To (e)the perfection of Repentance, a certain slender inward ⟨p. 137⟩grief is requisite saith Maldonat, one act of Contrition, though it be remiss, is enough, saith Tolet. These two are Jesuits, but speak more modestly than others of their Doctors. Let us hear Canus (f)we need not grieve for sin as much as we can, such an endeavour is not required in any other precept for Love, Faith, Hope, or Righteousness. Yea they would be foolish precepts, if they enjoined a certain degree. But if we need not grieve so much as we can, how then? Why, as little as can be: or if that will not satisfy, As little as we will. Quantumcunque sit remissa (g)saith Navarre, Penitence be it never so little, it is sufficient for the washing away of all crimes, according to the common sense of the Doctors, (h)quantumvis remissa, Be it as little as you will, says Lopez after Aquinas. (k)No certain degree, none that can be assigned, above the least of all, is requisite in Bellarmine, Victoria, &c. But should there not be a degree, more than the least, for the more grievous sins? No, no more for them than the less. In (i)honesty we may grieve more for the greater, to comply with the advice of God, but there is no necessity for it; it's only matter of Counsel, and so left to our pleasure. But must we not grieve for sin, as those who conceive it to be hateful above all, and most to be avoided? No, (m)not that neither: Lopez (n)tells us, that neither Council, nor Scripture have ⟨p. 138⟩declared it necessary to grieve for sin, as that which is most hateful: and (which is more than all,) that the Council of Trent requires it not. Navarre (o)had said as much before him, only the former thinks, it may be requisite that the penitent do not expressly or positively form in his mind a Resolution not to grieve for sin above all that is hateful. Thus is Repentance reduced in a manner to nothing: in respect of Appreciation, it is too much to grieve for sin, as that which is most odious: in respect of intenseness, it is enough to grieve less for it, than other grievances, the least degree of all is sufficient, and that which is next to nothing may serve.
To (e)the perfection of Repentance, a certain slender inward ⟨p. 137⟩grief is requisite saith Maldonat, one act of Contrition, though it be remiss, is enough, saith Tolet. These two are Jesuites, but speak more modestly than others of their Doctors. Let us hear Canus (f)we need not grieve for sin as much as we can, such an endeavour is not required in any other precept for Love, Faith, Hope, or Righteousness. Yea they would be foolish precepts, if they enjoyned a certain degree. But if we need not grieve so much as we can, how then? Why, as little as can be: or if that will not satisfie, As little as we will. Quantumcunque sit remissa (g)saith Navarr, Penitence be it never so little, it is sufficient for the washing away of all crimes, according to the common sense of the Doctors, (h)quantumvis remissa, Be it as little as you will, sayes Lopez after Aquinas. (k)No certain degree, none that can be assigned, above the least of all, is requisite in Bellarmine, Victoria, &c. But should there not be a degree, more than the least, for the more grievous sins? No, no more for them than the less. In (i)honesty we may grieve more for the greater, to comply with the advice of God, but there is no necessity for it; it's only matter of Counsel, and so left to our pleasure. But must we not grieve for sin, as those who conceive it to be hateful above all, and most to be avoyded? No, (m)not that neither: Lopez (n)tells us, that neither Council, nor Scripture have ⟨p. 138⟩declared it necessary to grieve for sin, as that which is most hateful: and (which is more than all,) that the Council of Trent requires it not. Navarr (o)had said as much before him, only the former thinks, it may be requisite that the penitent do not expresly or positively form in his mind a Resolution not to grieve for sin above all that is hateful. Thus is Repentance reduced in a manner to nothing: in respect of Appretiation, it is too much to grieve for sin, as that which is most odious: in respect of intenseness, it is enough to grieve less for it, than other grievances, the least degree of all is sufficient, and that which is next to nothing may serve.
- (e)Ad perfectionem paenitentiae requiritur tenuis quidam dolour internus. sum. q. 16 •t. 1. Contritio una licet remissa. l. 3. c. 5.Ad perfectionem paenitentiae requiritur tenuis quidam dolor internus. sum. q. 16 •t. 1. Contritio una licet remissa. l. 3. c. 5.
- (f)Praeceptum de actu fidei & de actu spei homo implet, etiamsi non agat ex toto conatu; ergo & praeceptum de charitate & contritione: non ergo contritio totum animi conatum exigit—Quod autem nullum ejusmodi esset praeceptum, patet, esset enim stultum praeceptum, quod semper invincibiliter ignoratur. Relell. de paenit. pars. 3. p. 841.
- (g)Quantumcunque sit remissa—satis est ad crimina diluenda Cap. 1. n. 31 S cundum mentem communem Doctorum.
- (h)Secundum. S. Thom. quaecunque contritio vera, quantumvis remissa, etiam in instanti concepta satis est ad remittenda omnia mortalia. Cap. 15. p. 94. De paenit. l. 2. c. 11. p. 943. Contrit. n. 106.
- (k)Dicendum est ad rationem contritionis nullam definitam intensionem requiri, sed sufficere substantiam actus, in quocunque gradu siat. Suarez. tom. 4. disp. 4. Sect. 4. Ita expresse Gabriel, Soto, Medina, Vega, Navarrus. ibid. n. 9. vid. plures in Bonacin. ibid. punct. 7. n. 3.
- (i)(l) Licet de graviori peccato gravior requiratur paenitentia sive paenitudo, hoc tamen intelligendum est de consilio & honestate, non autem de necessitate. Navar. c. 1. n. 31.
- (m)Detestari peccatum supra omne malum paenae, non necessarium. Cajetan, Navarre, Vega, in Suarez. ibid. disp. 3. Sect. 9. n. 8.Detestari peccatum supra omne malum paenae, non necessarium. Cajetan, Navar, Vega, in Suarez. ibid. disp. 3. Sect. 9. n. 8.
- (n)(Nullum concilium, nec Sancti, nec Scriptura Sacra, id supra omne odibile, dolorem necessarium esse expressere. c. 15. p. 92.
- (o)Cap. 1. n. 25.
