It is differentiated from contrition that is called “imperfect,” which is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). (CCC 1453)
If you are interested, mortal sin is described in CCC 1854 - 1864.
Well, I guess if I had died when I was a catholic, I would have been up a creek, because I could not generate enough love for God above all else. I was more interested in avoiding Hell fire and brimstone. I figure if I could only generate 99% love for God, above all else, but 1% fear of Hell, then I would have been in deep kimchi.
I discovered later, when I became born from above, like what Jesus said in John 3:3, that EVERY single solitary tiny little sin that people commit, IS a mortal sin.
I would think that in the Garden, Adam committed an extremely SMALL venial sin of disobedience. What harm could there be, from such a tiny little sin like that? Because of that TINY little venial sin, billions of people will experience fire and brimstone forever. Remember, God has a kind of fire that we know nothing about. I have no intention of taking part in that. If other people prefer Hell over Heaven, that's on them. They shouldn't ask me to experience that kind of pain. 🔥😩😫
I figure if I could only generate 99% love for God, above all else, but 1% fear of Hell, then I would have been in deep kimchi.
It’s not an either or thing, Mark17. Fear of the Lord is a good reason to be sorry; love for the Lord above all else is in keeping with the great commandment and the means to salvation.
You do make a good point that all sin is serious. A speaker at a conference I attended a couple of years ago said that every time you sin, you sin against the first commandment, because you are putting something before God. That was the great sin of Adam; that he wanted to be like God.
Peace,
Rich