Act of Contrition

The Act of Contrition is a prayer recited by the penitent during the Latin Rite Roman Catholic sacrament of Confession.

It is also used by some believers as a private devotional as part a daily examination of conscience.

Full text

Latin:Deus meus, ex toto corde poenitet me omnium meorum peccatorum,:eaque detestor, quia peccando,:non solum poenas a te iuste statutas promeritus sum, :sed praesertim quia offendi te,:summum bonum, ac dignum qui super omnia diligaris.:Ideo firmiter propono,:adiuvante gratia tua,:de cetero me non peccaturum peccandique occasiones proximas fugiturum. :Amen. English:O my God, I am heartily sorry :for having offended Thee,:and I detest all my sins,:because of thy just punishment,:but most of all 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 confess my sins,:to do penance :and to amend my life. Amen.

The Standard Roman Catholic version is::O my God,:I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,:and I detest all my sins:because I fear the loss of heaven:and the pains of hell,:but most of all because they offend Thee, my God,:Who art all good and deserving of all my love.

:I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace:to confess my sins, to do penance,:and to amend my life.:Amen."'

Alternative versions

: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 to avoid whatever leads me to sin. :Your Son, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. :In His name, my God, have mercy. Amen

:My Lord, I am heartily sorry for all my sins, :help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. :Amen.

: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.

:Oh My God, I am very sorry that I have sinned against you.:Because you are so good, and with your help,:I will try not to sin again.:Amen.

Irish version in use in 1960s

:O my God, I am heartily sorry :for having offended Thee :and I detest my sins :above every other evil :because they displease Thee, my God, :Who, in Thy infinite wisdom, :art so deserving of all my love :and I firmly resolve :with the help of Thy grace :never more to offend Thee :and to amend my life. :Amen.

Anglican version

The Anglican Communion, which includes the Church of England, The Episcopal Church (in the United States) and other member churches, has its own Act of Contrition, referred to in the Prayer Book as the General Confession. This is said by the Congregation en masse during regular worship services. The original form in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer is:

:ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; :We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. :We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. :We have offended against thy holy laws. :We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; :And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; :And there is no health in us. :But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. :Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults.:Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. :And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Modernized forms can be found in other Anglican Prayer Books.

Other versions in use, circa 1970

:O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

:O my God, I am very sorry for all my sins because they offend You, Who are so good, and with Your help, I will not sin again. Amen.

Other versions in use, circa 1980

: O my God, I am sorry for my sins. In choosing to sin, and failing to do good, I have sinned against You and Your Church. I firmly intend, with the help of Your Son, to do good and to sin no more. Amen.

:O my God, I am sorry for my sins. In choosing to sin, and failing to do good, I have sinned against You and Your Church. I firmly intend, with the help of Your Son, to make up for my sins, and to love as I should. Amen.

: 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 to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us in His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

: Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. But most of all because they have offended Thee my god, Lord of all. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Act of Contrition

O 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.

:Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and i detest all my sins because i dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they have offended the, my God, who are all good and deserving of my love, and i firmly resolve with the help of thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penence and to amend my life. Amen

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External links

* [http://www.catholic.com/library/Common_Catholic_Prayers.asp Common Catholic Prayers]
* [http://www.catholicexpert.com/prayer/act_of_contrition.htm An Act of Contrition]