Act of Contrition

[EddieArent]

You learn something each day. I once read from an online website that an act of contrition something similar to “Lord Jesus, son of God have mercy on me, a sinner” was an acceptable act of contrition. Then a week later, I believe a Byzantine Priest was on the Journey Home on EWTN (it was a tape as he was in Alabama a month ago or so) and he used the same words to bless the studio/host.

Anyways, I was wondering if there any other prayers that have multiple uses between the various rites? If so, which?

 

[whit]

EddieArent:

You learn something each day. I once read from an online website that an act of contrition something similar to “Lord Jesus, son of God have mercy on me, a sinner” was an acceptable act of contrition. Then a week later, I believe a Byzantine Priest was on the Journey Home on EWTN (it was a tape as he was in Alabama a month ago or so) and he used the same words to bless the studio/host.

Anyways, I was wondering if there any other prayers that have multiple uses between the various rites? If so, which?

Hi Eddie,

That prayer is NOT an Act of Contrition. Specifically that prayer is what is called “The Jesus Prayer” and I believe is from the Orthodox branch of Catholicism. It is a beautiful prayer and short and sweet and I say it often, or a variation.

An Act of Contrition should contain an exclamation of sorrow for having commited sin because it offends GOD, AND an exclamaton of amendment, a commitment to sin no more, to quit offending God. And we generally make this amendment asking for God’s grace for aid.

Of course, I learned the Act of Contrition when I was very young and did my first confession. A few years ago I was in confession and my mind went blank when the priest mentioned it was time for an Act of Contrition and I menioned it to the priest. He laughed and said that really all we are doing is telling God we are sorry for offending him by sin and asking for forgiveness and telling him we intend to sin no more with his help. So I did as he suggestied, he sbsolved me of my sins “in persona Christi”, and I walked out on a cloud.

That works for me.

God bless.
Whit

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

He laughed and said that really all we are doing is telling God we are sorry for offending him by sin and asking for forgiveness and telling him we intend to sin no more with his help.

You are permitted to use the formalized Act of Contrition Prayer or you can use a personalized one in confession. The key is the elements of (1) being sorry for offending him, (2) asking for forgiveness, and (3) resolving to sin no more.

If find as I tend not to remember the formal one, I use a personalized one and sometimes it brings me to tears.

 

[A.Pelliccio]

I saw that episode too I love that prayer after I learned it!