Imperfect contrition

Imperfect contrition (also known as attrition) in Catholic theology is a desire not to sin for a reason other than love of God. Imperfect contrition is contrasted with perfect contrition.^[1]

While attrition does not produce justification, attrition does dispose the soul to receive grace in the Catholic sacrament of Reconciliation.^[2]

The Council of Trent (1545-1563) was the first council to comment on the matter. It defined contrition (perfect or imperfect) as "sorrow of soul, and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future".^[3] However, while perfect contrition is motivated out of a love of God, imperfect contrition is motivated for other reasons, such as "the consideration of the turpitude of sin or from the fear of hell and punishment".^[4] Therefore, it declared, "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."

Jesus's invocations in the Gospels, of the threat of hell, are held to justify the belief that imperfect contrition can be a source of grace. Scriptural support for attrition can be found in Proverbs 13:13, Proverbs 14:26-27, Proverbs 19:23, Matthew 10:28, and Philippians 2:12.

References

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph: 1492.
2. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Paragraph: 1453.
3. "Catholic Encyclopedia".
4. "Catholic Encyclopedia".