Act of Contrition Question

[Super_Grover]

In confession, I use this version of the Act of Contrition, and I wonder if anyone else does, or if this was just a version that was around in the 70’s (when I made my first confession).

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Silly question, but I think it’s funny if it the way I say the Act of Contrition pegs me to a certain age. I never really hear anyone say this prayer, except myself in confession, but I get the impression that this just isn’t the most common version.

 

[jay29]

“Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner”

This is what I use. I can remember it.

 

[germangreek]

This is the one I use. Would have learned it in the early-mid '60s.

 

[NPC]

I think that the direction is that the penitent should make some appropriate act of contrition - there is no one act of contrition that one is bound to use. I think the older prayers are more likely to mention the unworthiness of the sinner, punishment and Hell! Some newer ones can be a bit wishy-washy! I am 24 and this is the one I learned at school:

“O, my God, I thank you for loving me. I am sorry for all my sins; for not loving others and not loving you, help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen.”

However, I came across the following two recently - the first is from a missal of 1968, and the second is from a manual of prayers and instructions for Catholics - from before Vatican II :

1. “Most loving Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am unworthy to be called thy child: make me as one of thy servants, and may I for the future be ever faithfull to thee. I am now resolved,with the help of they grace, to be more watchful over myself, to amend my faults and fulfil thy law. Look down on me with the eyes of mercy, O God, and blot out my sins.”
2. “O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they deserve Thy dreadful punishments, because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend Thine infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy grace, never to offend Thee again, and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin.”

I prefer the second one - more doom and gloom than most

Anyway, I wouldn’t be too bothered about what ‘era’ your prayer comes from - say whichever one you feel expresses your sorrow best! If you think your prayer sounds a bit archaic (which I don’t), you could change the “thy’s” and “thee’s” to “your” and “you”!

 

[stuart12]

i am just new to the fairth but i go to confession regularly.

i just use whatever prayer is infront of me for an act of contrition. we have them written on the kneeler. The last one that someone mentioned about ‘crucified my loving saviour’’, is the one i used tonight. It is much better than the other childish ones that i have seen written.

 

[beckycmarie]

I use the Prayer of Perfect Contrition:

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 Thee whom I should love above all. I firmly intend, with Thy help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Amen.

 

[peregrinus_sg]

The Roman Ritual: Rite of Penance provides many options for the penitent’s Prayer of Sorrow (Act of Contrition), including the option of using your own words. The following are taken from the official liturgical books.

<1
Remember, Lord, your compassion and mercy which 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 24:6-7)

<2
Wash me from guilt and cleanse me of my sin. I acknowledge my offence; my sin is before me always. (Psalm 50:4-5)

<3
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)

<4
Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to you and say: “I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Christ Jesus, Saviour of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise: “Lord, remember me in your kingdom.” Holy Spirit, fountain of Love, I call on you with trust: "Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light.

<5
Lord Jesus, you opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the sinful woman, and after Peter’s denial confirmed him in your Love. Listen to my prayer: forgive all my sins, renew your Love in my heart, help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world.

<6
Lord Jesus, you chose to be called 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.

<7
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.

<8
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.

<9
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

<10
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 Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

The following 4 prayers are included as part of the suggested Prayers of Sorrow in the Rite of Penance published and approved for use in the dioceses of England and Wales et al.:

<11
O my God,
because you are so good,
I am very sorry that I have sinned against you,
and with the help of your grace
I will not sin again.

<12
O my God I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they deserve your dreadful punishments, because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend your infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully to avoid the occasions of sin.

<13
O my God, I am heartily sorry for all my sins, because they offend you, who are infinitely good, and I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, never to offend you again.

<14
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. and I detest my sins above every other evil. because they displease you, my God. who for your infinite goodness are so deserving of all my love: and I firmly resolve, by your holy grace, never more to offend you and to amend my life.

 

[Monicathree]

speaking of contrition…do you know any sites where there have a good examination of conscience I can give to my Dad. After 30 some odd years being away from the church. He has started going and wants to go to confession. GLORY TO GOD!!! He was never really properly catechised and something simple yet thorough. Thanks …
BTW-he does remember that older prayer of Lord…I am heartily sorry for offending thee…he was pleased to be able to recite it with me.

