An Act of Contrition is a prayer expressing sorrow for sin and a sincere intention to turn back to God. Catholics pray it in confession and can also pray it privately, especially when examining the day before sleep.
Here is a familiar traditional form, followed by a short form, an explanation of the words and guidance for confession. If you are preparing to confess, you can also use our examination of conscience.
Traditional Act of Contrition prayer
This historical form appears in Thomas L. Kinkead’s An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine. The wording is preserved below, with line breaks for reading. An “Amen” has been added at the end.
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.
Read the historical source. “Thee” means “you,” and “Thy” means “your.” “Amend my life” means to change the way I live.
Short Act of Contrition
The USCCB’s Act of Contrition prayer sheet, citing the Order of Penance, includes this brief prayer among its options:
Lord Jesus, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pray it slowly and sincerely. A short prayer can express real repentance; its length is not a measure of how much you mean it. In confession, follow the priest’s guidance if he gives you a prayer or helps you find the words.
A simple prayer for children
This is original wording for personal or family prayer, rather than a quotation from a liturgical book. It can help a child speak honestly about doing wrong and wanting to change.
Dear God, I am sorry for the wrong I have done
and for the good I chose not to do.
You love me and teach me to love others.
Please forgive me and help me make things right.
With your help, I want to choose what is good
and follow Jesus more closely.
Amen.
For a child’s first confession, learn the prayer their parish teaches and let the priest guide them. A parent can help by explaining unfamiliar words and practicing calmly together. Our examination of conscience for children offers preparation suited to younger readers.
What the traditional prayer means
| Words in the prayer | What we are expressing |
|---|---|
| “I am heartily sorry” | I am asking forgiveness honestly, from the heart. |
| “I detest all my sins” | I reject the wrong I have done and want to turn away from it. |
| “But most of all because they offend Thee” | My sorrow reaches beyond fear of punishment toward love for God. |
| “With the help of Thy grace” | I depend on God’s help as I seek to change. |
| “To confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life” | I intend to bring my sins to confession and live differently. |
A firm resolve is a sincere intention to change now. It is not a claim that you can guarantee you will never struggle again. Pope Francis’s address on the Act of Contrition, March 8, 2024, explains this distinction and the prayer’s dependence on God’s grace.
A useful next step is concrete: stop the behavior you have recognized, avoid an avoidable situation that leads you into it, or begin repairing harm. You can discuss a realistic way forward with the priest.
When do you pray the Act of Contrition in confession?
In the usual order of individual confession, the priest gives counsel and a penance, then invites you to express sorrow. You pray an Act of Contrition before he gives absolution. The USCCB’s guide to confession describes this sequence.
Your prayer of sorrow and the priest’s absolution have different roles. You express repentance; the priest pronounces absolution in the sacrament. The USCCB’s explanation of Penance places confession within Christ’s gift of reconciliation with God and the Church.
If it has been a long time, simply tell the priest that you need help; our guide to how to go to confession walks through each step. You may read the prayer from a card or a saved page. For help examining your conscience and preparing to confess, use our Catholic confession preparation resource.
Why are there different versions?
Catholics learn different traditional forms and translations. You may know an Act of Contrition that mentions God’s just punishments, one that speaks of failing to do good, or one that ends by resolving to avoid occasions of sin.
The historical prayer above is one established form. It is not presented as the only form permitted today. For current examples, read the USCCB’s prayer sheet from the Order of Penance, which offers several options, including the brief prayer to Jesus printed above.
The purpose is to express sincere repentance. If you are uncertain about the wording to use in your confession, ask the priest; you do not need to solve that question before approaching the sacrament.
Perfect and imperfect contrition
The Catechism, 1451–1453, distinguishes these motives for sorrow:
| Kind of contrition | Meaning and relation to confession |
|---|---|
| Perfect contrition | Sorrow arising from love of God above everything. It brings forgiveness of venial sins and also mortal sins when it includes a firm intention to seek sacramental confession as soon as possible. |
| Imperfect contrition, also called attrition | Sorrow prompted by recognizing sin’s ugliness or fearing damnation and punishment for sin. It too is God’s gift; by itself it does not bring forgiveness of grave sins, but it prepares a person for forgiveness in the sacrament. |
Reciting a particular version does not establish that your contrition is perfect. Ask God to deepen your love and repentance, and bring your sins to confession. Private prayer should not become a reason to put off the sacrament.
Praying an Act of Contrition at night
You can make a short examination of the day before sleeping:
- Thank God for one gift you received.
- Recall where you failed to love God or another person.
- Pray an Act of Contrition sincerely.
- Choose one good change for tomorrow, and ask for God’s help.
This can be a quiet personal prayer, without a long list or repeated checking. If a concern keeps troubling your conscience, discuss it with a trusted confessor. The Catholic prayers guide offers other prayers for a daily routine.
Questions about the Act of Contrition
What if I forget the words in confession?
Tell the priest. The USCCB’s confession guide explicitly encourages asking him for help when you do not know what to say. Keep a printed copy nearby if that helps you pray attentively.
Must I feel very upset for my prayer to be sincere?
Repentance includes a real turning away from sin. Strong feelings can accompany it, but the resolve to change is not a promise of future flawlessness. Pope Francis’s reflection emphasizes repentance, trust and a present intention to change with God’s help. Speak with your confessor about doubts rather than testing yourself by the strength of a feeling.
Does the Act of Contrition replace confession?
The prayer expresses repentance; it is distinct from sacramental absolution. The USCCB’s Penance page explains the sacrament and links official resources.
Can I receive Communion after praying it if I am conscious of mortal sin?
The ordinary requirement is to receive sacramental absolution first. Catechism 1457 describes a limited exception involving a grave reason to receive and no possibility of confession. A private recitation of the prayer is not automatic permission to receive. Ask a priest about your circumstances.
Is this the same as the Confiteor at Mass?
The Confiteor is one form used in the Penitential Act at Mass. The Act of Contrition discussed here is a prayer of repentance used in confession or private devotion. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 51, explains that the absolution concluding the Penitential Act does not have the efficacy of the Sacrament of Penance.
More prayers of repentance
- The seven penitential psalms
- Acts of Faith, Hope and Love
- The Penitential Act
- Catholic prayer for forgiveness
- The Confiteor (I confess)
- Catholic prayers in Latin (Actus Contritionis)
Sources and text notes
- Thomas L. Kinkead, An Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doctrine: basic prayers — the historical Act of Contrition above. Line breaks have been added, with “Amen” supplied as the conclusion. Project Gutenberg’s catalog identifies this work as public domain in the United States. This older text supplies the prayer wording; current sacramental guidance is drawn from the sources below.
- USCCB: Act of Contrition — current prayer examples citing the Order of Penance, nos. 45 and 92, including the short prayer to Jesus.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1451–1459 — contrition, confession, Communion and repairing harm.
- Pope Francis, March 8, 2024: address to the course on the internal forum — repentance, trust and the resolve to change.
- USCCB: Penance and How to Go to Confession — the sacrament and practical sequence.
- General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 51 — the Penitential Act at Mass and its distinction from sacramental absolution.
The simple prayer for children is original wording for this guide.