Act of Contrition During Confession

[akrulisky]

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.

That is good to know, because right now it feels like I am just going through a script and am afraid I am not doing something right or I will forget something like saying “Thank you, Father.” When I do read the act of contrition, Father seems impatient, so I hurry it up.

 

[akrulisky]

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.

Yes, it is a beautiful prayer and this is why I want to memorize it. For an old Protestant like me, there is just so much to remember and things happen so fast in the confessional. One thing I haven’t done, is question whether my confession was valid. Maybe, because the time I spent in RCIA did such a good that I totally accept the validity of all of the Sacraments.

 

[Vico]

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,

RITE FOR RECONCILIATION OF INDIVIDUAL PENITENTS
*Congregation for Divine Worship *

The following text of ritual form “A” (individual absolution) is that approved for use in the United Sates by the NCCB and confirmed by the Holy See. Not all the optional texts are included.

…
​

PRAYER OF THE PENITENT AND ABSOLUTION

     45. The priest then asks the penitent to express his         sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words:[INDENT]                   My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do         wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should         love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance,         to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus         Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.
                                [/INDENT]Other prayers of the penitent may be chosen from nos.         85-92.

Or:
Lord Jesus, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWFORMA.HTM

Some of the others are:

Wash me from my guilt and cleanse me
of my sin. I acknowledge my offense;
my sin is before me always.
Psalm 51:4-5
or
Remember, Lord, your compassion and
mercy you showed long ago. Do not
recall the sins and failings of my youth.
In your mercy, remember me, Lord,
because of your goodness.
Psalm 25:6-7
or
Father, I have sinned against you and
am not worthy to be called your son.
Be merciful to me, a sinner. Luke
15:18, 18:13
or
Lord Jesus, you chose to be the friend
of sinners. By your saving death and
resurrection free me from my sins.
May your peace take root in my heart
and bring forth a harvest of love,
holiness and truth.
or
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Lamb
of God; you take away the sins of the
world. Through the grace of the Holy
Spirit restore me to friendship with
your Father, cleanse me from every
stain of sin in the blood you shed for
me, and raise me to new life for the
glory of your name.
or
Lord God, in your goodness have
mercy on me: do not look on my sins,
but take away all my guilt. Create in
me a clean heart and renew within me
an upright spirit.

 

[akrulisky]

RITE FOR RECONCILIATION OF INDIVIDUAL PENITENTS
*Congregation for Divine Worship *

The following text of ritual form “A” (individual absolution) is that approved for use in the United Sates by the NCCB and confirmed by the Holy See. Not all the optional texts are included.
​

Thanks!​

 

[PJM]

=Keith Little;12904727]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,

Welcome Home!

Your Confession, both of them, was both Valid and Licit.

Here is an example of an act of Contrition [sorrow for our sins]

**O my God
I am truly sorry for all my sins because I fear the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.

BUT SO MUCH MORE, because you ARE my God and ARE deserving of ALL of my love.

I firmly resolve with the help of THY Grace

To Confess all [my Mortal sins], do my prnnace and to AVOID the near occasion of sin in the future:AMEN **

God Bless you,

Patrick**

 

[Keith_Little]

Welcome Home!

Your Confession, both of them, was both Valid and Licit.

Here is an example of an act of Contrition [sorrow for our sins]

**O my God
I am truly sorry for all my sins because I fear the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.

BUT SO MUCH MORE, because you ARE my God and ARE deserving of ALL of my love.

I firmly resolve with the help of THY Grace

To Confess all [my Mortal sins], do my prnnace and to AVOID the near occasion of sin in the future:AMEN ****

God Bless you,

Patrick

Thank you!

This is the one that Father provided for me. I repeated after him, line for line, which was very helpful.

I was, honestly, just really confused why the priest who came to speak to our RCIA class didn’t even mention it when he walked us through what to do in the confessional.

Now that I know it makes a lot of sense, and I’m glad to hear that confession was still licit and valid.

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[jmcrae]

Thank you!

This is the one that Father provided for me. I repeated after him, line for line, which was very helpful.

