Editing Act of Contrition (section)

==Catholic Church==
The Act of Contrition is part of the [[Sacrament of Penance]] and is prayed by the penitent after the priest assigns a [[penance]] and before he gives the penitent absolution. It is also customarily said especially before one goes to bed at night.<ref name=Dohogne>{{Cite web |url=http://dioscg.org/index.php/act-of-contrition-can-be-very-personal/ |title=Dohogne, David J., "Act of Contrition can be very personal", Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau |access-date=2016-11-16 |archive-date=2016-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116163848/http://dioscg.org/index.php/act-of-contrition-can-be-very-personal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is generally supposed that individuals might have recourse to an Act of Contrition when they find themselves ''in extremis''. [[Fulton Sheen]] recounts a story told of [[John Vianney]]. When a recent widow bemoaned the death of her husband who [[Christian views on suicide#Modern Catholicism|committed suicide by jumping off a bridge]], Monsieur le Curé observed, "Remember, Madam, that there is a little distance between the bridge and the water." By this he meant that her husband had time to make an Act of Contrition.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=IJAIKurm43EC&dq=act+of+contrition&pg=PT15 Sheen, Fulton. ''Life is Worth Living'', Ignatius Press, 1999] {{ISBN|9780898706116}}</ref> This is analogous to the well-known quote, "Between the stirrup and the ground, he something sought and something found," indicating that mercy is available when sought. (The original quote is from the sixteenth century English antiquarian [[William Camden]]; the more familiar version is from [[Graham Greene]]'s 1938 novel ''[[Brighton Rock (novel)|Brighton Rock]]''.)

The prayer expresses in words a deeply personal "act" that engages a person's affections and will.

===A particular Latin formula and its English translations===
Within the Catholic Church, the term "act of contrition" is often applied to one particular formula, which is not given expressly in the [[Enchiridion Indulgentiarum|handbook of Indulgences]].

The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' notes that "Among the penitent's acts, contrition occupies first place. Contrition is 'sorrow of the soul and detestation for the sin committed together with the resolution not to sin again.' When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called 'perfect' (contrition of charity). Such contrition remits [[venial sin]]s; it also obtains forgiveness of [[mortal sin]]s if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|sacramental confession]] as soon as possible" (CCC 1451–1452).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/files/assets/basic-html/page-364.html |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church |access-date=2019-03-25 |archive-date=2019-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405200956/http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/files/assets/basic-html/page-364.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Catholic teaching holds that "imperfect" contrition, is also a gift of God. Born of fear of eternal damnation or other penalties, it is nonetheless sufficient to inspire a valid Act of Contrition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/files/assets/basic-html/page-364.html |title=''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' §1453 |access-date=2019-03-25 |archive-date=2019-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405200956/http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/catechism/files/assets/basic-html/page-364.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There are different versions of the Act of Contrition, but all generally include an expression of sorrow, an acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a promise to amend one's life and avoid sin. The Latin text and a number of English versions that approximate to the Latin text are given here.

====Latin text ====

===== Act of contrition of Pius X =====
:Deus meus, ex toto corde pænitet me omnium meorum peccatorum,
:eaque detestor, quia peccando,
:non solum pœnas a te iuste statutas promeritus sum,
:sed præsertim quia offendi te,
:summum bonum, ac dignum qui super omnia diligaris.
:Ideo firmiter propono,
:adiuvante gratia tua,
:de cetero me non peccaturum peccandique occasiones proximas fugiturum.
:Amen.<ref name=Thesaurus>{{cite web|url=http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Confessio/ActusCont.html |title=Thesaurus Precum Latinarum |publisher=Preces-latinae.org |access-date=2012-03-17}}</ref>

===== Act of contrition of Paul VI =====
:Deus meus, ex toto corde me pǽnitet ac dóleo de ómnibus quæ male egi et de bono quod omísi, quia peccándo offendi Te,  summe bonum ac dignum qui super ómnia diligáris.  Fírmiter propóno, 
:adiuvánte grátia tua, 
:me pæniténtiam ágere,  
:de cétero non peccatúrum peccantíque occasiónes fugitúrum.  
:Per mérita passiónis Salvatóris nostri Iesu Christi, Dómine, misérere.<ref>Sacra Congregatio pro Cultu Divino, ''Rituale romanum ex Decreto sacrosancti oecumenici concilii Vaticani II instauratum auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum. Ordo paenitentiae. Editio typica'', Typis Poliglottis Vaticanis, 1974, pag. 27.</ref>

