the war commits a mortal sin. Nazis come to the door. He intended to go to Confession, but didn't have the opportunity. If he has perfect contrition, his sin is forgiven. Imperfect contrition does not have this power because it is not completely open to grace. Imperfect contrition in Confession, however, is sufficient for the sacrament.[/i]

2. [b]Imperfect contrition is entirely different from perfect contrition because they are each based on different things. I think it would be more accurate to say that perfect contrition (which is based on love) may replace or supersede imperfect contrition (which is based on fear). "Perfect love casts out all fear" (1 John 4:18). However, yes, you can go from imperfect contrition to perfect, if the Holy Spirit moves you thus.[/b] [i]Whether it is possible to have both I think depends on how you define things. On the one hand, if we have perfect love of God (perfect contrition), then we should have no fear of hell in the sense that we fear we may suffer it. I think the fear of hell we may experience in imperfect contrition may, in the light of perfect contrition, be transformed into awe (i.e. it will go from "I am afraid of being cast into hell" to "I have fear of the awesome justice of God, from which I deserve a sentence of hell, but praise God for his mercy, I am truly sorrowful for offending Him whom my heart loves!"). I think it is quite natural for us as creatures to begin generally with imperfect contrition, which we really ought to redirect into perfect contrition, although it's possible the fear of hell may stick around, either as fear or awe. That's one of the things that makes the natural progression of the Act of Contrition so beautiful: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell [color="#FF0000"][imperfect contrition][/color], but most of all because I love Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love [color="#FF0000"][perfect contrition][/color]..." The prayer acknowledges our human fear, but then directs us to reflect on the real gravity of sin: as terrible as the pains of hell are, having offended God is infinitely worse. The shift from imperfect to perfect contrition reflects a change of focus from myself to God.[/i]

3. [b]As you say, ultimately we don't know the fate of any one soul. I think it is wise to pray for such a soul and hope that if they were seeking the moral strength of perfect contrition, then they were truly open to it when God offered that grace. If they were, then they died in a state of grace through their perfect contrition.[/b] [i]Personally, I tend to think that if we are truly seeking to have perfect contrition, then God will oblige us with the necessary grace, even at the very moment of death that may be unseen to those around us. Of course, it would be the additional sin of presumption to think, "I need not be sorry now or stop committing my sins, I'll just make a deathbed confession or a prayer of perfect contrition when the time comes." A person who lives like that will be unlikely to muster true sorrow after casting it off for so long. Still, it's not impossible.[/i]

If you're teaching this to youth group kids, I would suggest being very clear that these are not things to tinker with. Now is the time of repentance! "Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison" (Matthew 5:25). It is unwise to presume on God's mercy and put off repentance or conversion. In fact, such a lifestyle would be completely incompatible with perfect contrition, making it very difficult to have perfect contrition (which comes from love of God above all else) after choosing ourselves and sin over God our whole lives. The only way to love God and respond to His offer of mercy is to embrace it wholeheartedly, as best you can, and go to Confession frequently, especially if you are in mortal sin. All the lukewarm will eventually sift into one of two piles, those who love God and those who hate God. He Himself says there are no other camps.

God bless,

Micah

[Thy Geekdom Come]

I would also add that self-mortification, self-denial, self-mastery, and discipline are keys to contrition. These things help us to love God over all things by removing everything in our lives we prefer to God (isn't this exactly what God did to the Israelites again and again?).

Which reminds me...I have to stop being such a softie on penance for myself.