Friday, January 13, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 229 - Part I.
(Youcat answer) The insight into one’s
personal guilt produces a longing to better oneself; this is called contrition.
We arrive at contrition when we see the contradiction between God’s love and
our sin. Then we are full of sorrow for our sins; we resolve to change our life
and place all our hope in God’s help.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 1431)
Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a
conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil,
with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time it
entails the desire and resolution to change one's life, with hope in God's
mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is
accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit)
and compunctio cordis (repentance of
heart) (Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1676-1678; 1705; cf. Roman Catechism, II, V, 4).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) The reality of sin is often repressed. Some
people even think that guilt feelings should be dealt with in a merely
psychological way. But genuine guilt feelings are important. It is like driving
an automobile: When the speedometer indicates that the speed limit has been
exceeded, the speedometer is not responsible, but the driver is. The closer we come
to God, who is all light, the clearer our dark sides come to light also. Yet
God is not a light that burns but, rather, a light that heals. That is why
repentance impels us to go into the Light in which we will be completely
healed.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 1430)
Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him,
does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and ashes," fasting
and mortification, but at the conversion
of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain
sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible
signs, gestures and works of penance (Cf. Joel 2:12-13; Isa 1:16-17; Mt 6:1-6;
16-18). (CCC 1490) The movement of return to God, called conversion and
repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, and the firm
purpose of sinning no more in the future. Conversion touches the past and the
future and is nourished by hope in God's mercy.
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