Chapter I: On Contrition

S. Th., Suppl., q. 1, a. 1.

474. Contrition, etymologically from to grind down, signifies in corporeal matters an action by which a solid and hard thing is reduced to the smallest parts; whence, by similitude, in spiritual matters it signifies that disposition of soul by which the heart hardened by sin is broken and totally reduced, so that it totally dismisses the affection of sin. Namely, it is a sorrow that grinds down the hardness of the will, and, as it were, a breaking of the heart down to the smallest parts (a. 1).

In a more general sense it signifies any sorrow or displeasure, even imperfect, concerning sin; in the strict sense it signifies sorrow for sin that is perfect or formed by charity, and thus it is opposed to displeasure and imperfect contrition, which is an approach to perfect contrition and is called attrition, as it were a breaking of the heart into large parts without its being perfectly ground down (a. 2, ad 3).

475. Thesis. Contrition is necessary by necessity of means and of precept. - This has been sufficiently demonstrated from the necessity of the virtue of Penance (n. 412), and is explicitly taught by the Council of Trent, sess. 6, c. 14, and sess. 14, c. 4, can. 4, against the Protestants, who said that the whole of penance was repentance alone, or a purpose of new life, without sorrow and detestation of sins committed, or expiation.

The Catholic truth is demonstrated by:

a) The Scriptures, which say that the primary act of Penance, namely contrition, that is, sorrow and detestation, is required for the destruction of sin (Joel II, 12; Jer. VIII, 6; XXXI, 18-20; Ezek. XVIII, 30, 31; Ps. L, 6, 19; VI, 7; Isa. XXXVIII, 15; II Cor. VII, 7, 9, 10; Ps. XXXI; Acts II, 38).

b) The Fathers, who hold compunction, contrition, and detestation of sin to be necessary: Hermas, simil. VII, 6; Justin, dial., n. 14; Tertullian, On Penance, c. 8; Cyprian, ep. 31; Ambrose, On Penance, l. II, c. 10; Chrysostom, On Compunction, l. I, n. 10.

c) Theological reason: Everywhere the retraction of an offense is that which is first required on the part of the offender; but before God no retraction has value unless it begins from sorrow of heart, because God looks upon the heart.