A modern dictionary of Catholic terms, both common and obscure. Find accurate definitions of words and phrases.
The pain or distress experienced because of some adversity that is felt personally. The sorrow may be over a loss or misfortune for which a person feels guilty, as in the case of sin; or the sorrow may be totally vicarious, out of compassion for someone else. Essential to the notion of sorrow is that it refers to what has already happened and its painful effects are still experienced. (Etym. Middle English sorge, sorrow; Old English sorh, sorg, anxiety, sorrow.)
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.