That is different from a child who gets caught with a hand in the
cookie jar who is sorry, not for offending Mom or Dad, but for getting
caught; or from a motorist who gets pulled over for speeding who is
sorry, not for endangering others and self, but for receiving a ticket
and a fine.
In both cases, given the chance, the child would reach for a cookie
again and the motorist would speed again, and in both cases the
contrition is insincere.
Sincere contrition is a key element in the conversion process and
required for a good confession. It is a true and honest admission of
personal responsibility for wrongdoing. It blames no one but one’s
self. It is abhorrence of the sin. It sees the sin as truly bad, and
considers it revolting. It is genuine disgust with the evil deed and
personal mortification and embarrassment over what has been done.
Furthermore, it is the realization that the sin is offensive to God,
who is all-good, and deep dismay over having let God down. It humbly
admits that the sin is a profound act of ingratitude toward God who is
so generous, and an act of disloyalty and betrayal to God, who is ever
faithful.
Finally, it acknowledges that regardless of whether the sin is known
or concealed, in addition to the bad impact the sin may have had
directly on others, it diminishes personal holiness and integrity,
thereby harming one’s neighbor and the community.
Contrition is sincere when the person has genuine regret and remorse
for the sin that has been committed, and a deep inner desire to do the
right thing, please God, and be in a good and decent relationship with
others.
• A firm purpose of amendment is the solid intention to “amend”
or change one’s ways, the resolve to bring an end to sin, and to live
an upright and holy life according to God’s ways.
The quality of a confession is jeopardized if the person admits a sin but has no real desire or plan to quit the sin.
The faulty reasoning goes like this: “I’ve done it before. I’ll
probably do it again. It’s not worth trying too hard. It’s no big deal
if I slip again. Confession is always available. I can always be
forgiven.”
That mindset ignores the deeper call to conversion and does not respect God’s gift of mercy.
A firm purpose of amendment is a good faith intention and attempt to do
everything in one’s power to avoid the commission of the sin again.
Nevertheless, it is not a promise to be perfect. Our human nature has
deeply ingrained evil inclinations and tendencies. A person may
struggle with habitual failings.
A firm purpose of amendment is simply the desire, despite previous failings and old patterns, to do better.
Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.
...a firm purpose of amendment is impossible. The firm purpose, as stated, necessitates the foreknowledge of every state of mind one will have. How can one know what one's every future state of mind will be three days, three hours or even three mininutes after one's confession? This is not possible. There is no way to predict the future of one's subjective states of mind, much less predict objective events, so how can a firm purpose of amendment be even reasonably likely?
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