Act of Contrition

An Act of Contrition turns the heart back to God after sin. It is used in Confession and anytime we need sincere sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment.

Pray it honestly: love of God, hatred of sin, and trust in grace to begin again.

The Prayer

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.

Sources: Traditional form; cf. Baltimore Manual of Prayers (1889).

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