The Act of Contrition in Spanish, the Acto de Contrición, is the prayer “Señor mío Jesucristo, Dios y hombre verdadero,” “My Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man,” which Spanish-speaking Catholics say in confession after telling their sins and before receiving absolution, and every night before sleep. In Mexico and much of Latin America children also learn a shorter act of contrition beginning “Pésame, Dios mío.” Below is the full traditional text from the classic catechism of Gaspar Astete, a translation, the short form, pronunciation tips, and the Act of Contrition in English.
Acto de Contrición (Señor mío Jesucristo)
The traditional text, as given in Gaspar Astete’s Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana (1599):
Señor mío Jesucristo, Dios y hombre verdadero, Creador y Redentor mío: a mí me pesa de todo corazón de haberos ofendido, por ser vos quien sois y porque os amo sobre todas las cosas; y propongo firmemente de nunca más pecar, de confesarme, de cumplir la penitencia que me fuere impuesta y de apartarme de todas las ocasiones de ofenderos; ofrézcoos mi vida, obras y trabajos en satisfacción de todos mis pecados; y confío en vuestra divina bondad y misericordia infinita, me los perdonaréis por los méritos de vuestra preciosísima sangre, pasión y muerte, y me daréis gracia para enmendarme y para perseverar en vuestro santo servicio hasta el fin de mi vida.
Amén.
Today’s wording is very close. Many prayer books now say “Creador, Padre y Redentor mío” and add “Bondad infinita”; some use “tú” instead of the older “vos.”
What it means
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Señor mío Jesucristo, Dios y hombre verdadero | My Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man |
| Creador y Redentor mío | my Creator and Redeemer |
| me pesa de todo corazón de haberos ofendido | I am sorry with all my heart for having offended you |
| por ser vos quien sois | because you are who you are |
| porque os amo sobre todas las cosas | because I love you above all things |
| propongo firmemente de nunca más pecar | I firmly resolve never to sin again |
| de confesarme | to go to confession |
| de cumplir la penitencia | to do the penance |
| apartarme de todas las ocasiones de ofenderos | to avoid every occasion of offending you |
| me daréis gracia para enmendarme | you will give me grace to amend my life |
Like every act of contrition, it contains the three things the Church asks of a penitent: sorrow for sin, love of God, and a firm purpose of amendment.
The short act of contrition: “Pésame”
A shorter prayer, popular in Mexico and Central America, begins “Pésame, Dios mío, y me arrepiento de todo corazón de haberte ofendido”: “I am sorry, my God, and I repent with all my heart for having offended you.” It goes on to say that sin deserves punishment and offends God’s goodness, and it ends with the resolution, with the help of his grace, never to sin again. Either prayer may be used in confession; the priest will also accept your own words, as long as they express real sorrow and a firm purpose of amendment.
How to pronounce it
- Señor mío (seh-NYOHR MEE-oh), Jesucristo (heh-soo-KREES-toh).
- “me pesa” (meh PEH-sah): “it weighs on me,” that is, “I am sorry.”
- “haberos ofendido” (ah-BEH-rohs oh-fehn-DEE-doh): the “h” is silent.
- “propongo firmemente” (proh-POHN-goh feer-meh-MEHN-teh).
The Act of Contrition in English
A traditional English form, from the Baltimore Catechism:
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Act of Contrition in Spanish?
The Acto de Contrición, which begins “Señor mío Jesucristo, Dios y hombre verdadero.”
Can I make my confession in Spanish?
Yes. Many parishes in the United States have priests who hear confessions in Spanish (confesiones en español); check the parish bulletin or website.
Is the “Pésame” a valid act of contrition?
Yes. Any prayer that sincerely expresses sorrow for sin and the resolve not to sin again is a true act of contrition.
More prayers
- Act of Contrition
- Act of Contrition for kids
- How to go to confession
- Catholic prayers in Spanish
- Apostles’ Creed in Spanish
- Our Father in Spanish
Texts and sources
- Gaspar Astete, Catecismo de la Doctrina Cristiana (1599), Valladolid edition of 1787, Spanish Wikisource; spelling and accents modernized.
- English Act of Contrition: Baltimore Catechism, public domain.