As Catholics, many of us have probably heard of “contrition.” Fewer are likely to have heard of “attrition.” Additionally, many Catholics seem to equate the two. These two, however, are different types of sorrow for sin. The Douay Catechism by Henry Tuberville defines contrition as “a hearty sorrow for our sins, proceeding immediately from the love of God above all things, and joined with a firm purpose of amendment.” Simply put, contrition is a sorrow for sin because we have offended God. In the Act of Contrition, we say “I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love.” God, in His goodness, has given us so many blessings, including life itself. When we commit sin, we return God’s goodness with offense and sorrow rather than love. If we love God, however, we will strive to sin no more because we do not want to offend Him any more. Attrition is defined in the Douay Catechism as “imperfect contrition, arising from the consideration of the turpitude (wickedness) of sin, or fear of punishment.” Attrition is acknowledged in the first part of the Act of Contrition when it says “I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments (sometimes written ‘because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell).” Attrition is, then, a sorrow for sin because of the consequences, particularly, loss of Heaven. Therefore, contrition is the more perfect sorrow because it detests sin not for the more selfish reason of escaping the consequences of sin but purely out of love of God and the desire to no longer offend Him. It should be noted, however, that attrition, although imperfect, is good. Tuberville writes, “(Attrition) prepares the way to justification; and disposes us, at least remotely, towards obtaining God’s grace in this sacrament (of Penance).” Attrition does, in fact, dispose us towards forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance. Additionally, the Council of Trent ruled that attrition “is even a gift of God, and an impulse of the Holy Spirit.” Attrition, then, is a good thing and a gift. However, we should strive to love God more and more so that we may move past mere attrition and, with God’s grace, attain a true contrition for our sins.
Mary, refuge and hope of sinners, pray for us!
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About MeAn Iowa-raised convert to Catholicism seeking to live my life entirely for Jesus and His Church with all the saints. Archives
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