146 THE MEANS OF GRACE 



ment, i. e., it must precede the sacramental absolution 

 or be present in the soul while the formula of absolution 

 is pronounced by the priest. The best way is to make 

 an act of contrition before entering the confessional. 



Readings.— Pohle-Preuss, The Sacraments, Vol. Ill, pp. 132 

 sqq— Chr. Pesch, S.J., Praelectiones Dogmaticae, Vol. VII, 2nd 

 ed., pp. 39 sqq.— R. Schultes, CXP., Rene und Bussakrament, 

 Paderborn 1907.— H. Noldin, S.J., Summa Theol. Mor., Vol. 

 Ill, pp. 296 sqq. 



ARTICLE 2 

 THE PURK)SE OF AMENDMENT 



I. Definition. — Genuine contrition, whether 

 perfect or imperfect, must be accompanied by a 

 firm purpose to amend one's life and to avoid 

 future sins (proposition non peccandi de cetero). 

 This truth may be deduced from the very nature 

 of contrition, which, being a detestation of sin as 

 an offense against God, must include both an act 

 of sorrow for past sins (de praeterito) and the 

 resolution not to sin again (de futuro). 



The purpose of amendment which is included 

 in contrition may be either explicit (propositum 

 explicitum sive formale) or implicit (propositum 

 implicitum sive virtuale). It is explicit when 

 the penitent expressly thinks of the future and 

 resolves never to sin again; it is implicit if he 

 merely hates sin for fear or love of God, without 

 eliciting a formal act of the will not to sin in f u- 



