Act of Contrition

The Act of Contrition is the prayer of a sinner turning back to God, and the Church, at the Council of Trent, gives contrition "the first place among the acts of the penitent." It is sorrow of soul and hatred for sin committed, joined to the firm purpose of sinning no more. Without it there is no forgiveness; with it — and the Sacrament, or the sincere desire of it — even the gravest sins are washed away.

The traditional prayer carefully expresses both motives the Church recognizes. It names the lower, still-good motive first: "because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell." This is imperfect contrition (also called attrition) — sorrow born of the fear of God’s justice, which is genuine and, with the Sacrament of Confession, suffices for forgiveness. But it rises at once to the higher: "but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good." This is perfect contrition — sorrow born of love, grieving for sin not chiefly out of fear but because it wounds the God who is worthy of all love. Perfect contrition, the Church teaches, restores the soul to grace even before Confession, provided one intends to confess.

All true contrition includes the firm purpose of amendment: "I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life." Sorrow that does not intend to change is not contrition at all. This is why the resolution to confess, to make satisfaction, and to avoid the near occasions of sin belongs to the very act. Prayed in the confessional, in the nightly examination of conscience, and in danger of death, the Act of Contrition is the soul’s constant return to the mercy of the Father.