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Post by alfie on Apr 8, 2009 15:34:00 GMT -5
Attrition is defined as sorrow for sin engendered by the fear of damnation (Hell). On the other hand contrition is the fear that one has offended (sinned) against God because he is Holy. With contrition a person feels a deep and genuine sense of guilt and remorse that he has sinned against God and not a fear of hell. So if you feel attrition (fear of Hell) than you aren’t really a Christian.
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Post by cradlecathlic27 on Apr 8, 2009 19:10:20 GMT -5
Nicely said!
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Post by Cepha on Apr 8, 2009 19:28:21 GMT -5
Act of Contrition...
O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins,
because I dread the loss of heaven,and the pains of hell;
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God,
Who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,
to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
Amen.
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 9, 2009 19:50:14 GMT -5
My dear alfie! What's up?
You're right, there is a big difference between attrition and contrition. But for many Christians, fear of Hell (or fear of God) is what begins them on their journey to God. Contrition comes later.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
PART 2, SECTION 2 2, CHAPTER 2 2, ARTICLE 4, SUBSECTION 7, HEADING 1
Contrition
1451 Among the penitent's acts contrition occupies first place. Contrition is "sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again." 50
1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible. 51
1453 The contrition called "imperfect" (or "attrition") is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin's ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance
So, I'm not sure if it can be said that one isn't a Christian if they have (temporarily perhaps) only imperfect contrition.
peace
teresa
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Post by doxology on Jul 8, 2009 21:29:28 GMT -5
Whoa ... they are not even a Christian ... that is harsh.
I am a contritionist myself and believe that if attrition is the primary or only motivation for us confessing our sins, then we ought not to be absolved, for attrition is natural, who would not be affraid to lose heaven, or go to hell ... only a crazy person, as such it is not supernatural like contrition which is born of God's grace and does not merit absolution.
Attrition is not of itself intrinsically evil though ... and indeed their might be a type of supernaturally created attrition, a fear such as we fear to let down God because he is a loving father ... indeed without this kind of fear our contrition could never be perfect.
Pax
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