A Sunday Thought to Start the Week Off Right
The last two Sundays we've been discussing perfect contrition: what it is as well as how and why we should make an act of perfect contrition often. Now let's look at its effect on us. For that we'll again turn again to a little booklet written in 1904 by Rev. J. Von Den Driesch, Perfect Contrition: The Golden Key to Paradise.
“What are the effects of perfect contrition? Exceedingly great! It always and immediately produces in the sinner forgiveness of sins before he has confessed them in the Sacrament of Penance (but he must have the intention of confessing them later, for this intention is necessarily included in perfect contrition); and perfect contrition produces this effect not merely in danger of death, but whenever it is excited in the heart. The sinner therefore obtains the remission of the punishment of hell, from being an enemy he becomes a child of God and an heir of heaven, and his former merits revive. In the just man, perfect contrition secures and increases the state of grace, remits venial sins of which he repents in the act of contrition. It also remits the punishment due to sin, secures and strengthens the soul in the true and steadfast love of God. This is the great miracle of the love and mercy of God which He works in the Christian soul through perfect contrition."
It's worth re-reading this section. Isn't it astounding? We not only receive forgiveness, but also remission of the punishment due to sin when we make an act of perfect contrition. Who wouldn't want that?
Note also, however, just as we saw in our recent Sunday mini-series on the Sacrament of Confession, we must intend to get to confession after making our acts of perfect contrition. With that in mind, we should develop the habit of making frequent acts of perfect contrition along with the habit of regular (once a month?) confession.
Now, given what we've just learned, some of us might find it hard to believe. How do we know that our author has conveyed accurately the effects of perfect contrition? Our author addresses this:
"These effects of perfect contrition are so great, that they might appear to you incredible. You have heard that a person should make an act of contrition in danger of death, but as you may think it scarcely possible that perfect contrition works such divine wonders in health and at all times, we will see whether this statement is true and can be proven. Yes, the truth about perfect contrition is as firmly established as the rock on which the Church is built, and as the Word of God.
“In the general Council of Trent, the Church has placed in clear and unmistakable light the most important dogmas of faith which were always taught in the Church. This great Council teaches: ‘Perfect contrition, contrition from love of God, justifies man and reconciles him with God even before the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.’"
While we've already established the necessity of getting to confession to, in a sense, complete our act of perfect contrition, our author here not only reiterates that this is essential, but exactly why it is:
“But now you may say: ‘If perfect contrition remits sin, why go to Confession?’ It is true that perfect contrition effects what the Sacrament of Penance effects, namely, the forgiveness of sin; but it does not produce this effect independently of the Sacrament of Penance. The sinner must have the intention of confessing the sins forgiven by perfect contrition; at least all mortal sins must be confessed; for so it has been ordained by Christ, and His ordinance cannot be changed. Should anyone refuse to confess the sins already forgiven by perfect contrition, these sins, it is true, would not revive, but the sinner would lose the state of grace because he is unwilling to fulfill the bounden duty of confession. Must we, after making an act of contrition for sins committed, confess them as soon as possible? It is not strictly necessary, but advisable and most earnestly to be recommended, because then you are more certain of having obtained forgiveness, and because the Sacrament of Penance confers other great graces, called actual sacramental graces."
Of special note: the Sacrament of Penance confers other great graces called sacramental graces. When I first understood that obtaining forgiveness for my sins wasn't the only effect of a good confession, but that one could obtain graces that would then help in avoiding sin in the future, it helped me develop the habit of regular confession. Before that I had the tendency to base my confessions on a review - a listing really - of my sins. If things weren't too bad, I'd sometimes wait. I know, it's an idiotic approach, but there it is. But this idea of obtaining graces really got me on board the "once a month" train.
Now here's another benefit from the practice of ongoing acts of perfect contrition combined with the understanding of the graces obtained from going to confession. There's really no temptation to delay or even avoid confession after making an act of perfect contrition. In fact, I must say that the habit of seeking forgiveness for sins apart from going to confession, and the even better habit of doing so with perfect contrition, has made going to confession a simpler and easier process. No longer do I wait to conduct a thorough examination of conscience before getting to the confessional. I'm more of less on top of things already, so no need for what was once a tedious, even nerve-wracking experience.
