Contrition

Contrition as a part of penance is a supernatural sorrow for sins, stirred up in the heart by the will under grace, with a view to confessing the sins, and making satisfaction for them.

Contrition, in so far as it is in the will and not inthe emotions merely, is an act of the virtue of penance.

Contrition is born of filial fear of God, and thus proceeds according to charity. Sorrow for sin which arises fromservile fear of deserved punishment is a less perfect sorrow; it is called, not contrition, but attrition. Attrition cannot turn into contrition, for these two types of sorrow for sin are not only different in degree but different in kind. Attrition may give place to contrition, but cannot become contrition.