Oh My God, I Am (Partly) Sorry

Don’t laugh. I’ve heard that in the Confessional, and it wasn’t a seven-year-old First Penitent but adults who said it. I’m surprised to hear penitents admit they don’t know the Act of Contrition by heart. When they come to the end of their confession, I don’t mind guiding them along to recite the prayer because it is one of my favorites. It has such appeal because every time we recite the Act of Contrition, we ask God to forgive our venial sins, and I like to take every opportunity I can to do that. When we make a good Act of Contrition, our souls are wiped clean of venial sins, although we still need to confess them the next time we celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is such a beautiful prayer and such an excellent opportunity to avail ourselves of God’s mercy. 

Pope Francis recently addressed a class of Roman seminarians and priests assigned to the major basilicas of Rome who regularly listen to pilgrims’ confessions. The Apostolic Penitentiary sponsored the course, which isn’t a prison but the Vatican tribunal, which deals with matters of conscience. The theme of the pope’s talk was the Act of Contrition. 

Pope Francis mentioned that. “A Christian’s awareness of being sinful should be directly proportional to their “perception of the infinite love of God.” In other words, if we don’t feel sinful, then we don’t really feel God’s love. Remember that the next time you try to convince yourself, you don’t have anything to confess. 

Francis said, “The more we sense God’s tenderness, the more we desire to be in full communion with him, and the more evident the ugliness of evil in our lives becomes.” The pope continued, “Let’s remember that God’s love never tires of forgiving us and that we should never tire of asking for pardon.” Please reflect on that if it has been quite a while since you celebrated Reconciliation. 

The pope pointed out to the students this line from the prayer, “I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to sin no more and avoid the near occasion of sin.” He reminded the students these words express an intention, not a promise not to sin. “None of us can promise not to sin again.”  No one can make a guarantee not to sin, but only a righteous intention to be open to God’s grace, which is a sign of our humility. It shows our recognition that “God is mercy, mercy is his name, his face.” Pope Francis reiterated to the future priests and ordained priest confessors present how their ministry shows the sweetness of God’s love.

Catholics are obligated to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent or the Easter Season if they are aware of grave or mortal sin. Still, it is always spiritually beneficial to confess our venial sins. I’m in the Reconciliation Room at the back of the church every Saturday from 3 to 3:45 p.m. I’m also available to hear confessions by appointment. Don’t worry; the lines aren’t long.

If you can’t recite the Act of Contrition from memory, learn it. Say it just after your nightly examination of conscience at the end of the day. You’ll rest assured of God’s mercy for your sins, and you can sleep in peace. Here are two texts of the prayer:

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee. 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 occasion of sin. Amen.

(A traditional version)

or:

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.

(from the Rite of Penance)