Editing Contrition (section)

===Perfect and imperfect contrition===
In Catholic terminology, contrition arising from the love of God, who is believed to have been grievously offended, is called '''perfect contrition'''. Contrition arising from any other motive, such as loss of heaven, fear of hell, or the heinousness of guilt, is called '''imperfect contrition''', or attrition.<ref name="Hanna 1907">{{Cite Catholic Encyclopedia|wstitle=Attrition|first=Edward Joseph |last=Hanna|authorlink=Edward Joseph Hanna }}</ref><ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Attrition|volume=2|page=887}}</ref>

==== Perfect contrition ====
Perfect contrition (also called contrition of charity) is a repentance for [[sin]] that is motivated by faith and the love of God.<ref name="CCC 2012">{{cite book|title=Catechism of the Catholic Church|author=Catholic Church|edition=2|publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana|location=Vatican City|date=2012}}</ref>{{rp|1452}} It contrasts with imperfect contrition, which arises from a less pure motive, such as common decency or fear of [[Hell]].<ref name="CCC 2012" />{{rp|1453}} The two types of contrition are distinguished by a person's motive for repentance, rather than the intensity of one's feelings or emotions. Catholicism teaches that it is possible for perfect and imperfect contrition to be experienced simultaneously.

To qualify as perfect contrition, the motive must be founded on God's own goodness, not merely his goodness to the sinner or to humanity. Catholicism holds that there is no way of knowing with an absolute certainty if one has made an act of perfect contrition, but all that is required is the standard of all human action, moral certainty. If one says an act of contrition truthfully, intending it, then one would likely have moral certainty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=370862|title=Perfect Contrition|publisher=EWTN|last1=Donovan, STL|first1=Colin B.|accessdate=27 October 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050919/http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=370862|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Catholicism teaches that perfect contrition removes the guilt and eternal punishment due to [[mortal sin]], even before the sinner has received [[absolution]] in the [[Confession (religion)|sacrament of penance]], provided that the person has a firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.<ref>[https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2018-12/the-act-of-contrition-sacrament-reconciliation-confession.html Vatican News: Act of Contrition and Sacrament of Reconciliation] Should we be in need of forgiveness of mortal sin, and cannot for some reason go to confession, a perfect Act of Contrition is needed along with the intention of going to confession as soon as possible. </ref><ref name="Penance">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_cti_1982_riconciliazione-penitenza_en.html|title=Penance And Reconciliation|publisher=International Theological Commission|ref=C.4|accessdate=27 October 2014}}</ref> An example of this theological precept is demonstrated in the ''[[1983 Code of Canon Law|Code of Canon Law]]'' in canon 916, which states: "A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible."<ref>{{cite book|title=Code of Canon Law|edition=1984|location=Canon 916}}</ref>

In the case of imminent death, in which sacramental confession may not be possible, an act of perfect contrition is held to remove the guilt and eternal punishment due to [[mortal sin]].<ref name=Penance/>

==== Imperfect contrition ====
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Attrition}}

In contrast to perfect contrition, imperfect contrition (also known as ''attrition'') is defined as a desire not to [[sin]] for a reason other than love of [[God]].<ref name="CCC 2012" />{{rp|1492}} Catholic teaching holds that imperfect contrition does not produce [[Justification (theology)|justification]], but does dispose the soul to receive [[Divine grace|grace]] in the sacrament of penance.<ref name="CCC 2012" />{{rp|1453}} Catholic theologians generally hold that a person who receives a sacrament while unaware of a mortal sin receives justification if they have imperfect contrition.<ref name="Hanna 1907"/>

The [[Council of Trent]] (1545–1563) held that while imperfect contrition is motivated by reasons such as "the consideration of the turpitude of sin or from the fear of [[Hell]] and punishment", it also is a gift from God. "If any man assert that attrition ... is not a true and a profitable sorrow; that it does not prepare the soul for grace, but that it makes a man a hypocrite, yea, even a greater sinner, let him be [[Anathema]]."<ref name="Hanna 1907"/>

Scriptures cited in support of imperfect contrition include: 
* [https://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+13%3A13&version=DRA Proverbs 13:13]
* [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2014:26-27&version=DRA Proverbs 14:26–27]
* [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+19%3A23&version=DRA Proverbs 19:23]
* [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+10%3A28&version=DRA Matthew 10:28]
* [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+2%3A12&version=DRA Philippians 2:12], in which Paul exhorts Christians to work out "our salvation in fear and trembling". 
* Psalm 111: 10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." 

===== Criticism of imperfect contrition =====
In his 1537 ''[[Apology of the Augsburg Confession]]'', [[Philipp Melanchthon]] argued against the concept of imperfect contrition on the basis that it leaves the penitent person uncertain:<ref>''Apology of the Augsburg Confession'', [http://bookofconcord.org/defense_10_repentance.php#para9 Article XII (V): Of Repentance.]</ref>
{{blockquote|When, however, will a terrified conscience, especially in those serious, true, and great terrors which are described in the psalms and the prophets, and which those certainly taste who are truly converted, be able to decide whether it fears God for His own sake, or is fleeing from eternal punishments?}}

In his 1537 ''[[Smalcald Articles]]'', Martin Luther argued against the Catholic doctrine of imperfect contrition, arguing that "such contrition was certainly mere hypocrisy, and did not mortify the lust for sins; for they had to grieve, while they would rather have continued to sin, if it had been free to them." Instead he argued that "repentance is not piecemeal," and "In like manner confession, too, cannot be false, uncertain, or piecemeal."<ref>''Smalcald Articles'', [http://bookofconcord.org/smalcald.php#part3.3.10 Part III, Article III. Of Repentance],</ref>