Act of Contrition

[Milestone]

Does the act of contrition need to be said word for word for it to be efficacious? I know there are variations, but need we say one of the preexisting variations or can we compose our own?

 

[LiamQ]

God, of course, judges your heart, and so long as you are intending what an act of contrition communicates, then this would suffice. The words are simply there to dispose us to the proper attitude.

But here’s a good introduction to all of this: catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/CONTRITION.pdf.

 

[GLam8833]

I usually say my OWN prayer of contrition,
it confesses sorrow at having fallen short
of God’s glory and tarnished our witness,
and “by the grace of God” try not to commit
it again.

 

[thistle]

Does the act of contrition need to be said word for word for it to be efficacious? I know there are variations, but need we say one of the preexisting variations or can we compose our own?

You are free to make up your own.

 

[Katherine438]

Heartfelt prayers of contrition are always good … the Act of Contrition is a guide, so that we have an idea of what should be said … your own words will probably convey more of what you are feeling … I always pray to God for His mercy of my sins … but have to admit I always add an Act of Contrition to my own prayers.

 

[MaryT777]

I also say my own act of contrition. I have heard of once incident where my friend did say her own version and the priest handed her behind the screen a written version of the “official” one and asked her to say that one. Not sure why.

Mary.

 

[porthos11]

But the excellence of the traditional Act of Contrition is that it’s so well-composed that it covers all the necessary dispositions. One only needs to recite the Act with attention and devotion, meaning what he says as he says it.

It covers both imperfect ("…because I dread the loss of heaven and fear the pains of hell") and perfect contrition ("…but most of all because they offend thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love")

Contrary to what’s often said that perfect contrition is difficult to attain, the truth is that perfect and imperfect contrition can coexist, and as love for God is an act of the will rather than of the emotions, one can attain perfect contrition with a devout recitation of this prayer.

For this reason, in addition to my personal pleas for forgiveness, I always resort to one of two forms of the approved Acts of Contrition in use.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

I use my own, most of the time. The first part comes from one of Pope Francis’ encyclicals and the other part comes from the traditional prayer:

Lord, I have let myself be deceived;
in a thousand ways I have shunned your love,
yet here I am once more,
to renew my covenant with you.
I need you.
Save me once again, Lord,
take me once more into your redeeming embrace.
-Pope Francis (Evangelii Gaudium [3])
I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace,
to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin.
Amen.

 

[GLam8833]

I use my own, most of the time. The first part comes from one of Pope Francis’ encyclicals and the other part comes from the traditional prayer:

Lord, I have let myself be deceived;
in a thousand ways I have shunned your love,
yet here I am once more,
to renew my covenant with you.
I need you.
Save me once again, Lord,
take me once more into your redeeming embrace.
-Pope Francis (Evangelii Gaudium [3])
I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace,
to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin.
Amen.