ON HOLY INDULGENCES,
AND THE
CONDITIONS REQUISITE FOR GAINING THEM.
TO THE DEVOUT READER.
A soul in the state of mortal sin is not only deprived of sanctifying grace and of God’s friendship, but is also deserving of eternal punishment. Yet, through the mercy and goodness of our Saviour Jesus Christ, lost grace may be regained, and deserved punishment averted; and this double effect may be fully obtained, if, with the intensity of perfect contrition,—which, as St. Thomas teaches,[1] includes charity, and is wont, by the action of the will, to give rise also to sensible sorrow,—the sinner receives the sacrament of penance, or, at least, has a true desire and intention of receiving it as soon as possible.
This is the doctrine of the Church, and it is a great consolation for sinners. However, as it is not easy to make an act of contrition in every way perfect, it often happens that, while the sinner obtains, in the sacrament of penance, the
pardon of his sins and the remission of the eternal
- ↑ IV. Dist. xvii, q. 2, a. 5
