Acts Of Contrition

[Totus Tuus]

I just say it randomly whenever I'm inspired to do so. I always do it when I make my confession, though.

[Resurrexi]

[quote name='rkwright' post='1418681' date='Nov 13 2007, 11:02 AM']Just wondering, what constitutes an Act of Contrition. When I approach Holy Communion, I often repeat the Jesus Prayer. "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."[/quote]

An act of contrition is an act that expresses the four characteristics of true contrition (that is, it must be interior, universal, supernatural and supreme) which, if made perfect by the fact that you are contrite for your sins because of love of God and not merely fear the punishments for sin and accompanied by a desire for the Sacrament of Penance and a resolution to sin no more, remits sin.

[Resurrexi]

I thought I also should add that I pray the Act of Contrition before entering into the Confessional and immediately before or during the absolution as well as before Holy Communion, before Mass, before going to sleep, at least once a day, before praying the Rosary, and most importantly after committing a mortal sin if there is no way to receive Penance soon.

And I would have to say it's probably the most important prayers since it's the only way for a baptized person to have his sins forgiven if there is no priest available, especially in danger of death.

Edited November 14, 2007 by StThomasMore