 

[tptram]

This is a badly translated version of our Vietnamese “Act of Contrition”

O my Lord, You are the infinitely all good, all gentle.
You have created me and Your Son incarnated for me; suffered and died for me.
But I have the gall to rebelled against your LOVE.
Thus, I am sad and sorry.
I detest my sins above all things.
I firmly resolve to change.
And by your grace, I will avoid occasions for sin and perform works of pennance worthily.
Amen

-emphasis is mine
(hopefully, some other Viet can correct my translation)

 

[beckycmarie]

speaking of contrition…do you know any sites where there have a good examination of conscience I can give to my Dad.

Here’s one that I use:

Examination of Conscience

 

[teachccd]

In confession, I use this version of the Act of Contrition, and I wonder if anyone else does, or if this was just a version that was around in the 70’s (when I made my first confession).

Silly question, but I think it’s funny if it the way I say the Act of Contrition pegs me to a certain age. I never really hear anyone say this prayer, except myself in confession, but I get the impression that this just isn’t the most common version.

Yours is the EXACT Act of Contrition that I’ve said for the last 41 years and it works just fine. To God a thousand years is like one day. Would you like to know how old our second Eucharistic Prayer is? Close to 1800 years old. So, not to worry. Our ancient faith is rich with formulated prayer and no more than I should worry that someone might think that I am a few hundred years old when I pray the Hail Mary should you worry about what you were taught in the 70"s…God Bless…teachccd

 

[historybrat]

In confession, I use this version of the Act of Contrition, and I wonder if anyone else does, or if this was just a version that was around in the 70’s (when I made my first confession).

Silly question, but I think it’s funny if it the way I say the Act of Contrition pegs me to a certain age. I never really hear anyone say this prayer, except myself in confession, but I get the impression that this just isn’t the most common version.

Well this is the same Act of Contrition I use, and I coverted last year, so I don’t think it dates you that much. My priest didn’t really give us any guidance on which one we should use. I found it in the back of a book, and when I had to go to confession for the first time it was the one I used. I’ve always used it, and recently the church I go to for confession posted that exact one in the confessional for those of us who forget.

However, once when I was traveling I went to confession in Denver, and used it and had a priest break out laughing. Not sure what tickled his funny but he said he had never heard that version and spent a few minutes laughing at me. I decided not to go back there for confession unless there is an emergency. Oh well I like it and it works for me.

Historybrat

 

[SisterSnowflake]

Somebody in the 1970s taught you well! That exact prayer in the original post is found word for word in a little Sunday missal that I have; the title of the book is *I Pray the Mass *and it was published in 1941!

 

[teachccd]

Somebody in the 1970s taught you well! That exact prayer in the original post is found word for word in a little Sunday missal that I have; the title of the book is *I Pray the Mass *and it was published in 1941!

WOW!! I’m not that old…

 

[mommyof4]

“Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner”

This is what I use. I can remember it.

Me too. I had a terrible time remembering the one the OP cited, and now I have learned “Jesus Christ, son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I can remember it!!!

 

[ElizabethPH]

In confession, I use this version of the Act of Contrition, and I wonder if anyone else does, or if this was just a version that was around in the 70’s (when I made my first confession).

Silly question, but I think it’s funny if it the way I say the Act of Contrition pegs me to a certain age. I never really hear anyone say this prayer, except myself in confession, but I get the impression that this just isn’t the most common version.

I use it since I was a kid. I’m 50 something

 

[Sir_Knight]

Ditto here. Almost to the word, that is the same prayer that I say every night and after confession.

 

[SMHW]

In confession, I use this version of the Act of Contrition, and I wonder if anyone else does, or if this was just a version that was around in the 70’s (when I made my first confession).

Silly question, but I think it’s funny if it the way I say the Act of Contrition pegs me to a certain age. I never really hear anyone say this prayer, except myself in confession, but I get the impression that this just isn’t the most common version.

That’s the version I was taught back in the 1960’s. But when I was in high school I was exposed to some other versions that my teachers had learned when they were in school. That’s when I realized there is no single “correct” version.

 

[Monicathree]

Thank you and I also go to the St. Michael’s website because of you Beckycmarie…