Perfect Contrition

"'Perfect contrition. Sorrow for sin arising from perfect love. In perfect contrition the sinner detests sin more than any other evil, because it offends God, who is supremely good and deserving of all human love. Its motive is founded on God's own goodness and not merely his goodness to the sinner or to humanity. This motive, and not the intensity of the act, less still the feelings experienced, is what essentially constitutes perfect sorrow.'" [1]

In other words, contrition is not about seeking God's forgiveness of one's trespasses, seeking the forgiveness from those whom one has trespassed or fearing an eternity in Hell, but rather having regret and feeling pain and sorrow by continuing to sin and in the process offending Christ Who died for our sins by re-opening the wounds around His head punctured by the crown of thorns and all over His body torn apart by sharp metal hooks when He was scourged at the pillar, in his hands and feet by nails pounded into them and at the side pierced by a sword.  Knowing that one's sinful conduct is hurting Christ Who yearns always for one's love is the first step toward contrition.  Feeling regret, having pain and sorrow from seeing Christ suffer again because of one's sinful and hurtful conduct is the second.  Resolving not to sin again and praying for assistance to carry out such a resolve is the final step and perfects it. 


[1] http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=370862