The Effect of Contrition

Contrition, when it is a perfect act of the supernatural virtue of penance, blots out sin. As part of the sacrament of penance, contrition operates instrumentally for the forgiveness of sin, which is effected by this sacrament.

Contrition or sorrow for sin may be so perfect as totake away all punishment due to sin as well as the guilt of the sin itself.

Sorrow which is true and perfect contrition blots out sin. The want of sensible sorrow (that is, the feeling or emotion of sorrow) is no hindrance to the perfection of contrition, forcontrition belongs essentially to the will and not to the feelings.