The Act of Contrition is the short prayer a child says to tell God “I am sorry” at the end of confession, after the priest gives the penance. For young children, many parishes teach a simple version in everyday words; older children usually learn the traditional prayer, “O my God, I am heartily sorry.” Below are a simple Act of Contrition for kids that is easy to memorize, the traditional prayer, the meaning of the hard words, a step-by-step guide to first confession, and tips for parents and catechists. Always check which version your parish uses for First Reconciliation.
A simple Act of Contrition for kids
Written for this page, in words a young child can understand and remember:
My God, I am sorry for my sins.
I did wrong things, and I did not do the good I should have done.
I know you love me.
With your help, I will try to do better and stay away from sin.
Jesus, have mercy on me. Amen.
The traditional Act of Contrition
From the Baltimore Catechism, the prayer many Catholic children have learned for generations:
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
| Words in the prayer | What they mean |
|---|---|
| “heartily sorry” | Sorry with all my heart |
| “offended Thee” | Hurt God, who loves me |
| “I detest all my sins” | I really don’t want to do these wrong things anymore |
| “the loss of heaven and the pains of hell” | What sin can lead to if we turn away from God |
| “but most of all because they offend Thee, my God” | The best reason to be sorry: because I love God |
| “firmly resolve” | I truly decide |
| “with the help of Thy grace” | With God’s help, because I can’t do it alone |
| “the near occasion of sin” | People, places or things that easily lead me to do wrong |
How to go to confession: steps for kids
- Prepare. Think about what you did wrong with an examination of conscience for children.
- Go in and make the Sign of the Cross. Say: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. This is my first confession” (or “It has been ___ weeks since my last confession”).
- Tell your sins. Say them simply. The priest will never tell anyone what you say.
- Listen to the priest’s advice and your penance.
- Pray the Act of Contrition.
- Receive absolution. The priest says the words of forgiveness. Make the Sign of the Cross and say “Amen.”
- Do your penance as soon as you can, and say thank you to God.
A story to explain contrition
Jesus told the story of a son who ran away and wasted everything, then came home to say sorry. His father ran to meet him (Luke 15:20–24, Douay-Rheims):
And rising up he came to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and running to him fell upon his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son.
And the father said to his servants: Bring forth quickly the first robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat and make merry:
Because this my son was dead, and is come to life again: was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
This is what happens in confession: God runs to meet us and forgives us.
Tips for parents and catechists
- Practice together at bedtime for a few weeks before First Reconciliation, a line at a time.
- Write it on a card the child can bring into the confessional; it is fine to read it.
- Explain that God is not angry but happy to forgive, like the father in the story.
- Use the simple version first, then learn the traditional one as the child grows.
- Go to confession yourself and let your child see that grown-ups need forgiveness too.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child read the Act of Contrition in confession?
Yes. Priests are happy for children to read it from a card. If a child forgets, the priest will help.
What age do Catholic children make their first confession?
Usually around age seven or eight, before First Holy Communion, at the “age of reason.”
Is the simple version as good as the traditional one?
Yes. What matters is that the child is truly sorry and wants to do better. The Church allows various wordings of the Act of Contrition.
More prayers for children
- Act of Contrition in Spanish
- Act of Contrition
- Examination of conscience for children
- Catholic prayer for children
- Guardian Angel prayer
- Catholic night prayers
- Prayer before Communion
Texts and sources
- Act of Contrition, Baltimore Catechism No. 1 (1885/1891), public domain (Project Gutenberg #14551).
- Luke 15:20–24 (Douay-Rheims).