Is it okay that a priest doesn't make me say an Act of Contrition in the confessional?

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Just noticed there’s one priest at my parish who gives me a penance of course but never asks for me to make an Act of Contrition. I always was under the impression it was required? He’s kind of new to my parish and never had a priest who didn’t ask me to say it, so was just curious.
 
jas84173 said:
Just noticed there’s one priest at my parish who gives me a penance of course but never asks for me to make an Act of Contrition. I always was under the impression it was required? He’s kind of new to my parish and never had a priest who didn’t ask me to say it, so was just curious.
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No. The act of contrition is not necessary, provided that the confessor has an awareness that the penitent has the sentiments that the act of contrition supposes. That can be had through other means.
 
The priest needs to know that you’re sorry for your sins. That sorrow doesn’t necessarily need to be expressed through a formal Act of Contrition. You can always say the prayer on your own after your confession.
 
If a priest forgets to say the Absolution Prayer, does that mean you are not forgiven?
 
I have had this happen and a few times they forget to give me a penance. Both are ok. I will say an AOC or I will do the usual penance. As long as you are absolved, your good.
 
esieffe said:
I have had this happen and a few times they forget to give me a penance. Both are ok. I will say an AOC or I will do the usual penance. As long as you are absolved, your good.
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I’ve had the same situation, a priest forgot to give me penance. To be fair, he was newly ordained and I was his first confession. I later asked him for a penance.
 
The Church does not require any particular “act of contrition”. You must express contrition in some manner, but this can be discerned by simply listing your sins at the priest’s discretion.
One time, and one time only, I had a priest comment after I recited a short “act of contrition” of my own devising (I couldn’t think of the standard prayer in the moment), saying “that was the shortest act of contrition I’ve ever heard, but if you were sincere that’s Ok.” It seemed an unnecessary comment, especially as a particular prayer is not mandated by the Church…I’ve never confessed to that priest again. The vast majority of priests will not require a particular set prayer.
 
“Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”

The sacrament has so few rules, how can there arise such controversy?

In my current church, the AOC is laminated and taped to the wall. But, the priest gave me absolution, then I proceeded to recite the AOC.

If you’re in grade school, it might be tough to memorize all these prayers, but c’mon, adults should know these prayers “cold.”

What “exception” could anybody take to the Act of Contrition? Yes, it’s almost hypocritical to say “I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more” but I was taught to say that.
 
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