Catechesis: False Repentance

Here we see how blind reason gropes around in the things of God and seeks comfort in its own works, according to its own darkened opinions. It cannot consider Christ or faith. If we look at this now in this light, then such contrition is a contrived or imaginary idea. It comes from one’s own powers, without faith, without knowledge of Christ. In this state, a poor sinner who reflected on this lust or revenge would at times more likely laughed than cried—except for those truly struck down by the law or falsely plagued by the devil with a sorrowful spirit. Otherwise, such contrition was certainly pure hypocrisy and did not kill the desire to sin. They had to be contrite, but would rather have sinned more—had it been without consequences.—SA II:III:3:18