It important to understand and believe that nothing takes the place of the Sacrament, but it will suffice if you should die before you can get to Confession through no fault of your own. God always provide to those who are sincere in their Faith.
As does BOD.
No, Myrna, no matter how many times it is said by the modernists, nobody can be saved without the Sacraments instituted by Christ Lord and dispensed the Church.
Promising salvation without the Sacraments is actually a sin against charity. Furthermore, Penance and Baptism are different.
One could potentially enter Heaven without Penance if not guilty of mortal sin, but one is unable to enter Heaven without receiving Baptism. The possibility of being washed from original sin through Baptism and not being guilty of mortal sin during a life time is there.
Baptism is the first remission of sin. It grants a seal or mark upon the soul that cannot be erased. Even if the person falls from grace by committing mortal sin. But to obtain forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism, one is not allowed to be baptized again, but must receive the Sacrament of Penance. Penance in this sense is an ongoing conversion and after Baptism, indispensably necessary for people who have committed sins, to enter heaven.
There is no real, tangible matter in Penance (as opposed to Baptism, for which is water). It is considered that the matter may be the acts of the penitent (contrition, confession and satisfaction). The form of the Sacrament of Penance consists in the words of absolution, given by a priest. If a person dies fallen from grace, this is, in state of mortal sin, cannot enter Heaven. No soul enters Heaven stained with sin. Their grave sins must be forgiven. Those who die without obtaining from God pardon for their sins will not be saved, but will be damned as they have made themselves unworthy of Heaven. It is Catholic dogma that the Sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation to those who, after Baptism, fall into grievous sin.
Having said this, what is defined as an Act of Perfect Contrition is true sorrow for one's sins with the commitment of actually going to receive the Sacrament from a priest.
Therefore, the obligation to confess remains and hopefully one does not die before receiving absolution since true sorrow may suffice for venial sins but most likely not so for mortal sin. Better not to take any unnecessary risks. After all, it is really one's soul which may forever perish.
From the Catechism:
Canon 1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51
Canon 1453 The contrition called "imperfect" (or "attrition") is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin's ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.52
Topic: Act of Perfect Contrition (Read 16784 times)