Whether this sorrow be of the perfect kind, arising purely from love of God, or whether it be less perfect, caused by fear of God:  in either case, it is internal, seated in the mind and heart; it is supernatural in its motive, and springs from grace; it is universal, extending to every deadly sin committed; it is sovereign, displeasing the will more than any ill which could happen.  “The sorrow which is according to God worketh penance unto salvation which is lasting:  but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  For behold this selfsame thing that you were made sorrowful according to God, how great carefulness doth it work:  in you; yea defence, yea indignation, yea fear, yea desire, yea zeal, yea revenge."[22] This, then, is contrition:  the first and necessary condition for the pardon of sin.  It is begun and perfected in the soul by the impulse and by the assistance of the Holy Ghost.  The grace of God, obtained through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, commences and completes the work of repentance.  God, who is rich in mercy, through His exceeding charity with which He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened as together in Christ, by whose grace you are saved.[23] “The blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin."[24] “We have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace."[25]

FOOTNOTES: 

[10] Acts v, 31.

[11] Acts ii, 38.

[12] Acts iii, 19.

[13] Peter iii, 9.

[14] Acts xvii, 30.

[15] Rom. ii, 4.

[16] Deut. xxx, 1.

[17] Joel ii, 12.

[18] Ezech. xviii, 31.

[19] Con.  Trid.  Sess. xiv, cap. 4.

[20] Sess. xiv, c. 1.

[21] Rom. viii, 1, 2.

[22] 2 Cor. vi, 11.

[23] Eph. ii, 4.

[24] 1 John i, 7.

[25] Eph. i, 7.

II.

It has pleased God, as we learn by the Christian revelation, to institute a human and visible Ministry of Reconciliation for sinners.  St. Paul expresses this in the clearest way, writing to the Corinthians:  “If, then, any be in Christ, a new creature:  old things are passed away:  behold, all things are made new.  But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.  For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing to them their sins; and He hath placed in us the word of reconciliation; we are therefore ambassadors for Christ.”  In this passage does the Apostle teach the truth declared elsewhere:  “Christ died for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh."[26] Herein is it taught very plainly that we are redeemed by Jesus, and that there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby they must be saved.  He alone paid the price of our redemption; by His precious blood alone are we redeemed; and through Him alone is sin forgiven.