# Act of Contrition

> A short prayer to confess our sins before God, who is rich in mercy, to be honestly sorry for them, and to resolve to begin a new life.

- Source: Light of Saints, “Act of Contrition”, https://lightofsaints.com/en/prayers/act-of-contrition
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Published: 2026-11-06

## Meaning

This prayer honestly admits our sins, is sorry for them because we have been unfaithful to God, who is all good, and promises to amend our life with the help of his grace. In the form used in Indonesia, its closing echoes the prayer of the tax collector: "O God, be merciful to me a sinner" (Lk 18:13).

## Prayer

_Traditional prayer of the Church._

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you; 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 you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, do penance, and amend my life.
Amen.

## Intentions & hopes

The faithful pray it to express sorrow for their sins, especially in the Sacrament of Penance and before going to sleep. What we may hope for is a renewed heart and trust in the mercy of God, who is always ready to forgive those who truly repent.

## When & how to pray

- In the Sacrament of Penance, pray the Act of Contrition after the priest has given counsel and a penance, before he gives absolution.
- At home, especially at night, make a calm examination of conscience and then pray the Act of Contrition slowly.
- Pray it from the heart, not just from memory: recall your actual sins and a real intention to make amends.
- If you cannot yet go to confession, express your sorrow out of love for God, together with the intention to receive the Sacrament of Penance as soon as possible.
- After receiving forgiveness and doing your penance, you can give thanks with the prayer of Thanksgiving for Forgiveness (Puji Syukur no. 27).

## Origins

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (nos. 1451–1453) teaches that contrition is the first of the penitent's acts: sorrow of soul and detestation for the sin committed, together with the resolution not to sin again. The Catechism distinguishes "perfect" contrition, which arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, from "imperfect" contrition, which arises from fear or from considering the ugliness of sin.

According to the Catechism, perfect contrition remits venial sins. It also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to go to sacramental confession as soon as possible.

The Church does not tie the term "act of contrition" to a single wording. The Manual of Indulgences gives several approved formulas as examples, so there are many versions. In the early 1970s a newer formula was composed, which appears in the revised Rite of Penance; that rite offers several options for expressing contrition.

In Indonesia, the Act of Contrition is printed in the prayer and hymn book Puji Syukur as no. 25, "Allah yang maharahim…" ("God, rich in mercy…"). Puji Syukur no. 26 contains another formula, which begins "Ya Allah, Engkaulah yang harus kukasihi lebih dari segala sesuatu" ("O God, you are the one I must love above all things").

In the order of individual confession customary in Indonesian parishes, the penitent prays the Act of Contrition (PS 25) after the priest has given counsel and a penance. After doing the penance, the penitent prays the Thanksgiving for Forgiveness (PS 27).

_Edition note: Text: The rights holder named on the source. Checked word for word against the source on 2026-11-05._

## Sources

- [Act of Contrition - Archdiocese of Washington](https://adw.org/catholic-prayer/act-of-contrition/) — Text taken from adw.org
- [Actus Contritionis (Act of Contrition) - Ecclesia Bytes](https://ecclesiabytes.com/actus-contritionis-act-of-contrition/) — Latin text from ecclesiabytes.com
- [Act of Contrition? (Q&A)](https://www.catholicnh.org/assets/Documents/Worship/Sacraments/Kerper-ActOfContrition.pdf) — Published by Diocese of Manchester (catholicnh.org)
- [Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 2, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 4 (nos. 1451–1453)](https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c2a4.htm) — Published by St. Charles Borromeo parish (CCC text)
- [Sakramen Tobat](https://www.salvatorslipi.org/sakramen-tobat) — Published by Paroki Slipi (Salvator)
- [Perfect and Imperfect Contrition](https://www.thericatholic.com/stories/perfect-and-imperfect-contrition,11639) — Published by Rhode Island Catholic