Author Topic: how to enter a state of grace before confession? (Read 2042 times)

Canuk the Lionheart · « **on:** July 19, 2011, 09:05:04 PM »

When a person commits a mortal sin and is unable to confess for a few days/week etc... are there any ways to enter a state of grace before their next confession? I've heard of the Act of Perfect Contrition, and that if you say it with the intention of confessing at the next opportunity you atain a state of grace. Is this true?

Vladimir · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2011, 10:13:51 PM »

You have to be perfectly contrite. That doesn't mean that you say an "Act of Perfect Contrition" (although it doesn't preclude it either). If you say that, but don't have perfect contrition (being sorry for your sins because they offend God and not because afraid of hell).

Because there is no sure way to tell if you are in a state of grace (even after Confession) the best thing to do when you are in a state of mortal sin is the pray that God won't abandon you in sin and that He will give you the grace of a good confession and a perfect (or imperfect) contrition.

When someone is in a state of mortal sin I think they should just be praying for that and that God won't punish them with sudden death or hardness of heart.

Please pray for all of us in state of mortal sin and unable to get to Confession immediately.

s2srea · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2011, 11:20:00 PM »

Quote from: Vladimir

Because there is no sure way to tell if you are in a state of grace (even after Confession) the best thing to do when you are in a state of mortal sin is the pray that God won't abandon you in sin and that He will give you the grace of a good confession and a perfect (or imperfect) contrition.

Hmmm.. My understanding is that the the sacrament of confession, through the priest, makes the contrition perfect, even though the penitent's contrition would otherwise be imperfect. So unless you knowingly made a bad confession (omitted some sins, did not intend to complete your penance, etc) you would almost assuredly be in a state of grace.

Perhaps I'm missing something Vlad?

LordPhan · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2011, 11:45:32 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

Quote from: Vladimir
Because there is no sure way to tell if you are in a state of grace (even after Confession) the best thing to do when you are in a state of mortal sin is the pray that God won't abandon you in sin and that He will give you the grace of a good confession and a perfect (or imperfect) contrition.

Hmmm.. My understanding is that the the sacrament of confession, through the priest, makes the contrition perfect, even though the penitent's contrition would otherwise be imperfect. So unless you knowingly made a bad confession (omitted some sins, did not intend to complete your penance, etc) you would almost assuredly be in a state of grace.

Perhaps I'm missing something Vlad?

Perfect Contrition is when you are ashamed of sin because you have offended God. Or Fear of Offending God. Imperfect Contrition which also can put you in a state of Grace with Confession is when you are afraid of Going to Hell.

Vladimir · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2011, 02:28:30 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

Quote from: Vladimir
Because there is no sure way to tell if you are in a state of grace (even after Confession) the best thing to do when you are in a state of mortal sin is the pray that God won't abandon you in sin and that He will give you the grace of a good confession and a perfect (or imperfect) contrition.

Hmmm.. My understanding is that the the sacrament of confession, through the priest, makes the contrition perfect, even though the penitent's contrition would otherwise be imperfect. So unless you knowingly made a bad confession (omitted some sins, did not intend to complete your penance, etc) you would almost assuredly be in a state of grace.

Perhaps I'm missing something Vlad?

A person in the confessional once asked a priest how he could be sure that his confession is valid and the priest said that strictly speaking - we can't know. St. Paul says something like we know not whether we be worthy of praise or blame, etc.

Exilenomore · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2011, 04:02:56 PM »

Quote from: s2srea

Quote from: Vladimir
Because there is no sure way to tell if you are in a state of grace (even after Confession) the best thing to do when you are in a state of mortal sin is the pray that God won't abandon you in sin and that He will give you the grace of a good confession and a perfect (or imperfect) contrition.

Hmmm.. My understanding is that the the sacrament of confession, through the priest, makes the contrition perfect, even though the penitent's contrition would otherwise be imperfect. So unless you knowingly made a bad confession (omitted some sins, did not intend to complete your penance, etc) you would almost assuredly be in a state of grace.

Perhaps I'm missing something Vlad?

I think he means that you can have moral certainty of being in a state of grace, but not absolute certainty. When a person goes to Confession with an honest heart and does not consciously omit to confess a mortal sin, one can be at peace. This is moral certainty, but absolute certainty is not normally given to a soul, unless he receives some kind of divine revelation.