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Objection 1: It would seem that our souls are contrite for sins even
after this life. For the love of charity causes displeasure at sin.
Now, after this life, charity remains in some, both as to its act
and as to its habit, since "charity never falleth away." Therefore
the displeasure at the sin committed, which is the essence of
contrition, remains.
Objection 2: Further, we should grieve more for sin than for
punishment. But the souls in purgatory grieve for their sensible
punishment and for the delay of glory. Much more, therefore, do they
grieve for the sins they committed.
Objection 3: Further, the pain of purgatory satisfies for sin.
But satisfaction derives its efficacy from the power of contrition.
Therefore contrition remains after this life.
On the contrary, contrition is a part of the sacrament of Penance.
But the sacraments do not endure after this life. Neither,
therefore, does contrition.
Further, contrition can be so great as to blot out both guilt and
punishment. If therefore the souls in purgatory could have
contrition, it would be possible for their debt of punishment to be
remitted through the power of their contrition, so that they would be
delivered from their sensible pain, which is false.
I answer that, Three things are to be observed in contrition:
first, its genus, viz. sorrow; secondly, its form, for it is an
act of virtue quickened by charity; thirdly, its efficacy, for it is
a meritorious and sacramental act, and, to a certain extent,
satisfactory. Accordingly, after this life, those souls which dwell
in the heavenly country, cannot have contrition, because they are void
of sorrow by reason of the fulness of their joy: those which are in
hell, have no contrition, for although they have sorrow, they lack
the grace which quickens sorrow; while those which are in purgatory
have a sorrow for their sins, that is quickened by grace; yet it is
not meritorious, for they are not in the state of meriting. In this
life, however, all these three can be found.
Reply to Objection 1: Charity does not cause this sorrow, save in
those who are capable of it; but the fulness of joy in the Blessed
excludes all capability of sorrow from them: wherefore, though they
have charity, they have no contrition.
Reply to Objection 2: The souls in purgatory grieve for their
sins; but their sorrow is not contrition, because it lacks the
efficacy of contrition.
Reply to Objection 3: The pain which the souls suffer in
purgatory, cannot, properly speaking, be called satisfaction,
because satisfaction demands a meritorious work; yet, in a broad
sense, the payment of the punishment due may be called satisfaction.
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