O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended thee,
and 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 occasions of sin.
Amen.
CATHOLIC TRADITIONAL; CURRENT ENGLISH FORM 17TH-18TH CENTURY AD
The Act of Contrition
Also known as O My God, I Am Heartily Sorry
Other forms
Short traditional form
O my God, I am sorry for my sins
because I have offended you.
I know I should love you above all things.
Help me to do penance, to do better,
and to avoid anything that might lead me to sin.
Amen.
About this prayer
The Act of Contrition is a prayer of repentance said by Catholics as part of the sacrament of Confession, also called the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. It expresses sorrow for sin, an intention to avoid sin in the future, and a commitment to avoid occasions of sin. The prayer is said by the penitent after hearing the penance assigned by the priest and before receiving absolution. The precise text of the Act of Contrition is not fixed; the Church does not require a specific formula, and many traditional versions exist. The version most widely known in the United States is the 'O my God, I am heartily sorry' form, which developed in its current wording in the 17th or 18th century. It is also said as a devotional prayer outside Confession, particularly at bedtime.
When it's said
The Act of Contrition is said during the sacrament of Confession, after the priest assigns penance and before absolution is given. It is also recommended as a nightly prayer before sleep, as an act of devotion at any time of day, and as part of the examination of conscience. In cases where a priest is not available and a Catholic faces imminent death, an Act of Perfect Contrition (sorrow for sin out of love for God rather than fear of punishment) is held to restore the soul to grace.
Notes on the text
Catholic theology distinguishes between perfect contrition (sorrow motivated by love of God) and imperfect contrition (sorrow motivated by fear of punishment). The prayer above expresses both: it begins with imperfect contrition and moves toward perfect contrition in the phrase 'most of all because they offend thee.' The phrase 'near occasions of sin' refers to situations, people, or places that predictably lead to sin.
Source
Traditional Catholic prayer, 17th-18th century English form. Text from F.X. Lasance, The Blessed Sacrament Book, 1913. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.