Contrition: Burning Away the Rust of Sin

Contrition, the desire for God over sin, follows repentance, if it is sincere. It is a burning desire to be cleansed by the fire of God’s forgiveness and mercy.

“What is love but fire; what is sin but rust? Hence it is said, many sins are forgiven her because she hath loved much, as though to say, she hath burned away entirely the rust of sin, because she is inflamed with the fire of love.” The Venerable Bede, P.L., XCII, 425.