I need help making a perfect act of contrition

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I need help making a perfect act of contrition. The problem is, I don’t feel very sorry for my sins. I want to, but the feeling just isn’t there. Also, I feel like I don’t have enough love for God in order to make one. Again, I want to, but it’s just not there. Can someone please help me? I really want to save my relationship with God. Thank you!
 
Pray humbly, confidently and perseveringly to Mary for the following: to be able to make an act of perfect contrition under the inspiration of actual grace. Live a mortified life obedient to the 10 Commandments and the 6 Precepts of the Church. Hope to rather die than commit another venial sin. God bless you.
 
ready said:
Pray humbly, confidently and perseveringly to Mary for the following: to be able to make an act of perfect contrition under the inspiration of actual grace. Live a mortified life obedient to the 10 Commandments and the 6 Precepts of the Church. Hope to rather die than commit another venial sin. God bless you.
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Wow, thank you! I guess I just need to get back to the basics of my faith. Thank you and may God bless you!
 
Worlds said:
I need help making a perfect act of contrition. The problem is, I don’t feel very sorry for my sins. I want to, but the feeling just isn’t there. Also, I feel like I don’t have enough love for God in order to make one. Again, I want to, but it’s just not there. Can someone please help me? I really want to save my relationship with God. Thank you!
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To add to what the previous poster wrote: go to confession. That way you are forgiven even with an imperfect Act of Contrition.
 
phil19034 said:
To add to what the previous poster wrote: go to confession. That way you are forgiven even with an imperfect Act of Contrition.
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I want to go to confession, but I’m afraid to ask my parents to take me (if only I was 16, then I could drive myself) and to tell my sins to a priest. This brings me to another question I’ve been having, which is if it’s ok to be vague when confessing my sins. Thanks for your responds and God bless!
 
Worlds said:
I need help making a perfect act of contrition. The problem is, I don’t feel very sorry for my sins. I want to, but the feeling just isn’t there. Also, I feel like I don’t have enough love for God in order to make one. Again, I want to, but it’s just not there. Can someone please help me? I really want to save my relationship with God. Thank you!
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Making a truly perfect act of contrition is something not easily achieved. It is a nearly saintly feat that requires a disciplined spiritual disposition honed by prayer and penance. If you ever one day hope to achieve perfect contrition, you will need the graces provided by the sacraments - namely frequent confession and Holy Communion.

If you are fearful or hesitant to go to confession always remember this: the priest has heard everything. Your confession won’t surprise him or make him disappointed in you. Never fear confession. Don’t be afraid to ask your parents to take you or to get a ride with someone you know and trust. Embrace the sacrament and utilize the free gift of God’s mercy!

Frequent confession and Communion will set you on the path to perfect contrition!
 
Worlds said:
I want to go to confession, but I’m afraid to ask my parents to take me (if only I was 16, then I could drive myself) and to tell my sins to a priest. This brings me to another question I’ve been having, which is if it’s ok to be vague when confessing my sins. Thanks for your responds and God bless!
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You should not feel bad about telling your parents. If you don’t mind me asking, when was your last confession?

You simply need to tell your parents that it’s been a while since your last confession (we are supposed to attend at bare minimum once a year. The Pope goes to Confession once week (or every two weeks).

You don’t have to tell your parents what kind of sin you have.
 
Along with the good advice you received from ready… 🙂

I’ve found Fr. Furniss’s advice on how to make an act of contrition as part of his general advice on Confession to be really helpful.

A small part of that advice:

If you are not sorry in your heart for your sins, can any one change your heart and make you sorry?
Yes.
Who can change the heart?
God.
But cannot a sinner change his own heart and have true sorrow of himself, without the help of God?
No.
Can a sinner get sorrow from God?
Yes.
How can he get it?
By praying for it.
 
Shin said:
Along with the good advice you received from ready… 🙂

I’ve found Fr. Furniss’s advice on how to make an act of contrition as part of his general advice on Confession to be really helpful.

A small part of that advice:

If you are not sorry in your heart for your sins, can any one change your heart and make you sorry?
Yes.
Who can change the heart?
God.
But cannot a sinner change his own heart and have true sorrow of himself, without the help of God?
No.
Can a sinner get sorrow from God?
Yes.
How can he get it?
By praying for it.
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Thank you! I have actually been praying for the grace I need. Thank you for your response and God bless!
 
phil19034 said:
You should not feel bad about telling your parents. If you don’t mind me asking, when was your last confession?

