What is the Act of Contrition?

The Act of Contrition is a Catholic prayer in which the penitent expresses sorrow for sin, asks God's forgiveness, and resolves with God's grace to sin no more. It is prayed during the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), at the end of the day as part of the Examen, and traditionally near death.

When do you pray the Act of Contrition?

Most commonly during Confession, after telling the priest your sins and before receiving absolution. It is also prayed nightly as part of the Examen, before receiving Anointing of the Sick, and in any moment of awareness of sin throughout the day.

What makes contrition 'perfect' vs. 'imperfect'?

Perfect contrition is sorrow for sin because it offends God, who is all good and worthy of all love. Imperfect contrition (attrition) is sorrow motivated by fear of hell or the ugliness of sin. Both are valid in Confession, but perfect contrition, joined with the intention to confess as soon as possible, can restore grace even before sacramental absolution.

All guides

The Act of Contrition

Q: Is there a modern Act of Contrition?

Yes. A widely used contemporary form is: '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.'

The prayer of sorrow Catholics pray at Confession, at bedtime, and in any honest moment with God.

The Act of Contrition is one of the oldest and most-used prayers in Catholic life. It is short, but it carries the whole shape of repentance: sorrow, the reason for sorrow, and a real resolution to change. You can pray it in under thirty seconds and mean every word.

60-second start

Step 1 of 4

What's the season you're in?

Next step

Use the nightly Examen template — examination of conscience and Act of Contrition built in.

Open the prayer journal

Traditional Act of Contrition (full text)

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Modern Act of Contrition (full text)

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.

Line by line: what each phrase means

'Heartily sorry' — not surface regret; real interior grief.
'I detest all my sins' — sin, not just consequences, is the object of sorrow.
'Just punishments' — sin really does harm; God's justice is not arbitrary.
'But most of all because they offend Thee' — perfect contrition: sorrow for love's sake.
'All good and deserving of all my love' — the reason God deserves our turning back.
'With the help of Thy grace' — repentance is cooperation, not willpower.
'Sin no more' — a real intention, not a guarantee of perfection.
'Avoid the near occasions of sin' — change the patterns, not just the actions.

When to pray it

During Confession — after telling your sins, before absolution.
Each night as part of the Examen.
Before Anointing of the Sick or any moment of serious illness.
Any moment in the day when you become aware of sin.

A simple examination of conscience first

Before praying the Act of Contrition, take two minutes to look back at the day. Ask: Where did I love God today? Where did I love my neighbor? Where did I refuse to love? Name two or three specifics — not vague self-criticism. Then pray.

Perfect vs. imperfect contrition

Perfect contrition is sorrow because sin offends God, who is all good. Imperfect contrition (attrition) is sorrow motivated by fear of punishment or the ugliness of sin. Both are accepted in Confession. Perfect contrition, joined with the firm intention to confess as soon as possible, restores grace even before sacramental absolution — important to know in an emergency.

A 60-second nightly rhythm

Sign of the Cross.
Recall the day for one minute — where you loved, where you failed.
Name two specific sins.
Pray the Act of Contrition.
Resolve one concrete thing for tomorrow.