a perfect act of contrition, but no one told me what that meant
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity) when it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else. (CCC 1452)
It is differentiated from contrition that is called “imperfect,” which is born of the consideration of sins 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.
What is the Catholic reason for purgatory? Stated another way, what purpose does purgatory serve in the RCC belief structure?
Well then; THAT explains it ALL!
It is differentiated from contrition that is called imperfect, which is born of the consideration of sins 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. 🔥😩😫