The Act of Contrition is the prayer Catholics say to tell God we are sorry for our sins and want to do better with his help. Children learn it before their First Confession, and many families pray it every night before bed.
Pray it with Clara
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.
Pray it with Clara at bedtime, in the Little Prayer Stories app.Get the app →Before the prayer, ask: was there a moment today I wasn’t kind? Then the words have something real to say sorry for.
It’s long for little ones. Say a phrase and let your child repeat it, adding one more each week before First Confession.
After the prayer, remind your child that God always forgives us when we are sorry, and give a hug or a blessing.
In Confession, after you tell your sins and the priest gives your penance, before he says the words of absolution. Many people also pray it every night, and the Church encourages it whenever we have sinned.
No. There are several approved versions, short and long. Any of them is fine in Confession; what matters is being truly sorry and meaning to do better. This page has the traditional English and Spanish versions.