We'll leave off here with all the good news about the effects of perfect contrition and pick up again next Sunday. If you've got a few minutes during the week, check in with us for our regular weekday posts.
“What are the effects of perfect contrition? Exceedingly great! It always and immediately produces in the sinner forgiveness of sins before he has confessed them in the Sacrament of Penance (but he must have the intention of confessing them later, for this intention is necessarily included in perfect contrition); and perfect contrition produces this effect not merely in danger of death, but whenever it is excited in the heart. The sinner therefore obtains the remission of the punishment of hell, from being an enemy he becomes a child of God and an heir of heaven, and his former merits revive. In the just man, perfect contrition secures and increases the state of grace, remits venial sins of which he repents in the act of contrition. It also remits the punishment due to sin, secures and strengthens the soul in the true and steadfast love of God. This is the great miracle of the love and mercy of God which He works in the Christian soul through perfect contrition."
It's worth re-reading this section. Isn't it astounding? We not only receive forgiveness, but also remission of the punishment due to sin when we make an act of perfect contrition. Who wouldn't want that?
Note also, however, just as we saw in our recent Sunday mini-series on the Sacrament of Confession, we must intend to get to confession after making our acts of perfect contrition. With that in mind, we should develop the habit of making frequent acts of perfect contrition along with the habit of regular (once a month?) confession.
Now, given what we've just learned, some of us might find it hard to believe. How do we know that our author has conveyed accurately the effects of perfect contrition? Our author addresses this:
"These effects of perfect contrition are so great, that they might appear to you incredible. You have heard that a person should make an act of contrition in danger of death, but as you may think it scarcely possible that perfect contrition works such divine wonders in health and at all times, we will see whether this statement is true and can be proven. Yes, the truth about perfect contrition is as firmly established as the rock on which the Church is built, and as the Word of God.
“In the general Council of Trent, the Church has placed in clear and unmistakable light the most important dogmas of faith which were always taught in the Church. This great Council teaches: ‘Perfect contrition, contrition from love of God, justifies man and reconciles him with God even before the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.’"
While we've already established the necessity of getting to confession to, in a sense, complete our act of perfect contrition, our author here not only reiterates that this is essential, but exactly why it is:
“But now you may say: ‘If perfect contrition remits sin, why go to Confession?’ It is true that perfect contrition effects what the Sacrament of Penance effects, namely, the forgiveness of sin; but it does not produce this effect independently of the Sacrament of Penance. The sinner must have the intention of confessing the sins forgiven by perfect contrition; at least all mortal sins must be confessed; for so it has been ordained by Christ, and His ordinance cannot be changed. Should anyone refuse to confess the sins already forgiven by perfect contrition, these sins, it is true, would not revive, but the sinner would lose the state of grace because he is unwilling to fulfill the bounden duty of confession. Must we, after making an act of contrition for sins committed, confess them as soon as possible? It is not strictly necessary, but advisable and most earnestly to be recommended, because then you are more certain of having obtained forgiveness, and because the Sacrament of Penance confers other great graces, called actual sacramental graces."
Of special note: the Sacrament of Penance confers other great graces called sacramental graces. When I first understood that obtaining forgiveness for my sins wasn't the only effect of a good confession, but that one could obtain graces that would then help in avoiding sin in the future, it helped me develop the habit of regular confession. Before that I had the tendency to base my confessions on a review - a listing really - of my sins. If things weren't too bad, I'd sometimes wait. I know, it's an idiotic approach, but there it is. But this idea of obtaining graces really got me on board the "once a month" train.
Now here's another benefit from the practice of ongoing acts of perfect contrition combined with the understanding of the graces obtained from going to confession. There's really no temptation to delay or even avoid confession after making an act of perfect contrition. In fact, I must say that the habit of seeking forgiveness for sins apart from going to confession, and the even better habit of doing so with perfect contrition, has made going to confession a simpler and easier process. No longer do I wait to conduct a thorough examination of conscience before getting to the confessional. I'm more of less on top of things already, so no need for what was once a tedious, even nerve-wracking experience.
We'll leave off here with all the good news about the effects of perfect contrition and pick up again next Sunday. If you've got a few minutes during the week, check in with us for our regular weekday posts.
Happy Sunday!
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