Moral Theology Question

[Basilisa Marie]

Yeah, I definitely understand what you mean about moral conundrums. Can you weigh in on the true definition of perfect contrition?

 

No, because only God knows if you have perfect contrition.  Basically, you have to be sorry with your whole heart, whatever that means for you, and firmly resolve to not do it again.  I sort of think that the idea of perfect contrition is like a circle.  We have the idea of a perfect circle, but any circle that we draw is going to be objectively imperfect. Even ones on a computer screen aren't completely perfect. We can describe a perfect circle with words or math formulas, but no human can draw a truly perfect circle. We can't produce it.  I tend to think that when we're talking about practical applications of perfect contrition, it means that you produce as much contrition as you yourself are personally able to do at that moment in your life. We should always be striving to become more contrite. But it's a very rare thing, having perfect contrition, and usually only happens when we're faced with something as final as death. So I'd it's pretty much fruitless to try and pin down truly perfect contrition in anything other than a theoretical (or purely theological) context. 

 

We're called to do our best and trust in God's mercy.  Worrying about whether or not you have sufficiently perfect contrition either leads to 1) scrupulosity, for worry about hypothetical scenarios, or 2) spiritual laziness, if you're looking for a way out of going to confession because you don't feel like it.  Either way, not good results. :)

Edited September 9, 2013 by Basilisa Marie