Two Concepts of Attrition and Contrition - Theological Studies

14 THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
What since the time of Suarez had become the more common opinion,
even though theologians and Suarez himself were aware of its relatively
recent origin 44 (that, namely, attrition is sufficient in the sacrament
of penance, understood in the sense of denying the traditional
adage) is today the nearly common view of theology, except only for
the Thomist school. 45 Modern theology has in the main abandoned the
position of St. Thomas and the veteres, at any rate in the way of exposing
the theology of attrition-contrition.
In the Thomist school, however, an endeavor was made time and
again to reconcile the old and the new position. In view of this the
contritionist position interpreted the act of love of God which it
postulates in sufficient attrition as meaning an act of benevolence which
is not charity, because it is not reciprocated by God. This reciprocation,
precisely, would be the fact of the absolution which gives charity
and sanctifying grace. So Billuart, and more recently Perinelle. 46
But historical studies on St. Thomas have shown that this midway
position is not faithful to the Angelic Doctor's theology. And it is now
commonly agreed by both followers and critics of St. Thomas' teaching
on attrition-contrition that he requires for justification in the
sacrament, though not necessarily before its reception, contrition in the
strict meaning of the term, formata caritate.
Modern theology, on the other hand, determined to give up this historical
Thomism as bypassed by the later developments of theological
doctrines, considers attrition as a sufficient disposition for the forgiveness
of sin in the sacrament. No need of its giving way for con-
contritus; also Galtier, De Paenitentia, thesis 24: "Ad ejffectum sacramenti percipiendum
non requiritur contritio concepta ex amore Dei propter se dilecti, sed sufncit attritio etiam
cognita ut talis"; and in Gregorianum, XXVII (1946): "L'absolution ne saurait modifier
un acte psychologique pour en faire, a Pinsu du sujet, un acte s'inspirant d'un tout autre
motif" (p. 470). As we shall point out presently the opposition between these different
opinions is more apparent than real, on account of the different meaning each of them
gives to the notions of attrition-contrition.
44 Suarez, De Paenitentia, disp. 20, sect. 1; cf. Dondaine, op. cit., p. 35, n. 3, who still
quotes Suarez, op. cit., disp. 15, sect. 4, nn. 16-18.
46 Cf. Hugon, quoted above n. 44.
46 Perinelle, op. cit., defends the "throne moyenne de l'attrition d'amour" (p. 147).
Billuart, Tr. de Sacramento Paenitentiae, diss. 4, a. 7: "Ad iustificationem cum sacramento
paenitentiae consequendam non sufncit attritio ex metu concepta, etiam cum amore spei
seu concupiscentiae, sed requiritur amor Dei benevolus." This was much the same as seventeenth
century contritionism.