Valid confession?

[Dauphin]

Hi,

I went to confession about an hour ago and the priest didn’t ask me for an act of contrition. Is this normal? I did take quite a while and it turns out that about 20 people were waiting for me to finish (he was the only priest there). Is it ok for the priest to omit the act of contrition if there’s a hurry?

Thanks!

 

[DanteAlighieri]

Great question – the same thing happened to me the other day, and I totally forgot about it!

I don’t know for certain, but my expectation is that this does not invalidate a confession. What is important is your confession of sins and the pronouncement of absolution, right?

Peace,
Dante

 

[awalt]

As long as he said the words of absolution “I absolve you from your sins in the name of…” it is valid.

 

[dylanschrader]

It is not necessary that you recite an act of contrition for validity. All that is necessary is that you had contrition (meaning you were sorry), confessed your sins, and the priest absolved you.