Acts of Contrition
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,
(and, striking their breast, they say:)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault,
(Then they continue)
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
and all the Angels and Saints,
and you my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
(The absolution of the Priest follows:)
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
From popular and customary use:
Act of Contrition 1
O my God,
I am sorry for my sins
because I have offended you.
I know I should love you above all things.
Help me to do penance, to do better,
and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin. Amen.
Act of Contrition 2
O my God,
I am heartily sorry
for having offended you,
and I detest all my sins
because of your just punishments,
but most of all because they offend you, my God,
who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace,
to sin no more
and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Act of Contrition 3
Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins;
the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul,
the sins of my body; my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins;
the sins I know, the sins I do not know; the sins I have concealed
for so long, and which are now hidden from my memory.
I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial,
for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded your Sacred Heart,
O my Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil
through your most bitter Passion, my Redeemer. Amen.
Act of Contrition 4
O Lord Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.
From the Rite of Penance:
Act of Contrition 5
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 Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.
Act of Contrition 6
Psalm 24:6-7
Remember, Lord, your compassion and mercy
which you showed long ago.
Do not recall the sins and failings of my youth.
In your mercy remember me, Lord, because of your goodness.
Act of Contrition 7
Father of mercy,
like the prodigal son
I return to you and say:
"I have sinned against you
and am no longer worthy to be called your son."
Christ Jesus, Savior of the world,
I pray with the repentant thief
to whom you promised Paradise:
"Lord, remember me in your kingdom."
Holy Spirit, fountain of love,
I call on you with trust:
"Purify my heart,
and help me to walk as a child of light."
Act of Contrition 8
Lord Jesus,
you opened the eyes of the blind,
healed the sick,
forgave the sinful woman,
and after Peter's denial confirmed him in your love.
Listen to my prayer:
forgive all my sins,
renew your love in my heart,
help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians
that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world.
Act of Contrition 9
Lord Jesus,
you chose to be called the friend of sinners.
By your saving death and resurrection
free me from my sins.
May your peace take root in my heart
and bring forth a harvest
of love, holiness, and truth.
Act of Contrition 10
Lord Jesus Christ,
you are the Lamb of God;
you take away the sins of the world.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit
restore me to friendship with your Father,
cleanse me from every stain of sin
in the blood you shed for me,
and raise me to new life
for the glory of your name.
Act of Contrition 11
Lord God,
in your goodness have mercy on me:
do not look on my sins,
but take away all my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart
and renew within me an upright spirit.
Act of Contrition 12
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.