When exactly do I say the Act of Contrition during Rite of Penance and Reconciliation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kathryn_Ann
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Kathryn_Ann

Guest
Hi, I’ve seen this question before but have seen more than one answer and am confused.

Do I say the Act of Contrition immediately after I’ve confessed my sins to the Priest? Or do I pause and wait to see if he has comments…? I’m worried that if I don’t say it right after my confession, that he may go directly into the Absolution and it will be too late for me to say it. Some priests do not seem to require that I say it, but some do.

Also, is it all right for me to bring a small copy of it, as I have trouble memorizing things? I’m a new Catholic Convert of just a few years, so I don’t have a lot of experience here. I have even seen an instructional video that shows some people saying the Act of Contrition after they leave the confessional, in the pews, which is confusing, as I didn’t think that it substitutes for penance. Am I right to think that I should list my sins, make the sign of the cross and then say the Act of Contrition? Thank you for guidance here.
 
I can’t think of a time when the priest hasn’t told me when to say it. Usually they make some comments, finish them by saying “now say the Act of Contrition.” and then dispense the penance.

And it would be okay to print it out. Sometimes they have little “guides to confession.” near the confessionals, and one parish near me has the Act laminated and hanging on the wall. It’s also in the back of the missalette.
 
Richard320 said:
I can’t think of a time when the priest hasn’t told me when to say it. Usually they make some comments, finish them by saying “now say the Act of Contrition.” and then dispense the penance.

And it would be okay to print it out. Sometimes they have little “guides to confession.” near the confessionals, and one parish near me has the Act laminated and hanging on the wall. It’s also in the back of the missalette.
Click to expand...
Thank you:) My Parish Priest doesn’t require it, so I was surprised when I met one who did, during a regional reconciliation. I think my concern is that when I am with a different priest, how will I know beforehand? I guess the best thing to do is bring a copy with me, and allow time for the priest to comment after I’ve confessed. I just want to avoid any awkwardness:)
 
I’ve never been required to say “THE” act of Contrition. I have always just expressed my sorrow for my sins and expressed my desire to no longer offend God with my sins. I’m an RCIA kind of Catholic and never memorized it. I think something off the top of my head is probably more heartfelt than something I memorize. ???

Actually my last confession, I was given my penance and told to go and say my contrition and my penance in front of the tabernacle. Worked for me. 🙂
 
gh4 said:
I’ve never been required to say “THE” act of Contrition. I have always just expressed my sorrow for my sins and expressed my desire to no longer offend God with my sins. I’m an RCIA kind of Catholic and never memorized it. I think something off the top of my head is probably more heartfelt than something I memorize. ???

Actually my last confession, I was given my penance and told to go and say my contrition and my penance in front of the tabernacle. Worked for me. 🙂
Click to expand...
I tried that too, :gopray:expressing my sorrow in my own words, but the last Priest I confessed to then asked “Wouldn’t you like to say The Act of Contrition Now?” and he was surprised I didn’t know it, but was very kind to help me when I explained I was a new convert. He was very nice and I repeated the words after him. As to saying the Act of Contrition afterwards in the pew, that does confuse me a bit, but I am open to suggestions and thank you kindly for sharing your experience!:angel1::heaven::harp:
 
You probably already know this, but I’ll mention it just to be sure - the Act of Contrition is not required for a valid confession. So, if the priest doesn’t ask, and you don’t say it, then your confession and absolution is still valid.

The Code of Canon law makes clear that the requirements for the penitent are: to be sorry for their sins, to confess all mortal sins, and to have a purpose of amendment. The Act of Contrition is not a part of these requirements. Fr Z here explains:
If the priest is sufficiently assured that you are sorry and have a firm purpose of amendment even without hearing you say the Act of Contrition, he can absolve.
Click to expand...
Nevertheless, the usual formula for confession includes the priest inviting the penitent to say an Act of Contrition. This is usually done after the confession of sins, and immediately before absolution is granted. It is very common for the priest to start saying the words of absolution while the penitent is still saying the act.

So, in answer to your question, I would say that you should wait for the priest to invite you to say the Act of Contrition. If he doesn’t invite you, then don’t attempt to interrupt him. You may say it afterwards, but this is not required.

