Act of Contrition During Confession

[Keith_Little]

Hi all,

During RCIA our pastor taught us about the Rite of Reconciliation and then, immediately following, we all had our first confessions.

It involved me saying, “Bless me father…,” admitting my sins, the priest offering absolution, and giving penance.

It wasn’t until my SECOND confession, this past week, that the priest asked, “Do you have an Act of Contrition?” and I had no idea what he was talking about. He gratiously walked me through it but now I’m wondering… what was up with my first confession?

Is the Act of Contrition something that can be omitted, and is the confession any less valid?

Thanks,

 

[JimG]

Hi all,

During RCIA our pastor taught us about the Rite of Reconciliation and then, immediately following, we all had our first confessions.

It involved me saying, “Bless me father…,” admitting my sins, the priest offering absolution, and giving penance.

It wasn’t until my SECOND confession, this past week, that the priest asked, “Do you have an Act of Contrition?” and I had no idea what he was talking about. He gratiously walked me through it but now I’m wondering… what was up with my first confession?

Is the Act of Contrition something that can be omitted, and is the confession any less valid?

Thanks,

It can’t be omitted, but it can be prayed before, or after, the confession, especially in the context of a penance service with many penitents. In my parish, the priest often asks the penitent to say an act of contrition with their penance in the pew, after confession.

 

[akrulisky]

Hi all,

During RCIA our pastor taught us about the Rite of Reconciliation and then, immediately following, we all had our first confessions.

It involved me saying, “Bless me father…,” admitting my sins, the priest offering absolution, and giving penance.

It wasn’t until my SECOND confession, this past week, that the priest asked, “Do you have an Act of Contrition?” and I had no idea what he was talking about. He gratiously walked me through it but now I’m wondering… what was up with my first confession?

Is the Act of Contrition something that can be omitted, and is the confession any less valid?

Thanks,

We do face to face confession, and I too, was at a loss as to what to do during my first Reconciliation. However, on a little stand next to my seat, there was a laminated copy of the act of contrition that Father waved over towards so I picked it up and said it. What I was wondering, is do I read it out loud, or do I just say it silently. That wasn’t and still is not clear to me. Anybody have any (name removed by moderator)ut?

 

[Elizium23]

Don’t be surprised if someday you have a priest who begins the formula for absolution at the same time you are making your Act of Contrition. This is a traditional mode for the rite.

 

[akrulisky]

Don’t be surprised if someday you have a priest who begins the formula for absolution at the same time you are making your Act of Contrition. This is a traditional mode for the rite.

Thanks for the heads up, so I won’t be surprised if that happens. Do you say the Act of Contrition out loud?

 

[Jon_S_1]

Thanks for the heads up, so I won’t be surprised if that happens. Do you say the Act of Contrition out loud?

Yes say it out loud. I’ve had a few confessions where the priest didn’t prompt for one. I just let him finish the absolution and pray it later after leaving the confessional. That said I pray it a bunch before hand trying to memorize it!

 

[akrulisky]

Yes say it out loud. I’ve had a few confessions where the priest didn’t prompt for one. I just let him finish the absolution and pray it later after leaving the confessional. That said I pray it a bunch before hand trying to memorize it!

Thanks! I don’t know it by heart yet. Something I need to concentrate on to do, but I am afraid my mind will go blank even if I memorize it when in the confessional. But that is a good thing to focus on while waiting, I think.

 

[oldgraymare2]

It seems it just depends on the priest.

What has been common where I have gone to confession is that you mention your sins as you normally would, and then the priest talks to you/advises you/gives you your penance, and then he will ask you to pray the Act of Contrition, and then he gives you absolution.

 

[akrulisky]

It seems it just depends on the priest.

What has been common where I have gone to confession is that you mention your sins as you normally would, and then the priest talks to you/advises you/gives you your penance, and then he will ask you to pray the Act of Contrition, and then he gives you absolution.

Pretty much the same here, except Father gives the absolution then impatiently waits for the Act of Contrition. I have never had any other Confessor, so far, so I am sure I will experience differences if I eventually have a different priest. We are a one priest parish with face to face confession only. I will be going for a Catholic weekend retreat on May 1st, so will be able to experience a different priest for confession there. I better get memorizing, because I don’t know the Act of Contrition by heart yet.

 

[Rosemama]

Your confession was still valid. Next time if it isn’t asked for during confession, simply pray it afterwards.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Pretty much the same here, except Father gives the absolution then impatiently waits for the Act of Contrition. I have never had any other Confessor, so far, so I am sure I will experience differences if I eventually have a different priest. We are a one priest parish with face to face confession only. I will be going for a Catholic weekend retreat on May 1st, so will be able to experience a different priest for confession there. I better get memorizing, because I don’t know the Act of Contrition by heart yet.

