Editing Contrition (section)

=== Necessity ===
The formal doctrine of the church, announced through the [[Council of Trent]], declares that contrition has always been necessary to obtain pardon of one's sins. Contrition is the first and indispensable condition for pardon. While it is possible for one to receive pardon where confession is impossible, there is no case where sin can be pardoned without contrition.<ref name="Luche 1898">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/catechismrodeze00theigoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/catechismrodeze00theigoog/page/n492 527]|quote=Contrition, necessity of.|title=The Catechism of Rodez Explained in Form of Sermons: A Work Equally Useful to the Clergy, Religious Communities, and Faithful|last=Luche|first=abbé|date=1898|publisher=B. Herder|language=en}}</ref>

According to the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'', Catholic writers have always insisted that such necessity arises (a) from the very nature of repentance as well as (b) from the positive command of God. From the very nature of repentance, they point out that the sentence of Christ in Luke 13:5, is final: "Except you [[repent]]", etc., and from the [[Church Fathers]] they cite passages such as the following from [[Cyprian]], {{lang|la|De Lapsis}}, no. 32: "Do penance in full, give proof of the sorrow that comes from a grieving and lamenting soul. ... They who do away with repentance for sin, close the door to satisfaction." Scholastic doctors laid down the satisfaction principle, "No one can begin a new life who does not repent him of the old" ([[Bonaventure]], In Lib. Sent. IV, dist. xvi, Pt. II, art. 1, Q. ii, also ex professo, ibid., Pt. I, art. I, Q. iii), and when asked the reason why, they point out the absolute incongruity of turning to God and clinging to sin, which is hostile to God's law. The Council of Trent, mindful of the tradition of the ages, defined (Sess. XlV. ch. iv {{lang|la|de Contritione}}) that "contrition has always been necessary for obtaining forgiveness of sin". The positive command of God is also clear in the premises. [[John the Baptist]] sounded the note of preparation for the coming of the [[Messiah]]: "Make straight his paths"; and, as a consequence "they went out to him and were baptized confessing their sins". The first preaching of [[Jesus]] is described in the words: "Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"; and the [[Twelve apostles|Apostles]], in their first [[sermon]]s to the people, warn them to "do penance and be baptized for the remission of their sins" ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 2:38). The Fathers followed up with like exhortation ([[First Epistle of Clement|Clement]] in P.G., I, 341; [[Hermas]] iii P.G., II, 894; [[Tertullian]] in P.L., II).<ref>{{citation |chapter-url=http://ivww.newadvent.org/cathen/04337a.htm |chapter=Contrition |last=Hanna |first=Edward |title=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=4 |location=New York |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |year=1908 |others=Retrieved from New Advent}}</ref>