A Powerful Prayer of Sorrow for Sin and Commitment to Amendment

The Act of Contrition is a vital Catholic prayer expressing sorrow for sin, an indispensable part of true repentance. For centuries, this prayer has formed the heart of the penitent’s return to God, especially in the Sacrament of Penance. Sadly, in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council—a modernist revolution which gave rise to a counterfeit church that abandoned many of the doctrines, disciplines, and devotions of the One True Church—the traditional understanding of contrition and repentance has been watered down or even lost.

The Novus Ordo establishment promotes vague emotionalism and a false concept of mercy without justice, leading countless souls away from true repentance and thus away from salvation. In contrast, the Act of Contrition as taught and preserved by the pre-Vatican II Church clearly reflects the supernatural virtue of charity and true fear of the Lord. It is a cry from the soul that knows its sins have offended a just and loving God and longs for reconciliation through the true channels of grace instituted by Christ Himself. To recover the Catholic Faith in its fullness, we must learn, understand, and recite the prayers as taught by the Church before the infiltration of Modernist heresy.

Before making an act of contrition, especially before the sacrament of confession, it is first necessary to make a good examination of conscience. (Here is one of the most thorough examination of consciences for adults one can find, which also has an imprimitur.) After an examination of conscience, one of the most important elements consists in stirring up a sincere and total hatred and detestation of all sins committed. The more hatred for sins, the more effective the act of contrition will be. It is important to note that there is no real sin that can be forgiven without contrition, as per the words of Christ, “Except you repent…” (Luke 13:5). This prayer is typically prayed at night before bed as well as during the sacrament of Confession.

1. Actus Contritionis

Latin:

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 diligatur.

Ideo firmiter propono, adiuvante gratia tua,
de cetero me non peccaturum peccandique occasiones proximas fugiturum.

Amen.

English Translation:

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 I have offended 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 occasion of sin.

Amen.

📌 Key Notes:

• This traditional Latin version follows centuries-old phrasing used in Confession and personal prayer.

• The phrase "summum bonum" means "the highest good", referring to God’s infinite goodness.

• The phrase "adiuvante gratia tua" means "with the help of Thy grace", showing trust in God’s assistance.

2. Pronunciation Guide

Here is a word-by-word pronunciation breakdown using Ecclesiastical Latin: