The Act of Contrition is a
prayer of
confession. The following version is found in the
Small Catechism of the Catholic Religion by John Neumann, fourth
Bishop of
Philadelphia, dated
July 24,
1884:
- "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."
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