Forgive me my sins, O Lord,
forgive me my sins;
the sins of my youth,
the sins of my age,
the sins of my soul,
the sins of my body;
my idle sins,
my serious voluntary sins,
the sins I know,
the sins I have concealed so long,
and which are now hidden from my memory.
I am truly sorry for every sin,
mortal and venial,
for all the sins of my childhood
up to the present hour.
I know my sins have wounded Thy tender Heart,
O my Savior,
let me be freed from the bonds of evil
through the most bitter Passion of my Redeemer.
O my Jesus,
forget and forgive what I have been.
Amen.
Further insights into The Catholic Prayer – A Special Act of Sorrow
A Special Act of Sorrow, also known as the Act of Contrition, is a Catholic prayer that expresses sorrow for sins committed and a desire for God’s forgiveness. It has been an important part of Catholic worship and devotion for centuries.
The origins of the Act of Contrition can be traced back to the early Church, when penitential practices were common among Christians. The prayer began to take shape as a formal liturgical expression of repentance in the Middle Ages, and it was included in many prayer books and missals.
The Act of Contrition is typically recited after the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as a way of expressing one’s sorrow to God and seeking forgiveness for sins. The prayer varies in different cultures and languages, but it generally includes elements such as a statement of sorrow for sins, a cry for mercy, and a pledge to turn away from sin and live a virtuous life.
In recent years, the Act of Contrition has taken on new significance in the wake of the global sexual abuse crisis within the Catholic Church. Many Catholics have prayed this and similar prayers as a way of expressing their deep sorrow and contrition for the harm done to victims and their families, and as a way of seeking God’s healing and forgiveness.
Today, the Act of Contrition remains an important part of Catholic prayer and devotion, serving as a reminder of the importance of repentance, mercy, and forgiveness in the life of a Christian.