Question Two: On the Requisites for the Disposition of Fruitful Reception

656. Contrition with purpose is the disposition required for the fruitful reception of the sacrament of Penance. - For it is a sacrament of the dead, instituted for remitting sins committed after Baptism; but for the remission of these there is required contrition, at least imperfect, with the purpose of not sinning for the future and with the other due qualities. These qualities, generally, like contrition itself, are also required for the validity of the sacrament of which contrition is the matter; perhaps, however, it is to be excepted that it be appreciatively supreme, because according to several authors this is not demanded as a condition of validity, although as a disposition for the fruit of the sacrament and for justification it is altogether required.

All these things have been sufficiently explained where we treated of contrition; nor do they present a special difficulty, except sometimes in practice, with certain categories of penitents, concerning whom there can easily be doubt whether they bring due contrition or a firm purpose; as especially concerning customary sinners and relapsers, and concerning those in occasions of sin.1