Editing Contrition (section)

=== Obligation of eliciting the act of contrition ===
In the very nature of things the sinner must repent before being reconciled with God (Sess. XIV, ch. iv, de Contritione, Fuit quovis tempore, etc.). Therefore, whoever falls into grievous sin must either make an act of perfect contrition or supplement the imperfect contrition by receiving the Sacrament of Penance; otherwise reconciliation with God is impossible. This obligation urges under pain of sin when there is danger of death. In danger of death, therefore, if a priest be not at hand to administer the sacrament, the sinner must make an effort to elicit an act of perfect contrition. The obligation of perfect contrition is also urgent whensoever one has to exercise some act for which a state of grace is necessary and the Sacrament of Penance is not accessible. Theologians have questions how long a person may remain in the state of sin, without making an effort to elicit an act of perfect contrition. They seem agreed that such neglect must have extended over considerable time, but what constitutes a considerable time they find it hard to determine (Schieler-Hauser, op. cit., pp.&nbsp;83 sqq.). Probably the rule of [[St. Alphonsus Liguori]] will aid the solution: "The duty of making an act of contrition is urgent when one is obliged to make an act of love" (Sabetti, ''Theologia Moralis: de necess. contritionis'', no. 731; [[Ballerine]], ''Opus Morale: de contritione'').