Where I have gone for confession in the confessional, the Act of Contrition has been posted on the inside of the confessional, on the wall.

You still have time to memorize it.

 

[acadiANNA]

My opinion is that all RCIA participants must learn the Act of Contrition. It was mandatory for us to learn before Confession and First Holy Communion age 6. Everyone should recite this every night with bedtime prayers. Again, my opinion.

 

[Irish_Cabbie]

Don’t be surprised if someday you have a priest who begins the formula for absolution at the same time you are making your Act of Contrition. This is a traditional mode for the rite.

This has happened to me a few times. I always thought it was silly to have two people speaking at the same time. I much prefer having my confessor wait until I am done praying the Act of Contrition before absolving me of my sins. I want to hear the priest say the words “God the father of mercies … I absolve you …”

 

[jmcrae]

We do face to face confession, and I too, was at a loss as to what to do during my first Reconciliation. However, on a little stand next to my seat, there was a laminated copy of the act of contrition that Father waved over towards so I picked it up and said it. What I was wondering, is do I read it out loud, or do I just say it silently. That wasn’t and still is not clear to me. Anybody have any (name removed by moderator)ut?

You say it out loud.

 

[jmcrae]

Thanks! I don’t know it by heart yet. Something I need to concentrate on to do, but I am afraid my mind will go blank even if I memorize it when in the confessional. But that is a good thing to focus on while waiting, I think.

You don’t have to say the exact words; just words that mean the same thing. The three essentials are: I am sorry for my sins, because I love God, and I am resolved to avoid committing sin in the future.

I’ve been Catholic for fifteen years now, and I still get stuck half way through my Act of Contrition, and just make something up regarding wanting to avoid sin, and my fervent hope that God will forgive me, for the ending - no priest has ever said anything about it; I think they get what I mean to say.

 

[powerofk]

Honestly, here’s a note for all: remember, the rubrics of the Sacrament of Confession ask for an Act of Contrition, not the Act of Contrition. Even though that doesn’t seem like much, it is. We Catholics are generally more used to recited/memorized prayers. This, along with people getting “frozen” in the confessional, are reasons why we generally either read or memorize an Act of Contrition.

However, there are many, many, many options to use for saying an Act of Contrition, so if there are no prayer cards in the confessional with a written Act of Contrition on it and if you haven’t memorized an Act of Contrition, feel free to say your own - it’s allowable. You can also use any of the penitential psalms (the most well-known being Psalm 50/51, aka “The Memorare”). You can pray this, the simplest Act of Contrition: “Jesus, be merciful on me, a sinner.” That’s it. Or sometimes the Act of Contrition is simply saying “Yes, Father” after a priest asks you if you’re sorry for your sins. In this case, often the priest will consider this to be the Act of Contrition and not ask you to pray another one. The list goes on and on. As long as you tell Jesus that you’re sorry for your sins and that you want His help to not sin again, it’s a valid Act of Contrition.

So, don’t be worried next time if you haven’t memorized anything - I’m 35, going on 36, and have been going to confession since I was a child. I even teach children how to go to confession. But I still have not memorized an Act of Contrition.

 

[pianistclare]

Thanks! I don’t know it by heart yet. Something I need to concentrate on to do, but I am afraid my mind will go blank even if I memorize it when in the confessional. But that is a good thing to focus on while waiting, I think.

If it’s not on a laminated card in the confession, print it out on card stock and keep it in your wallet. That’s what we ask the teens in our program to do. Eventually, you will know it by heart. It’s a good prayer to pray at the close of the day.

 

[RitasKid]

I usually say something like…God, you know exactly how sorry I am. Help me never sin again. However, at my last confession I got through my sins, kinda froze up, and just said “I’m sorry”. The priest gave me a penance and absolution. No formal “act of contrition” but the priest and God and I all knew I was truly repentant. I think the essential thing is to confess the sin. The priest needs to know enough for him to decide whether to give absolution. When he does, it’s forgiven.

 

[akrulisky]

Where I have gone for confession in the confessional, the Act of Contrition has been posted on the inside of the confessional, on the wall.

You still have time to memorize it.

Yes, that is on my agenda. Just in case, I better have a copy of my own probably.

 

[pianistclare]

I find it interesting that since we have numerous threads monthly where people ask “was my confession valid?” that people are debating whether or not they should or need to pray this beautiful prayer.
Amazing. Say the prayer and be at peace.