Act of Contrition

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The Act of Contrition is a prayer recited by the penitent during the Latin Rite Roman Catholic sacrament of Confession.

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Latin

Deus meus, ex toto corde poenitet
me omnium meorum peccatorum,
eaque detestor, quia peccando,
non solum poenas a te iuste
statutas promeritus sum,
sed praesertim 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.


English

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.


Recent Version 1992

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.
Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.
Amen

Alternative version

My Lord, I am heartily sorry for all my sins,
help me to live like Jesus and not sin again.
Amen.

Irish version in use in 1960s

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest my sins above every other evil because they displease Thee, my God, Who, in Thy infinite wisdom, art so deserving of all my love and I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace never more to offend Thee and to amend my life. Amen.

Another version in use, circa 1970

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.

Other versions in use, circa 1980

O my God, I am sorry for my sins. In choosing to sin, and failing to do good, I have sinned against You and Your Church. I firmly intend, with the help of Your Son, to do good and to sin no more. Amen.
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 Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us in His name, my God, have mercy. Amen.