CHAPTER I: ON CONTRITION

1345. - Contrition is sorrow of soul and detestation concerning sin committed, with the purpose of not sinning further. Thus Trent.¹ - Detestation of sin - which, if you except the Blessed, as incapable of sadness, necessarily includes sorrow - regards the past; but purpose is concerned with the future.

This definition abstracts from the new law, in which contrition can have no efficacy without the desire, at least implicit, of Confession. For the same Trent adds a little below: "with the desire of performing the remaining things ... which are required for rightly receiving this Sacrament" (of Penance).

Resolves. - The object of contrition is neither 1) punishments or other evils, the consequences of sin; nor 2) imperfections, even deliberate, at least speaking speculatively; nor 3) sins of others or original sin.

Not punishments; for contrition etymologically imports a breaking or crushing of a hardened will; but this hardness of the will, says St. Thomas,² is in the evil of fault, and not in punishment. Hence sorrow concerning the punishment of sin is indeed the occasion and beginning of contrition, but never essentially contrition itself.

Not imperfections, even deliberate, or voluntary actions or omissions which, with no precept being violated, are repugnant only to counsel here and now intimated either by divine inspiration, or from the dictate of reason soliciting to more perfect things, or from the directive ordinance of a Superior. For contrition is sorrow concerning sins, which imperfections are not. Yet I said: at least speaking speculatively; for, speaking practically, deliberate imperfections very often already have some fault annexed to them, for example by reason of an inordinate motive of sensuality, impatience, sloth, etc. Hence, as we said in n. 1344. q. 8°. § Hence ... 2° with St. Alphonsus, even those imperfections which do not reach sins certainly venial are sometimes sufficient matter of conditioned absolution.

Not sins of others or original sin; for contrition is sorrow concerning sin committed, or perpetrated by one's own will. - To be sure, it is fitting to foster true sorrow sincerely from the soul, both concerning original sin, by which we were constituted children of wrath, enemies of God and servants of the devil, and also concerning the sins of others, by which infinite goodness is offended and the souls of many are cast headlong into eternal destruction; but sorrow of soul of this kind is indeed displeasure and affliction, but not contrition properly so called. Thus nearly the distinguished Van Egeren.

It must be said 1° concerning contrition strictly so called; 2° concerning purpose.