You simply need to tell your parents that it’s been a while since your last confession (we are supposed to attend at bare minimum once a year. The Pope goes to Confession once week (or every two weeks).

You don’t have to tell your parents what kind of sin you have.
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The last time I went to confession was around April or May, I believe. When I do want to go to confession, though, my mom asks me why, and if I did something bad that I need to confess. You can see how this could make me not want to ask :p:o. I will pray though for the bravery to go. Thank you for your help!
 
Christ made our reconciliation on the Cross.

We are saved by Grace through Faith and not by works.
Ephesians 2:8 Catholic Edition 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—

We confess our sins to him but he has reconciled himself to us.

Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

2 Corinthians 5:20
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Colossians 1:21-23New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled[a] in his fleshly body** through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.**
 
Micko said:
Christ made our reconciliation on the Cross.

We are saved by Grace through Faith and not by works.
Ephesians 2:8 Catholic Edition 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—

We confess our sins to him but he has reconciled himself to us.

Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

2 Corinthians 5:20
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Colossians 1:21-23New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled[a] in his fleshly body** through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.**

But according to the chatechism, one should make a perfect act of contrition in order to be able to recieve communion if they had commited a mortal sin and cannot make it to confession before they go to mass that week. What should someone do then?
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Worlds said:
But according to the chatechism, one should make a perfect act of contrition in order to be able to recieve communion if they had commited a mortal sin and cannot make it to confession before they go to mass that week. What should someone do then?
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If you have discerned that you truly are in the state of mortal sin and have not made a sacramental confession, you should abstain from Communion until you have made a sacramental confession. Even if you somehow were able to make an act of perfect contrition, a stipulation of such an act is the promise to receive sacramental confession as soon as possible.

The bottom line is you need to go to confession (and speak to your priest to make sure that you aren’t suffering from scruples - it is, after all, not very easy for young teenager like yourself to commit a mortal sin, and perhaps you are worrying yourself sick over something that isn’t a big deal).
 
christus_vincit said:
If you have discerned that you truly are in the state of mortal sin and have not made a sacramental confession, you should abstain from Communion until you have made a sacramental confession. Even if you somehow were able to make an act of perfect contrition, a stipulation of such an act is the promise to receive sacramental confession as soon as possible.

The bottom line is you need to go to confession (and speak to your priest to make sure that you aren’t suffering from scruples - it is, after all, not very easy for young teenager like yourself to commit a mortal sin, and perhaps you are worrying yourself sick over something that isn’t a big deal).
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Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Now that I think about it, I may not have committed a mortal sin. However, I will meditate more on this to make sure whether or not it is absolutely necessary for me to go to confession ASAP. I truly appreciate everyone’s help with this issue that I have been having, as it has helped me greatly. May God bless you all, and have a great day!
*edit:I have looked at a thorough list of sins that go against the Ten Commandments. I have commited a few of them, but what they were would not be considered mortal. However, I still would like to make a perfect act of contrition because I know it would be good to do. Thanks again everyone!
 
Worlds said:
I need help making a perfect act of contrition. The problem is, I don’t feel very sorry for my sins. I want to, but the feeling just isn’t there. Also, I feel like I don’t have enough love for God in order to make one. Again, I want to, but it’s just not there. Can someone please help me? I really want to save my relationship with God. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Edit: I have prayed and asked for the grace of sorrow from God. I am happy to say that The Lord has answered my prayers and I was able to pray contritely. This shows how with God, nothing is impossible. 😃
 
Why do you have to wait until you can drive? Is the Church that far away?

Have you considered calling the Church and asking for an appointment for the priest to visit? Maybe if not at your home, or somewhere close by?
 
BobCatholic said:
Why do you have to wait until you can drive? Is the Church that far away?

Have you considered calling the Church and asking for an appointment for the priest to visit? Maybe if not at your home, or somewhere close by?
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My church has confessions, so I’ll probably just go then. Thank you anyway!
 
Worlds said:
Edit: I have prayed and asked for the grace of sorrow from God. I am happy to say that The Lord has answered my prayers and I was able to pray contritely. This shows how with God, nothing is impossible. 😃
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Deo gratias et Mariae semper Virgini!
 
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