Note 140 — Chapter I · CONTRITION

The question raised by theologians as to whether it is a distinct sin to put off eliciting the act of perfect contrition and reconciliation with God, must be answered in the affirmative, for Holy Scripture enjoins us not to delay our conversion or to put off penance from day to day, because the anger of God may come upon us when we are so unprepared (cf. Ecclus. v. 8, 9, where, however, no express command is laid down), and because the præceptum caritatis which we ought to obey sæpius in vita calls for an act of contrition.

Aertnys reconciles this affirmative opinion of Lugo, Suarez, St. Alphonsus, etc., with the opposite view of Navarro, Vasquez, Soto, etc., declaring the latter to be probable per se loquendo, while the former is true de obligatione per accidens, so that the sinner who fails to elicit an act of perfect contrition within a reasonable period is not to be acquitted of incurring a new mortal sin. Aertnys, l. c. Lib. VI. Tract. V. cp. 3, n. 168. St. Alphonsus expressly condemns the view of Concina and Roncaglia that a delay of a week is a considerable period; and similarly he rejects the opinion of Laymann, Lugo, the Salmanticenses, Elbel, etc., who maintain that sin has been incurred only by the neglect of contrition for a whole year. This latter view he cannot accept, even if there were no other reason than the duty of eliciting an act of love once in the month. Finally, he rejects the opinion of some theologians that a sinner must elicit acts of contrition on feast-days in order to fulfill the object of sanctifying the festival; the general answer is made that the object of any given precept does not fall under the precept. Ballerini, Op. Theol. Mor. l. c. cp. III. n. 1035 ss.