Can We be Restored to a State of Grace before we Confess?

 

This one stumped most people. The Church teaching is that when we commit a grave sin we may immediately say an Act of Perfect Contrition. We are then immediately restored to a State of Grace, but the this act of contrition must include a promise to attend to the Sacrament of Confession at the earliest opportunity.

Also, even though a person make this Act, he cannot receive the Eucharist until after attending to the Sacrament of Confession.

God is good and allows us an opportunity to be restored to Him even before attending the Sacrament. Otherwise, if we sin on Monday and get killed before Saturday Confession time, we would go to hell.

With a Perfect Act of Contrition, we are in a State of Grace on Monday as soon as we say it, and thus if killed before Saturday, we are covered.

A Perfect Act of Contrition is offering sorrow for sin because we love God and are sorry that we disappointed our Father, whom we should love above all.

An Imperfect Act of Contrition is offering sorrow for sin because we are afraid of hell.

So if we offer Contrition out of love for God, instead of fear of hell, we are restored to a State of Grace immediately.

Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica, Ill, Q80, A.4 and 5) said: "...a person cannot know with certainty if he is indeed and truly contrite", thus our need to make a Sacramental confession where the priest as alter christus, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can make a decision on our contrition.

Principles of Catholic Tithing

 

The Church teaches that our tithes and offerings should be a sacrifice for us. This does not mean 10%, but whatever amount that is a sacrifice.

The six principles of Sacrificial giving are:

1. Voluntary: our giving should not be an assessment nor a tax (which is what the Old Testament tithes became).
   
   
2. Proportionate: like the widow Jesus praised, though she gave little (Luke 21:2).

• The Old Testament "tithe" was literally ten percent (of gross income), plus other required giving that added up to thirty-three percent: these percentages may be too much for some and not enough for others.
• Porportionate giving includes income from paychecks, dividends, social security payments, allowances, windfalls, etc.
  



3. Systematic (planned):

   • Part of the budget
   • As income is received (not "when somebody needs it")

   
   
4. Sacrificial:

   • "Making Holy" (the literal meaning of "sacrifice") the earnings and efforts of the week.
   • If it doesn't hurt (require a sacrifice), it's only a donation, or a contribution, not sacrificial giving, which is a measure of one's trust in God.

   
   

5. Liturgical: the bringing forth of the gifts and the offering of money are both part of the same ritual act.

   • Collections at other times and donations in other ways lack this Eucharistic context and does not "consecrate" hours worked and income received.
   • Using envelopes gives witness to commitment.

   
   
6. Giving (usually divided):

   • Half is given weekly by way of the local parish collection.
   • Half is set aside for independent giving (mission appeals, diocesan collections, personal favorite charities, etc.)