I love sitting and meditating upon God’s Divine Mercy. Maybe because I need it so much to overcome my wretched nature. But, He has enthralled me with love of this, His greatest attribute.
God’s mercy is a fundamental attribute of His divine nature, revealing His boundless love and compassion for humanity, especially for those who are suffering, unfortunate, or have sinned. It is a central theme throughout salvation history, from the Old Testament’s experience of God’s mercy to its fullest revelation in Jesus Christ.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing[c] spirit.” – Psalm 51;10, 12
Psalm 51 beautifully expresses a desire to perfect contrition. Not a perfect Saint’s call but a sinner’s desire for God.
Perfect contrition, also known as contrition of charity, is a profound sorrow for sins committed that arises from a deep love for God above all else. It is a detestation for sin because it offends God, who is infinitely good and worthy of all our love.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines contrition generally as “sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again” (CCC 1451). Perfect contrition specifically occurs “when it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else” (CCC 1452).
This kind of contrition has significant effects:
- It remits venial sins immediately.
- It can also obtain forgiveness of mortal sins, provided it includes a firm resolution to go to sacramental confession as soon as possible (CCC 1452). The desire to confess is an integral part of perfect contrition when mortal sin is involved.
This is distinct from imperfect contrition (or attrition), which is sorrow for sin motivated by fear of hell, punishment, or the ugliness of sin itself, rather than pure love of God. While imperfect contrition is also a gift from God and sufficient for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, perfect contrition springs from a pure, selfless love for God.
“Today the Lord’s gaze shot through me suddenly, like lightning. At once, I came to know the tiniest specks in my soul, and knowing the depths of my misery, I fell to my knees and begged the Lord’s pardon, and with great trust I immersed myself in His infinite mercy. Such knowledge does not depress me nor keep me away from the Lord, but rather it arouses in my soul greater love and boundless trust. The repentance of my heart is linked to love. These extraordinary flashes from the Lord educate my soul. O sweet rays of God,enlighten me to the most secret depth, for I want to arrive at the greatest possible purity of heart and soul.” – Divine Mercy in My Soul # 852