You may bring a sheet of paper with the Act of Contrition on it. You can also ask the priest to guide you.

Some people recommend that we finish our confession with a phrase like “I am truly sorry for these and all my sins”. Then the priest knows that we are finished, and we’ve already made a brief act of contrition. 🙂
 
Wow. I’m a cradle Catholic. This means I was baptized at the age of 17 days. There’d been a bit of a storm in town, so that’s why my baptism was so late. (tee hee)

Anywho. I can’t imagine NOT remembering the Act of Contrition. I’ve been going to Confession, off and on, for almost 50 years now. More off than on. But I do remember the Act of Contrition, even if it’s been for FOREVER since I last went to Confession.

As for when, exactly, in the sequence of steps of the rite of the Sacrament of Reconciliation I state the Act? Hmmm… lemme think…

Okay. Okay. I’ve got it.

Gotta get a running start on it. Let’s see how I do.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been 2 months since my last Confession. These are my sins…

(here, I rattle off the names of those sins and, if I did them more than once, I’ll say how many times before naming the next sin I’m confessing, and if I had done it more than once, I say how many times I’d committed THAT sin.)

*( here, I take a big gulp – a deep breath – and just go for it … as FAST as is humanly possible –

saying the Act of Contrition in a monotone – not pausing between words, at all – not a pause where there’d be a period to end a sentence – just going for it… saying it as fast as I possibly can) *

Oh my God I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishment

(I may at this point need to take a new deep breath intended to last until I finish saying the Act of Contrition – but I really try NOT to stop, at all, even to take a new breath if I can possibly help it! )

but mostly 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 sin no more and avoid the near occasion of sin.

*Phew!! *
:yyeess:

*(Here, I finally take and release a deep breath to replace the one breath I’d been blowing out continually while reciting the Act of Contrition.) *

Then, I just look at Father. Anticipating what he’ll say. As I try to hide that I’ve been pretty much holding my breath as I rattle off the Act of Contrition.

Hope this helps??

👍
 
Not to worry. When you go into the confessional, just tell the priest that you don’t quite remember what part goes where in the rite.

That you need to be prompted for WHEN you are to say the Act of Contrition.

Priests get asked for coaching on the spot like this all the time.

Frankly, I think they’re simply a bit, mildly amused. With affection. They’ll tell you exactly when to say the Act of Contrition.

It’s a team thing. They want you to do the best you can, making your confession.

They like return customers!

👍
 
Every priest I go to for Confession will let me know when its time to say the act of Contrition. I normally have my missal open to that page to say it. One place had a piece of paper that was laminated with the prayer on it as I know I don’t have it memorized sad to say.
 
MissRose73 said:
Every priest I go to for Confession will let me know when its time to say the act of Contrition. I normally have my missal open to that page to say it. One place had a piece of paper that was laminated with the prayer on it as I know I don’t have it memorized sad to say.
Click to expand...
Ditto 👍
I do have mine memorized, which works great till… that one day when my memory went on vacation and I was unaware. There I sat looking at the priest, he looking back. I declared a “senior moment” and cobbled together something but I don’t think it was anything anyone else ever read before 😊 LOL
 
Thank you all! :grouphug::heaven:

I’m reading each and every one of your responses here and am so grateful to all! I went last night to a regional reconciliation, and as it turns out, it was one of those situations where the Priest suggested that I return to the pew for the Act of Contrition. I actually had a little booklet with me in my hand, marked with a paper clip right where the Act of Contrition was, but it turned out that this time I was not required to say it in the confessional. It was an emotional time for me too, as I have been recovering from surgery recently and was physically weak. I had not been out for over two weeks, and it meant a lot to me just to be able to attend the Rite of Penance and Reconciliation. :highprayer:

I am going to try to memorize it, and until then, keep my booklet copy handy. I especially appreciate everyone showing examples of how they approach this, and am taking note of your wisdom. :bowdown:

People who are adult Catholic converts struggle with things that may seem to come so easily to “cradle Catholics,” and it’s so good to have a forum where I feel safe to ask questions.:blessyou:

