Why can't I seem to memorize the Act of Contrition?

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whatevergirl

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**Hi everyone;

Not sure if you have any memorizing tips…is it ‘bad’ that I don’t have this memorized? I have been going to confession regularly, like every 3 weeks for years, now–you’d think I would have this memorized!

My dd is cute. We went to confession on Saturday, and I handed her a card with the A of C on it before heading into the confessional, and she looked at me and said…‘mommy, I know it by heart.’ :o

I don’t normally have trouble memorizing things, but there was a day that I didn’t have my prayer card with me, and there was no ‘sign’ with it listed in the confessional. (this was a few months ago) I told the priest that day…never forget…in a sheepish voice…‘I don’t know it by heart.’ He said, that is ok, and then he went on to absolve me. I felt so stupid!

Anyways…now I make sure I have my prayer card with me at all times.

Just sharing…and looking for memorization advice.:o **
 
hmmm - no idea. Have you looked at different versions of it, and maybe find one easier for you? I know that the version I learned years ago back in 2nd grade is not the version taught to kids now. I told my husband that next year when it’s our son’s time to make his sacraments, that he’s in charge of helping him memorize what version they teach him, because I’ll probably just mess the poor kid up. LOL
 
_Jenn said:
hmmm - no idea. Have you looked at different versions of it, and maybe find one easier for you? I know that the version I learned years ago back in 2nd grade is not the version taught to kids now. I told my husband that next year when it’s our son’s time to make his sacraments, that he’s in charge of helping him memorize what version they teach him, because I’ll probably just mess the poor kid up. LOL
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😃 lol!
We had a different version used at our parish in PA…This one seems shorter, go figure, but maybe I’m confused thinking back to the one from PA.
 
I know that I murder the AC too but I think the important part is being sorry for offending. The Lord knows your heart. You are not alone…🙂
 
It is a comfort! I’m sorry you struggle memorizing it too! lol

I also wanted to open this thread, to see if others have the same issue too.:o

Thanks for sharing.
 
Me too. At my usual Church the priest doesn’t ask for an Act of Contrition, he just goes right to absolution.

If asked, I just say “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner”.

God Bless
 
bilop said:
Me too. At my usual Church the priest doesn’t ask for an Act of Contrition, he just goes right to absolution.

If asked, I just say “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner”.

God Bless
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Oh, really? Isn’t he supposed to at least ask for the pentitent to say it?:confused:
 
I thought I was the only one!

I can’t remember that prayer either. I usually just say my own… something along the lines of:

Dear Lord, I am so sorry for my sins. Please help me to turn away from all that is evil and to sin no more. I love you Jesus and I ask this in your Holy Name. Amen.

I agree with the other poster who said God isn’t so concerned with the words, but rather, with our heart. I love that about Him. 👍
 
whatevergirl said:
**Hi everyone;

Not sure if you have any memorizing tips…is it ‘bad’ that I don’t have this memorized? I have been going to confession regularly, like every 3 weeks for years, now–you’d think I would have this memorized!

My dd is cute. We went to confession on Saturday, and I handed her a card with the A of C on it before heading into the confessional, and she looked at me and said…‘mommy, I know it by heart.’ :o

I don’t normally have trouble memorizing things, but there was a day that I didn’t have my prayer card with me, and there was no ‘sign’ with it listed in the confessional. (this was a few months ago) I told the priest that day…never forget…in a sheepish voice…‘I don’t know it by heart.’ He said, that is ok, and then he went on to absolve me. I felt so stupid!

Anyways…now I make sure I have my prayer card with me at all times.

Just sharing…and looking for memorization advice.:o **
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I have the same problem. Please help with tips or a shorter version!
 
I thought t was only me…I do have the one I learned for my first penance…but that one is a simple childlike version, and not really suitable for an adult.

Sometimes I think I have it memorized, in the confessional I go blank, and say something like, I’m sorry Father, I can’t remember it, and sometimes they help, or tell me not to worry and skip it. One time the priest handed me a prayer card with it.

I usually have my prayer booklet when I go…if I forget it, I go blank:blush:
 
My tip:

Say it every night before going to bed, maybe with your child. This is a very good practice, in fact the Liturgy of the Hours in its night prayer includes a brief examination of conscience.

The form we use is:

O my God, I am very sorry for all my sins
because they displease you,
who are all good and deserving of all my love
with your help I will sin no more
[and avoid the near occassion of sin]

The above is a simple version my daughters learned in school, I add the last line in brackets from other versions because I think it is very important to remember not to put ourselves in situations that may lead to sin.

