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5. The Effect of Contrition

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

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

3. Sorrow which is true and perfect contrition blots outsin. The want of sensible sorrow (that is, the feeling or emotionof sorrow) is no hindrance to the perfection of contrition, forcontrition belongs essentially to the will and not to thefeelings.

"It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience."
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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"God commands not impossibilities, but by commanding he suggests to you to do what you can, to ask for what is beyond your strength; and he helps you, that you may be able."
St Augustine

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"Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it."
St Philip Neri

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