I feel I’ve grown spiritually these past eight years since entering RCIA and joining the Church, yet I’m still very humbled when it comes to what most might think are every day, “rote” prayers, traditions, etc. Thank you for helping me with this question. I’m now sponsoring a friend through RCIA, and have told her that if I don’t know the answer to something, I will find the correct answer from trusted Catholic friends. I feel you are all exactly that for me, trusted friends in the Faith! .:gopray2:

Blessings to all,
Kathryn Ann:harp::heaven:
 
gh4 said:
Some of those are really REALLY good! Thanks for posting this link. 🙂
Click to expand...
You’re welcome. I had no idea there were so many different ones until I saw that site. Some of them are long though…wouldn’t recommend using those if there’s a line outside!
 
Kathryn_Ann said:
Thank you all! :grouphug::heaven:

I’m reading each and every one of your responses here and am so grateful to all! I went last night to a regional reconciliation, and as it turns out, it was one of those situations where the Priest suggested that I return to the pew for the Act of Contrition. I actually had a little booklet with me in my hand, marked with a paper clip right where the Act of Contrition was, but it turned out that this time I was not required to say it in the confessional. It was an emotional time for me too, as I have been recovering from surgery recently and was physically weak. I had not been out for over two weeks, and it meant a lot to me just to be able to attend the Rite of Penance and Reconciliation. :highprayer:

;;

Blessings to all,
Kathryn Ann:harp::heaven:
Click to expand...
Kathryn Ann, I am not quite sure what you meant when you wrote “regional reconciliation.”

I’m supposing it’s one of those where there’s many who are gathered inside the church… and there’s several priests available posted at one place or another inside the church to hear peoples’ confessions.

At my parish, we have those kinds of “confession services” (my term) one in Advent and once in Lent.

The one we had or this Lent, it started with those of us in the pews singing a song – the Agnus Dei.

Then Father introduced the other two priests who’d be there to hear confessions.

Then one of those priests did the reading from Scripture where Jesus told those who were about to stone the woman that whomever had not sinned, to throw the first stone.

Then our pastor stood up and gave his homily about forgiveness. How we are ALL to forgive others. As disciples of Jesus.

Then our pastor read sheet that on it had listed various types of sins. This was so thatwe could all just listen to the list and think to ourselves for whether we had committed THAT sin. It was a “led” Examination of Conscience.

Then, our pastor announced the penance that we were ALL to perform AFTER making our individual confession.

Then, our pastor had everyone there recite – in unison – the Confiteor.

Before the changes made to the liturgy a few months ago,

– for the text of all the changes to the people’s text in the Liturgy – see here →

old.usccb.org/romanmissal/samples-people.shtml

I remember it being this – after the 2nd Vatican Council →

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned
through my own fault
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Now, though, with the change in the liturgy, these are the words for the Confiteor.

Strangely (sort of), the “new” text of the Confiteor is just about exactly what I learned to say BEFORE the 2nd Vatican Council. I’t’s a bit nostalgic to once again repeat "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievious fault."

The only difference that I’d never known before was the word **“greatly” ** and the word “therefore” which were added to the now CURRENT text for the Confiteor.

So, there we all were, standing and reading it from the booklet in front of us that has the new wording for whenever there was a change to what it was just a few months ago.

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have **greatly ** sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
**therefore **I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

== That, and there was some Prayers of the Faithful read from the lecturn like there are at every Mass Except for the General Reconciliation service, our response to each prayer was not “Lord hear our prayer” – but – “Lord have mercy.”

So, when people went up to whichever priest they wanted to hear their confession, you only said he names of the sins (and how many) that you were confessing.

Then the priest recited the Absolution he was giving to you right then and there. You say “amen” and go away so that the next person in line can approach the priest.

You could, if you wanted, go back to the pew and just sit while all the other people went up, one by one, to Confession.

Though, if you wanted, you could leave immediately.

BUT… you absolutely HAD to perform the penance within the week for the Sacrament to be completed. As usual. For without performing the prescribed penance, the Rite of Reconciliation has not concluded.

Hope this helps!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top