Imperfect contrition

Imperfect contrition

Imperfect contrition (also known as attrition) in Catholic theology is a desire not to sin for a reason other than love of God. Imperfect contrition is contrasted with perfect contrition.

While attrition does not produce justification, it disposes the soul to receive grace in the Catholic sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Council of Trent (1545-1563) was the first council to comment on the matter. It defined contrition (perfect or imperfect) as "sorrow of soul, and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future" [1] However, while perfect contrition is motivated out of a love of God, imperfect contrition is motivated for other reasons, such as "the consideration of the turpitude of sin or from the fear of hell and punishment" [2] Therefore, it declared, "If any man assert that attrition . . . is not a true and a profitable sorrow; that it does not prepare the soul for grace, but that it makes a man a hypocrite, yea, even a greater sinner, let him be anathema."

Jesus's invocations in the Gospels, of the threat of hell, are held to justify the belief that imperfect contrition can be a source of grace.

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  • Imperfect Contrition — • Also called imperfect contrition. Definition, its relation to sacramental penance, and moral considerations Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • imperfect contrition. — See under contrition (def. 2). * * * …   Universalium

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  • Contrition, Imperfect — • Also called imperfect contrition. Definition, its relation to sacramental penance, and moral considerations Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Contrition — Saint Peter Repentant 1823 25 , Goya Contrition or contriteness[1] (from the Latin contritus ground to pieces, i.e. crushed by guilt) is sincere and complete remorse (i.e. regret with a sense of guilt) for sins one has committed. The remorseful… …   Wikipedia

  • contrition — /keuhn trish euhn/, n. 1. sincere penitence or remorse. 2. Theol. sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections (perfect contrition), or from some inferior motive, as fear… …   Universalium

  • contrition — /kənˈtrɪʃən/ (say kuhn trishuhn) noun 1. sincere penitence. 2. Theology sorrow for and detestation of sin with a true purpose of amendment, arising from a love of God for His own perfections (perfect contrition), or from some inferior motive, as… …  

  • Contrition — Con*tri tion, n. [F. contrition, L. contritio.] 1. The act of grinding or ribbing to powder; attrition; friction; rubbing. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] The breaking of their parts into less parts by contrition. Sir I. Newton. [1913 Webster] 2. The state …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Perfect contrition — in Catholic theology is a sorrow for sins which is motivated from the love of God. It contrasts with imperfect contrition, or attrition, a sorrow arising from a less pure motive, such as fear of Hell. It is the motive for sorrow rather than the… …   Wikipedia

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