The Act of Contrition isn't reserved for Confession alone. Join Bishop Reed in praying this traditional act of contrition any time.

The Council of Trent defined contrition as “a sorrow of soul and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future.” Contrition is an interior repentance by which, through grace, we radically reorient our whole selves to God.

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, to do penance,
and to amend my life.

Amen.

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