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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Fear not love	Marco	Friday, December 25, 2009
Question: What hope is there for a person who knows God exists, but practices his "faith," if it can be called that, in fear? He attends Mass, goes to confession, etc., but does so out of fear of Hell and punishment, not out of love of God. Just as a child would do his chores lest his father punish him. What, if I may ask, would be his final fate?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Marco: The Church teaches that contrition comes in two forms: 1) Perfect Contrition: This form of contrition is offered by the person out of love of God and sorrow for disappointing God, whom we should love above all. 2) Imperfect Contrition: This form of contrition is offered out of fear and dread of hell. Both types of contrition are valid. Some people's faith are weak and immature. God does not exclude them because of this, but in His infinite mercy, allows them into heaven even though their contrition and motivation was imperfect. These people will be perfected in purgatory, as most all of us will, too. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Fear not love

Marco

Friday, December 25, 2009

Question:

What hope is there for a person who knows God exists, but practices his "faith," if it can be called that, in fear? He attends Mass, goes to confession, etc., but does so out of fear of Hell and punishment, not out of love of God. Just as a child would do his chores lest his father punish him. What, if I may ask, would be his final fate?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Marco:

The Church teaches that contrition comes in two forms:

1) Perfect Contrition: This form of contrition is offered by the person out of love of God and sorrow for disappointing God, whom we should love above all.

2) Imperfect Contrition: This form of contrition is offered out of fear and dread of hell.

Both types of contrition are valid. Some people's faith are weak and immature. God does not exclude them because of this, but in His infinite mercy, allows them into heaven even though their contrition and motivation was imperfect. These people will be perfected in purgatory, as most all of us will, too.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum