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Perfect Contrition
Topic Started: Thursday, 29. July 2010, 11:58 (284 Views)
Poesy
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How is it possible to be in the state of grace, without perfect contrition and in the absence of confession ? What is perfect contrition?
Edited by Poesy, Thursday, 29. July 2010, 11:59.
Domine Jesu, noverim me .
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OsullivanB

Perfect contrition is a concept developed to acknowledge that God can and does forgive our sins without clerical intervention, but also to make it clear that God exercises this power in such rare instances that the sacrament of confession is the only safe bet. Whether God is so limited in his response to repentance seems to me to be an open question.
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer
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Rose of York
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Perfect contrition is sorrow for sins, because by sinning we offend God and/or neighbour.

Imperfect contrition is sorrow for sins because they deserve punishment.
Keep the Faith!

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KatyA

From the Penny Catechism:

293. What is perfect contrition?

Perfect contrition is sorrow for sin arising purely from the love of God.

294. What special value has perfect contrition?

Perfect contrition has this special value; that by it our sins are forgiven immediately, even before we confess them; but nevertheless, if they are serious, we are strictly bound to confess them afterwards.

KatyA
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Anne-Marie

OsullivanB
Thursday, 29. July 2010, 12:16
Perfect contrition is a concept developed to acknowledge that God can and does forgive our sins without clerical intervention, but also to make it clear that God exercises this power in such rare instances that the sacrament of confession is the only safe bet. Whether God is so limited in his response to repentance seems to me to be an open question.
A particularly relevant point considering that in some countries, such as those once controlled by Communists, priest and secret service were not always separate! So confessing a sin could sometimes be unacceptable (because of unacceptable consequences) even for a devout Catholic!

Question: Do/did Communists have a power of veto over God's Grace and forgiveness?
Answer: Don't be daft!
Anne-Marie
FIAT VOLUNTAS DEI
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Rose of York
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Anne-Marie
Friday, 30. July 2010, 14:34
OsullivanB
Thursday, 29. July 2010, 12:16
Perfect contrition is a concept developed to acknowledge that God can and does forgive our sins without clerical intervention, but also to make it clear that God exercises this power in such rare instances that the sacrament of confession is the only safe bet. Whether God is so limited in his response to repentance seems to me to be an open question.
A particularly relevant point considering that in some countries, such as those once controlled by Communists, priest and secret service were not always separate! So confessing a sin could sometimes be unacceptable (because of unacceptable consequences) even for a devout Catholic!

Question: Do/did Communists have a power of veto over God's Grace and forgiveness?
Answer: Don't be daft!
There have been rumours of such happenings, but I have yet to find proof and it has no relevance to the difference between perfect and imperfect contrition. I ignore rumours that are spread around with no substantial proof.

If it did happen, nobody who had reason to suspect a priest was an agent of an anti Catholic or anti Christian government would go to him to confess anything that would be of interest to the State. Whatever the virtues or vices of a priest, if he is validly ordained, so are sacraments administered by him, if he uses the correct form. Obviously if a person confessed in good faith to a person masquerading as a priest, God being a loving father would act wisely.
Keep the Faith!

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tomais

Perfect contrition ie--- being caught !
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Rose of York
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tomais, that is imperfect. Now yer know.
Keep the Faith!

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