Contrition

The Council of Trent defined contrition as: "a sorrow of soul and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future." Contrition means a true detestation of sin. Saint Luke says: "Except you do penance you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). The Council of Trent reminds us that contrition is absolutely necessary in order to obtain forgiveness of one's sins. The first words that Jesus Himself preached were to do penance, repent and obtain the forgiveness of one's sins.

What God is looking for a true, interior conversion. He wants a sincere, contrite heart. It is not enough to simply perform outward acts of penance without true contrition. The Council of Trent defined that real contrition includes "a firm purpose of not sinning in the future;" consequently he who repents must resolve to avoid all sin. Christ commands us to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul.

When we petition God in prayer, contrition is one of the most important graces that we must beg God to grant us. Amendment of our lives and true contrition for our sins are in fact among the highest in the order of things that we must petition God for. When we meditate upon the Sorrowful Agony in the Garden we ask God for a truly contrite heart.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching