How Do You Make a Perfect Act of Contrition?

[Melodeonist]

I often read about the so called “Perfect Act of Contrition” on here, but I always wondered what it was. Is that the prayer called the “act of contrition” that we read in confession, or is it something else? I looked it up, but I was still confused.

 

[LiamQ]

The phrase “perfect act of contrition” is widely used misnomer. The correct phrase is “act of perfect contrition.”

Perfect contrition is a sorrow for sin that is based primarily in love of God. Here’s more information in brief: ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=370862.

A relevant passage from the above that directly answers your question:

If you can say an act of contrition in these or similar words truthfully, intending it, then I think you would have moral certainty [of having made an act of perfect contrition].

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,
and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell;
but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

And here’s all the information you could possibly want to know: pamphlets.org.au/docs/cts/australia/html/acts1325.html.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

catholic.com/quickquestions/how-do-i-make-an-act-of-contrition

Contrition may be either perfect or imperfect. While perfect contrition forgives all sins, it does not relieve us of the obligation to go to confession. The Catechism explains:

When [contrition] arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called "perfect" (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.

The contrition called "imperfect" (or "attrition") is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process that, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself, however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of penance. (CCC 1452–53)

An act of contrition is an expression to God of the sorrow of the penitent. There is no required formula for this and it may be very simple such as “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The Handbook of Prayers offers the following prayer:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen. (p. 62)

ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage_print.asp?number=370862
“Act of Perfect Contrition - EWTN.com”

 

[JimR-OCDS]

A perfect act of Contrition is repenting to God from your heart.

Anything else is just reciting words you were taught to say by some one else.

Jim

 

[brad90956]

There are a few different “act of contrition” prayers with similar wording. Contrition (according the dictionary) is the state of being sorry for bad behavior (sins).

There are two types of contrition, imperfect and perfect. Both are suitable for the absolution of your sins in the confessional, but we should strive for “perfect contrition”.

1. Imperfect contrition is sorrow for your sins because you fear the loss of Heaven and pains of Hell.
2. Perfect contrition is sorrow for your sins because you offended God, whom you should love above all else because He is all good and deserving of your love.

Perfect contrition is not merely reciting words in a formula, but an act of the will. You are sorry for having offended God but also to amend your life (act, to change the way you live) and try as hard as you can to not sin in the future. You are doing this because of your selfless love God.

Your contrition is the key. What is your motivation for the sorrow of your sins. Is it because you fear Hell (Imperfect) or is it because you are sorrowful because you offended God (Perfect) who deserves all your love.

God Bless

 

[Abynissa]

A perfect act of Contrition is repenting to God from your heart.

Anything else is just reciting words you were taught to say by some one else.

Jim

Which begs the question, one really doesn’t know if they made an act of perfection contrition. One can never know their heart as the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 Matthew 9:4 So you would be committing a sacrilege if you still have grave sins on your soul when receiving Holy Communion. Not knowing if you made an act of perfect contrition, then any subsequent confession and reception of Holy Communion would just be piling up more grave sins? For instance people receiving Holy Communion that are remarried improperly, LGBT couples, people addicted to sin, etc?

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Which begs the question, one really doesn’t know if they made an act of perfection contrition. One can never know their heart as the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 Matthew 9:4 So you would be committing a sacrilege if you still have grave sins on your soul when receiving Holy Communion. Not knowing if you made an act of perfect contrition, then any subsequent confession and reception of Holy Communion would just be piling up more grave sins? For instance people receiving Holy Communion that are remarried improperly, LGBT couples, people addicted to sin, etc?

False !

A person knows when their heart is sincere or not when they repent to God. Sure they can be dishonest about it, but they know when they are.

Otherwise we can’t trust God will hear our prayer or not, whether a memorised rote prayer or a sincer contrition from the hear.

A person must be contrite for offending God before they enter the confessional, otherwise the sacrament digresses to the level of a superstition.

Jim

 

[Rbaker]

False !

A person knows when their heart is sincere or not when they repent to God. Sure they can be dishonest about it, but they know when they are.

Otherwise we can’t trust God will hear our prayer or not, whether a memorised rote prayer or a sincer contrition from the hear.

A person must be contrite for offending God before they enter the confessional, otherwise the sacrament digresses to the level of a superstition.

Jim

Technically, a person could go to confession because of “imperfect contrition”, which is when they go to confession out of the far of missing out on heaven and going to hell.

But like you said, I think a person will know if they are truly sincere with their apology, and I don’t think it is too difficult to be perfectly contrite. A little reflection on Jesus’ passion and sacrifice would probably be enough to make you sincerely sorry for offending God

 

[JimR-OCDS]

CCC Bold is my emphasis

1452 When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect” (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.51

1453 The contrition called “imperfect” (or “attrition”) is also a gift of God, a prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is born of the consideration of sin’s ugliness or the fear of eternal damnation and the other penalties threatening the sinner (contrition of fear). Such a stirring of conscience can initiate an interior process which, under the prompting of grace, will be brought to completion by sacramental absolution. By itself however, imperfect contrition cannot obtain the forgiveness of grave sins, but it disposes one to obtain forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance.

Either way, when one is moved to go to Confession, I would hope that it is because of a sorrow for offending God, not just fear of hell.

Jim

 

[jinglebelle]

A perfect act of Contrition is repenting to God from your heart.

Anything else is just reciting words you were taught to say by some one else.

Jim

Concise,that explains a lot.

 

[Melodeonist]

Thanks for the replies. Now I know!

 

[Abynissa]

Trying to understand the Catholic prespective on this not trying to split hairs and coming from OSAS where this is not even an issue. Is ‘true’ repentance "When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called “perfect”, is it considered a gift from God and only given to those who God had chosen -Calvin?

Should one even go to confession if they feel as though in their heart, they do not have “perfect contrition”?

I mean, if one really loves God would one have sinned in the first place? If one commits the grave sin again -lets say it’s habitual - does that indicate the lack of love for God? Does this nullify the last confession as being “perfect”? If the Church considers it a grave sin but in your own conscience -your conscience inviolate, you do not consider it grave, is it still considered grave needing “perfect contrition”?