Editing Contrition (section)

==== 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/>