The Time or Season of Contrition

As long as a person is a wayfarer (that is, as long ashe lives here on earth), he is to hate what hinders his progress to God and heaven. Hence, the whole of earthly life is the time or season for contrition.

Since contrition cannot be too great in the will or reason, though it may be excessive in the sentient part of man, it ought to be continuous through a person’s life in so far as this is compatible with the duties of life. “Blessed are they that mourn” (Matt. 5:5).

The time or season of contrition ends with this life. The souls in heaven have no grief, but supreme joy. The souls in purgatory have grief, but no longer have need to crush out hardness from their will, for it is not there. Besides, the souls in purgatory have passed their time for meriting, and true supernatural contrition is always meritorious.