I was, honestly, just really confused why the priest who came to speak to our RCIA class didn’t even mention it when he walked us through what to do in the confessional.

Now that I know it makes a lot of sense, and I’m glad to hear that confession was still licit and valid.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Perhaps he just forgot. I remember one time I was teaching a group the Order of the Mass, and then realized afterwards that I’d forgotten to mention the Consecration.

 

[Gorgias]

"powerofk:

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.

1. The priest then asks the penitent to express his sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words:

Precisely. The confessor can only give absolution if he knows that you are sorry for your sins and are resolved to avoid them in the future. So, the ‘act of contrition’ isn’t meant to be a formula that you must say word-for-word, or even a part of the rite, per se – rather, it’s meant to allow the priest to obtain reasonable certainty that you’re contrite for your sins, such that he might give you absolution.

Some priests may wish to obtain that certainty by hearing you recite a particular formula; others might invite you to express your sorrow in your own words. Others, interestingly enough, might perceive that your very presence in the confessional as a sign of your contrition.

 

[Vico]

Precisely. The confessor can only give absolution if he knows that you are sorry for your sins and are resolved to avoid them in the future. So, the ‘act of contrition’ isn’t meant to be a formula that you must say word-for-word, or even a part of the rite, per se – rather, it’s meant to allow the priest to obtain reasonable certainty that you’re contrite for your sins, such that he might give you absolution.

Some priests may wish to obtain that certainty by hearing you recite a particular formula; others might invite you to express your sorrow in your own words. Others, interestingly enough, might perceive that your very presence in the confessional as a sign of your contrition.

I remember once when I confessed I used the Jesus Prayer. The priest did not seem to like it and proceeded to recite the traditional Latin act of contrition for me to follow along with.

 

[twf]

I remember once when I confessed I used the Jesus Prayer. The priest did not seem to like it and proceeded to recite the traditional Latin act of contrition for me to follow along with.

Interestingly, the last time I was in Minnesota, the confessionals at St. Paul’s Cathedral had the Jesus Prayer posted on the confessional wall with the description “brief act of contrition”. I used it when confessing.

 

[mcmitton]

Must the act of contrition be THE Act of Contrition - or - AN act of contrition using one’s own words?

 

[PJM]

=Keith Little;12907049]Thank you!

This is the one that Father provided for me. I repeated after him, line for line, which was very helpful.

I was, honestly, just really confused why the priest who came to speak to our RCIA class didn’t even mention it when he walked us through what to do in the confessional.

Now that I know it makes a lot of sense, and I’m glad to hear that confession was still licit and valid.

Thanks for all the feedback.

You’re welcome:thumbsup:

Sometime us OLD Catholics assume that everyone knows what we do; or perhaps it was a time related issue having to hold the Confessions? Either way it was a over-site

Again WELCOME Home,

Patrick.

 

[Gorgias]

Must the act of contrition be THE Act of Contrition - or - AN act of contrition using one’s own words?

There are so many forms of “The” Act of Contrition, that there really is no single “Act of Contrition”.

So, using any one of the forms that a person has learned is ok, and so is “an act of contrition using one’s own words.”

 

[Gorgias]

I remember once when I confessed I used the Jesus Prayer. The priest did not seem to like it and proceeded to recite the traditional Latin act of contrition for me to follow along with.

Was this a recent occurrence, or many years ago? Was this in a ‘traditional Latin’ parish? Was this an ‘old-school’ priest (or even just an ‘old’ one)? Perhaps this has more to do with the culture of the parish or of the priest than anything else; it certainly doesn’t have anything to do with the ‘validity’ of your act of contrition…

 

[Vico]

Was this a recent occurrence, or many years ago? Was this in a ‘traditional Latin’ parish? Was this an ‘old-school’ priest (or even just an ‘old’ one)? Perhaps this has more to do with the culture of the parish or of the priest than anything else; it certainly doesn’t have anything to do with the ‘validity’ of your act of contrition…

April 7 this year. The priest had an Indian (India) accent. It was a Latin parish near my office which was convenient. I have never been to mass there and actually belong to a Byzantine Catholic parish.