Confession

[A Yearning Heart]

I am having trouble going to confession. I find that I am having contrition when no confessions are being heard-eg, at night, outside of confession times etc. and then when I finally go to confession, the contrition feeling is gone and I have trouble remembering the things I wanted to confess. I find going to confession uncomfortable as my heart isn't contrite at that time. Any suggestions?

[Laudate_Dominum]

Hopefully one of the priests will respond in due time. The only thing I would like to suggest is that resolve is more important than the feeling of contrition. Of course one should be sufficiently prepared before approaching the Sacrament, but if you are genuinely seeking forgiveness and have resolved to sin no more, even if the emotions typically associated with compunction are not present, I see no reason why you should deny yourself the grace of Sacramental Confession.

Contrition is necessary but there are different degrees of contrition and contrition is not merely an emotional state. The Council of Trent explains it well enough.

[quote]Contrition, which holds the first place amongst the aforesaid acts of the penitent, is a sorrow of mind, and a detestation for sin committed, with the purpose of not sinning for the future. This movement of contrition was at all times necessary for obtaining the pardon of sins; and, in one who has fallen after baptism, it then at length prepares for the remissions of sins, when it is united with confidence in the divine mercy, and with the desire of performing the other things which are required for rightly receiving this sacrament. Wherefore the holy Synod declares, that this contrition contains not only a cessation from sin, and the purpose and the beginning of a new life, but also a hatred of the old, agreeably to that saying; Cast away from you all your iniquities, wherein you have transgressed, and make to yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. And assuredly he who has considered those cries of the saints; To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee, I have laboured in my groaning, every night I will wash my bed, I will recount to thee all my years, in the bitterness of my soul, and others of this kind, will easily understand that they flowed from a certain vehement hatred of their past life, and from an exceeding detestation of sins. The Synod teaches moreover, that, although it sometimes happen that this contrition is perfect through charity, and reconciles man with God before this sacrament be actually received, the said reconciliation, nevertheless, is not to be ascribed to that contrition, independently of the desire of the sacrament which is included therein. And as to that imperfect contrition, which is called attrition, because that it is commonly conceived either from the consideration of the turpitude of sin, or from the fear of hell and of punishment, It declares that if, with the hope of pardon, it exclude the wish to sin, it not only does not make a man a hypocrite, and a greater sinner, but that it is even a gift of God, and an impulse of the Holy Ghost, --who does not indeed as yet dwell in the penitent, but only moves him, --whereby the penitent being assisted prepares a way for himself unto justice. And although this (attrition) cannot of itself, without the sacrament of penance, conduct the sinner to justification, yet does it dispose him to obtain the grace of God in the sacrament of Penance. For, smitten profitably with this fear, the Ninivites, at the preaching of Jonas, did fearful penance and obtained mercy from the Lord. Wherefore falsely do some calumniate Catholic writers, as if they had maintained that the sacrament of Penance confers grace without any good motion on the part of those who receive it: a thing which the Church of God never taught, or thought: and falsely also do they assert that contrition is extorted and forced, not free and voluntary.

The Council of Trent, Session XIV, Chapter IV[/quote]

If you find yourself in the confession line and feel that you lack contrition (but aren't sure) I would recommend that you go to confession anyway and explain to the priest what you are going through and see what his counsel might be.