A traditional Act of Contrition

This historical English form appears in the Baltimore Catechism. Its punctuation and capitalization are lightly modernized below. Other versions may be used at your parish; you do not need to replace the prayer you already know. [2]

Act of Contrition

O 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 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.

What the words mean

Heartily sorry means sincerely sorry. Thee and Thy are older forms of you and your. To amend my life means to change how I live. The prayer moves from acknowledging sin toward love of God and a concrete intention to turn away from sin.

The phrase with the help of Thy grace matters. You ask for God’s help rather than promising that you will never struggle again. Before praying, name a choice you regret and a practical change you can make: correcting an untrue statement, apologizing for a cruel remark, or avoiding a situation in which you repeatedly choose badly.

The Catechism describes contrition as sorrow for sin joined to the intention not to sin again. It distinguishes sorrow rooted in love of God from sorrow that begins with fear of sin’s consequences. Bring an honest desire to turn back to God; you do not need to manufacture a particular feeling. [3]

When do I say it in confession?

Follow the priest’s invitation. In a usual confession, you name your sins, listen to the priest’s guidance and assigned penance, and express contrition before absolution. If you have brought a prayer card or this page, keep the text ready so you can read it slowly.

If you lose your place, say: Father, could you help me with the prayer? The priest can guide you. Our guide to what to say in confession walks through the rest of the encounter, including how to begin after a long absence. [4]

Is there a shorter prayer?

Yes. The USCCB’s page includes several forms from the Order of Penance, including the short prayer below. If you are praying with a priest, follow his guidance about the form to use. [1]

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Praying it at the end of the day

You can pray an Act of Contrition outside confession. A simple practice is to thank God for one good thing, acknowledge a wrong choice, ask for forgiveness and help, and choose one step for tomorrow. The evening examination of conscience offers a brief way to review your day.

Private prayer and sacramental confession have different roles. Saying this prayer at home does not replace going to confession. The Catechism’s teaching on perfect contrition includes the intention to seek sacramental confession as soon as possible when mortal sin is involved; ask a priest about your own situation. [3]

Questions about the prayer

Do I have to memorize it before confession?

You can read from a card or ask the priest to help. Practicing beforehand may help you feel more at ease, but forgetting a line is a reason to ask for guidance, rather than to postpone your visit. [4]

Why is the version I learned different?

Catholics use several forms, including traditional wording and prayers in the Order of Penance. The shared purpose is to express sorrow and a resolve to change. Follow the priest when praying together. [1]

Does feeling unemotional mean I am not sorry?

Contrition includes an honest rejection of sin and an intention to change; tears or a strong emotion are not the measure. If you are unsure about your disposition, explain that to the priest and let him guide you. [3]

Sources & further reading

  1. USCCB: Act of Contrition — forms in the Order of Penance
  2. Baltimore Catechism No. 2: historical Act of Contrition, public-domain text
  3. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1451–1454: contrition and preparation
  4. Archdiocese of Washington and Diocese of Arlington: How to Make a Good Confession, hosted by USCCB

Practical routines are suggestions; sources support the explanations of Catholic teaching and practice. Our editorial approach · Suggest a correction.