====Traditional version====
: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.<ref>[https://www.vaticannews.va/en/prayers/act-of-contrition.htm "Act of Contrition,"]{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Vatican News. Retrieved 2020-03-31</ref><ref>A version without line breaks and slightly different punctuation: {{cite book | title=A Manual of Prayers: For the Use of the Catholic Laity | author=Third Plenary Council of Baltimore | author-link=Third Plenary Council of Baltimore | publisher=Catholic Publication Society Company | year=1888 | access-date=April 15, 2019 | url=https://archive.org/details/manualofprayersf00cath| page=[https://archive.org/details/manualofprayersf00cath/page/286 286] | quote=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,. }}</ref>

====A popular Catholic American English worldwide version====
: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. Amen.<ref name="Dohogne" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cccb.ca/site/content/view/2335/1226/lang,eng/|title=Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops|publisher=Cccb.ca|date=2006-10-04|access-date=2012-03-17|archive-date=2008-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921222142/http://www.cccb.ca/site/content/view/2335/1226/lang,eng/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====A modern version taught in Religious Education====
:Lord have mercy on me
:Do not look upon my sins
:But take away all my guilt
:Create in me a clean heart
:And renew within me an upright spirit
:Amen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:MkRMji340FIJ:www.catholiccatechist.org/freeFiles/111_Act_of_Contrition_Cards.doc+&hl=en&gl=ca&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi2SSersxgXIqohOEdejJP1lbxT20Q7PPwirTPofEK3Vj5jL5wUUA6qtuIl60FG1-Drr8CvVEQy9X4NWE1g6FPIasC-nstT4J7zX_SpARj9laaMGp9M3QnZHE_xShJtiiSE5m2Q&sig=AHIEtbTZI0ZnQOPfGZxkNE2NJ3xb2DqOhQ |title=Act of Contrition Prayer Cards|date=2007-02-24 |access-date=2013-03-20}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=May 2014}}

====Irish version====
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee: and I detest my sins most sincerely because they displease Thee, my God, Who art so deserving of all my love for Thy infinite goodness and most amiable perfections: and I firmly purpose by Thy holy grace never more to offend Thee.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WsCAq4OfXZAC&dq=act+of+contrition&pg=PA5 Butler, James. ''The most R. Dr. James Butler's catechism; revised, enlarged, approved and recommended by the four R.C. Arch. of Ireland'', The Catholic Book society, Dublin, 1836]</ref>

==== Nigerian version ====
“O my God, because You are so good, I am truly sorry that I have sinned against You and by the help of Your grace, I will not sin again.”{{cite quote|date=January 2019}}

==== Ghanaian version ====
"O my God, because You are so good. I am very sorry for having offended You and by the help of Your Holy Grace, I will not sin again."

====Other formulas for acts of contrition====
''[[Sacrosanctum concilium]]'' (the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) called for the revision of the Rite of Penance so that it more clearly express both the nature and effect of the sacrament.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html Pope Paul VI. ''Sacrosanctum concilium'', December 4, 1963]</ref> Consequently, the Rite of Penance was revised in 1973. The revised rite offered several possible options for making an Act of Contrition. One may choose one of the general formula prayers or other prayers of contrition.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=oieH9SmVSTUC&dq=act+of+contrition&pg=PA53 Gaupin, Linda. ''Embracing the Vision: Sacramental Catechesis for First Reconciliation and First Communion'', Twenty-Third Publications, 2007] {{ISBN|9781585956449}}</ref>
 
The following are some formulas for acts of contrition that differ more considerably from the Latin text given above.

:My Lord, I am heartily sorry for all my sins,
:help me to live like Jesus and not sin again.
:Amen.{{cite quote|date=January 2019}}

:Oh my God, I am sorry that I have sinned against You.
:Because You are so good, and with Your help,
:I will try not to sin again.
:Amen.{{cite quote|date=January 2019}}

:Oh My God, because You are so good,
:I am very sorry that I have sinned against You,
:and by the help of Your grace, I will try not sin again.
:Amen.{{cite quote|date=January 2019}}

:I love You, Jesus, my Love above all things. I repent with my whole heart for ever having offended You. Never permit me to separate myself from You again. Grant that I may love You always. Then do with me what You will. - [[Alphonsus Liguori]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OOlhAwAAQBAJ&dq=act+of+contrition&pg=PT58 Farren, Paul. ''Confession: Finding Freedom and Forgiveness'', Paraclete Press, 2014] {{ISBN|9781612615981}}</ref>