Contrition

Contrition or contriteness (from the Latin contritus 'ground to pieces', i.e. crushed by guilt) is sincere and complete remorse for sins one has committed. The remorseful person is said to be contrite.

It is a key concept to Christianity. Through Christ, who is the mediator between God and man in Christian belief, contrition becomes the first step towards reconciliation with God. In the Catholic Church, ordinarily absolution of sins occurs in confession to a priest of the Church; however, Protestantism, a religious movement which formed in the 16th century after breaking away from the Catholic Church, does not see confession as necessary for forgiveness, while both the Catholic Church and the Protestant denominations see contrition as the first step of forgiveness of sins. It is regarded as a prerequisite to divine forgiveness (see regeneration and ordo salutis). Its elements comprise of hatred and regret for ones sin, a desire for God over sin, and faith in Christ's atonement on the cross and its sufficiency for salvation.

Exhortations to the value and necessity for repentance are quite common: "I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ezekiel: 33, 11); "...But unless you repent, you too will perish." (Gospel of Luke 13:5). At times this repentance includes exterior acts of satisfaction (Psalms 6:7 sqq.); it always implies a recognition of wrong done to God, a detestation of the evil wrought, and a desire to turn from evil and do good. This is clearly expressed in Psalm 51 (1-12):

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

More clearly does this appear in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke, 18:9-13), and more clearly still in the story of the prodigal (Luke, 15:11-32): "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before thee: I am not worthy to be called thy son".