Hope this helps.
 
For as long as I can remember (and that’s a l-o-o-o-o-o-ng time, ladies and gentlemen) I’ve said the Act of Contrition as part of my bedtime prayers every day. When you say it every day, it doesn’t take long for you to memorize it without even trying.

That said, it is entirely proper to use a short form in Confession, such as the previously mentioned, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” All you need to do is express your sorrow, and it can certainly be in your own words if you wish.

Betsy
 
I think the best way to learn an Act of Contrition is to examine your conscience and then use the prayer every night. Still, some just have difficulty memorizing some particular thing. Don’t take that too much to heart. It is the contrition that counts.
 
Dolphincrc said:
My tip:

Say it every night before going to bed, maybe with your child. This is a very good practice, in fact the Liturgy of the Hours in its night prayer includes a brief examination of conscience.

The form we use is:

O my God, I am very sorry for all my sins
because they displease you,
who are all good and deserving of all my love
with your help I will sin no more
[and avoid the near occassion of sin]

The above is a simple version my daughters learned in school, I add the last line in brackets from other versions because I think it is very important to remember not to put ourselves in situations that may lead to sin.

Hope this helps.
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This is the one we’re teaching kids now:
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In His Name, my God, have mercy. Amen.”
 
It helps to remember the elements
  1. I’m sorry for my sins.
  2. Why? Because it hurts You.
  3. I promise to make to avoid sin or avoid temptation.
I had a hard time learning this one, too. Another one that I ironically had a hard time with–the Memoriare!

There’s several versions, so it’s okay to make up your own.

I like, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. Lord, create in me a clean heart.”
 
whatevergirl said:
Oh, really? Isn’t he supposed to at least ask for the pentitent to say it?:confused:
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The last time I was asked to say it in confession was back in 1990, three parishes ago. At that time I had to say to the priest “Fr. you’ll have to hear it in French because I don’t know it in English.”

I’ve never been able to retain anything past “O my Lord I am heartily sorry for having offended thee.”
 
baltobetsy said:
For as long as I can remember (and that’s a l-o-o-o-o-o-ng time, ladies and gentlemen) I’ve said the Act of Contrition as part of my bedtime prayers every day. When you say it every day, it doesn’t take long for you to memorize it without even trying.

That said, it is entirely proper to use a short form in Confession, such as the previously mentioned, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.” All you need to do is express your sorrow, and it can certainly be in your own words if you wish.

Betsy
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This helps if you can remember it in the Confessional - that is my problem. I get in there, I confess my sins, get my penance, say an Act of Contrition, start the one I learned in Grade School and can recite anywhere else (and it is not a short version) then apologize to Father that I forgot and then ask him what my penance was again before I leave. There is something about the Confessional that makes me very forgetful.

Brenda V.
 
**
Coincidentally I have the same issue and I feel stupid for not memorizing it, and being asked if I know it and I have to tell the priest that I am sorry because I do not know it. It is kind of embarassing for me in a way but then it winds up not being a big deal because I wind up reading off a piece of paper.

A of C can be hard to learn I have not learned it yet and I am guessing I should, but then again does it really matter? to me it is like mastering Mathematics.**
 
whatevergirl said:
Hi everyone;

Not sure if you have any memorizing tips…is it ‘bad’ that I don’t have this memorized? I have been going to confession regularly, like every 3 weeks for years, now–you’d think I would have this memorized!
Click to expand...
SLOWLY read and say (out loud) this 12 times:

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast)

…then QUICKLY read and say the same thing 12 times.

Then, say (without reading) this 6 times:

I confess to almighty God

…then say this 6 times:

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,

…then say this 6 times:

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast)

…then SLOWLY read and say (out loud) this 12 times:

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast),

in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;

…then QUICKLY read and say the same thing 12 times.

Then say (without reading) this 6 times:

in my thoughts and in my words,

…then say (without reading) this 6 times:

in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,

…then say (without reading) this 6 times:

in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;

…then SLOWLY read and say (out loud) this 12 times:

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast),

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.

…then QUICKLY read and say the same thing 12 times.

Then say (without reading) this 6 times:

and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,

Then say (without reading) this 6 times:

and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,

Then say (without reading) this 6 times:

and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you my brothers and sisters,

Then say (without reading) this 6 times:

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.

Then say this 12 times:

I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast),

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.

If you need to “peek”, that’s OK, but if you do it too often, go back one “section” (whatever you consider one section) and get that section down pat before continuing on.
 
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