Can someone in mortal sin receive Communion after a perfect act of contrition?
The short answer
Only under four conditions: a grave reason to receive, no possibility of confessing first, being in a state of grace through perfect contrition, and the resolve to confess as soon as possible. It is contrition itself — sorrow from love of God — that must be perfect, not the recitation of a prayer.
Perfect contrition, not a perfect act
The Catechism speaks of "perfect contrition." What obtains forgiveness of grave sin is not reciting a prayer perfectly but the contrition itself being perfect. Contrition is sorrow and hatred for sin with the resolve not to sin again (CCC 1451). Imperfect contrition arises from sin's ugliness or fear of punishment and does not forgive grave sins (CCC 1453). Perfect contrition arises from love of God above all (CCC 1452) and alone forgives grave sins before confession.
What canon law says
A person conscious of grave sin may not receive the Lord's body without prior confession unless there is a grave reason and no opportunity to confess; then he must make an act of perfect contrition including the resolve to confess as soon as possible (CIC 916).
Four conditions
- A grave reason to receive (for example, danger of death).
- Confession first is physically or morally impossible.
- The person is already in a state of grace through perfect contrition.
- The person resolves to confess as soon as possible.
Continue exploring
- Can mortal sins be forgiven without confession?Q&A
- Can someone with a mortally sinful addiction, who rarely gets to confession, receive Communion?Q&A
- If there is a "baptism of desire," is there a "reconciliation of desire"?Q&A
- Is it necessary to confess how many times one has sinned?Q&A
- What happened to those who committed mortal sin before confession was instituted?Q&A
- What if I forgot to confess a sin and remembered it later?Q&A