Contrition
| Category | Sacramental Theology |
|---|---|
| Depth | Standard |
| Article type | local Catholic reference article |
Definition
Contrition is sorrow for sin joined to rejection of the sin and an intention to turn away from it. The essential point is a movement of the will towards God. Tears, intense emotion and a perfectly worded prayer can express this movement, but none is an infallible measure of whether it is present.
Catholic usage
A person can regret being caught without regretting the wrong itself. Contrition goes further: it acknowledges that the act should not have been chosen and seeks reconciliation. It is therefore more than embarrassment or fear of social consequences.
The intention to amend one's life should become concrete. Someone who has stolen should be willing to make restitution; someone whose habits repeatedly lead him into grave wrongdoing should take reasonable steps to change those circumstances. Sorrow that refuses every practical consequence is not the conversion it claims to be.
Doctrinal context
Catholic theology distinguishes perfect and imperfect contrition according to the motive of sorrow. Perfect contrition is moved by love of God above all things. Imperfect contrition can begin from recognition of sin's ugliness or fear of punishment. The latter can be a genuine beginning of conversion when it includes a real rejection of sin and openness to God's mercy.
The distinction does not rank people by how intensely they feel. A quiet act of love can be profound; a flood of emotion can remain centred on injured pride. Grace moves the person towards truthful repentance, and the sacrament of Penance brings that movement into Christ's ministry of reconciliation.
Contrition also does not require certainty that future failure is impossible. Human promises concern what one presently intends and will strive to do. Fear of weakness should lead to seeking help and forming practical resolutions, not to the conclusion that repentance is necessarily dishonest.
Distinctions and safeguards
Temptation, an unwanted thought and a deliberately chosen sin are distinct. One repents of one's own sinful consent, not of being exposed to an attraction one rejects. This distinction matters especially when a sensitive conscience confuses the experience of difficulty with the choice of evil.
How can I make an act of contrition without overanalysing my emotions?
Name the wrong, acknowledge it before God, ask for mercy through Christ, and resolve to turn from it. Then take the next honest step, including confession where required. The words should express your intention rather than become a psychological test. A regular confessor can help when repeated self-examination becomes circular.