|
Dear Friends and Benefactors,
As we enter Holy Week, we once
again have the opportunity to contemplate the infinite Love of God; sending His
only begotten Son to suffer and die for our salvation. As we do so we cannot
help but be moved to sorrow; for it is our sins that have caused this suffering.
Indeed, if we desire the forgiveness of our sins and hope for salvation, we must
have this sorrow; also known as contrition.
The Council of Trent
declares: "Contrition…is a profound sorrow and detestation for sin committed,
with a resolution of sinning no more." So we see that contrition is a
deliberate sorrow for sins, which includes the purpose of confessing and of
making satisfaction for them.
One can be sorry for sin on
several grounds. There may be a natural sorrow or remorse based on some worldly
motive, e.g., the disgrace or natural evil effects due to sin. This type
of sorrow is not sufficient for the sacrament of penance.
What is necessary for the
sacrament of penance is a supernatural sorrow which is based on some motive of
faith of which there are two types. The first is perfect contrition,
which is a sorrow based on the love of God. The second is imperfect contrition
or attrition —which is a sorrow based on some lesser supernatural
motive, e.g., fear of hell.
Theologians generally teach
that the contrition or attrition required for penance must have four qualities.
The first is that there must be true and formal sorrow, not merely
external and pretended, imagined or implicit. Next it must be supernatural,
i.e., motivated by some consideration known by the light of faith as
explained above. It must also be supreme —in the sense that the penitent
must regard sin as the greatest evil, and must be prepared to endure any evil
rather than lapse into it again. This does not require an intense feeling
of sorrow, but rather a conviction of the evil of sin. Finally it must be
universal, extending to all mortal sins without exception which the
penitent has committed.
What is implied in all true
contrition is the purpose of amendment, which is not merely a wish to avoid sin
nor a promise or vow never to sin again but a firm, efficacious and universal
resolve not to sin again. It must be firm regarding the present
determination of the will, even though it may be weak regarding the future. It
must be efficacious; that is, it must include the sincere will to employ the
ordinary safeguards against sin, e.g., prayer and caution. It must also
include the will to avoid the free, proximate occasions of sin and the will to
repair the damage done by sin, as far as this is possible. Finally it must be
universal in its resolve to avoid all mortal sins.
In cases where a penitent
confesses only venial sins or even mortal sins previously absolved, the purpose
of amendment is as essential for the validity of the sacrament as is true
sorrow. In fact there can be no true sorrow without this purpose of amendment.
Most often the reason why we are unable to overcome habits of venial sin is
because of a lack of due attention to the purpose of amendment. In these cases
we should have the resolve to avoid or at least decrease all venial sin or at
least to avoid or correct one kind of venial sin.
As we celebrate the mysteries of
Christ’s passion let us do so with true contrition. Remember that any sin
whatsoever can be blotted out in penance if only we are truly sorry in seeking
forgiveness. Thus in seeking forgiveness we will be seeking out the Redeemer
from sin and finding Him we will have the opportunity to one day enjoy eternal
happiness with Him in Heaven.
May you all share in the graces
of our Lord during this Passiontide and have a Holy Easter.
Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ,
Fr. John D. Fullerton
|
