Section — Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology
Section 2. On Remission as to Punishment.
246. Remission and its modes. 1. While guilt has not yet been remitted, punishment cannot be remitted: for guilt is the cause on account of which a man is worthy of punishment; but, while the cause has not yet been removed, the effect cannot be taken away.
- When mortal guilt has been remitted, by that very fact eternal punishment is remitted; but when venial guilt has been remitted, by that very fact temporal punishment is not remitted.
The reason for the first: mortal sin is remitted by the infusion of sanctifying grace, by which a right to eternal life is conferred; but in the same man there cannot at once be a right to eternal life and the necessity of undergoing eternal punishment; therefore, when guilt is remitted, eternal punishment is necessarily remitted, or rather eternal punishment is changed into temporal punishment.
By the disposition of the divine will, eternal punishment in this sacrament is not wholly blotted out as in baptism, but is changed into temporal punishment, a thing which will be explained below.
The reason for the second: from the nature of the thing nothing prevents punishment from remaining to be paid after venial guilt has been remitted; but from faith we know that God has so established it, that when mortal guilt is remitted there remains temporal punishment to be paid; from this, moreover, we conclude that when venial guilt is remitted not even all temporal punishment is remitted.1
The temporal punishment owed for remitted mortal sin is remitted together with the guilt itself, either wholly or in some greater or lesser part, according to the perfection of the disposition existing in the penitent. Likewise the punishment owed for remitted venial sins is blotted out together with the liability of guilt either wholly or in part according to the penitent's disposition.
- Temporal punishment can be compensated or paid in three ways:
a. By voluntary satisfaction in this life, whether it is sacramental or extra-sacramental, through works of the virtues, among which the offering and hearing of the holy sacrifice is eminent.
b. By satispassion in purgatory in the other life.
c. By indulgences, by which God accepts the payment made by the Church from the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.