Not told to say the act of contrition after confession - Page 2

The GreyPilgrim · #16 Apr 22, '12, 10:23 pm

Sometimes my priest will have me say it in front of him, other times he'll tell me to say it in the pews afterwards, sometimes he won't say anything maybe implying the same. In any of these do I every feel that the words of absolution are invalid. I've never read anything to the contrary, so I believe you're good.

Clarissa63 · #17 Apr 23, '12, 2:20 am

I confessed. Would this affect the validity of the confession? I did whisper it while the priests were saying the prayer of absolution.

**LilyM** · #18 Apr 23, '12, 3:08 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

This has happened to me a couple of times, the most recent being the last time I went to confession. But this priest was so busy giving me penances (I counted 3 penances before he finally finished!) that I think he just forgot to ask me to say the act of contrition. The other time, several years ago, was in a very liberal church and my guess is that the priest didn't think it was necessary. The worst experience I had was when a priest refused to give me a penance. I actually asked him if he was going to give me a penance, and he said no! I have never gone back to that church again.

But I believe that as long as the priest gives absolution, the confession is valid.

Indeed it is. And for the record, a priest's failure to give you a penance does not affect validity either, although from memory it may be illicit.

LucyLight · #19 Apr 23, '12, 4:48 am

One time a priest told me not to say the act of contrition. He said to me obviously your here because your sorry, you don't need to say it. Then he absolved me. It made sense to me.

Brooklyn · #20 Apr 23, '12, 6:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyLight

One time a priest told me not to say the act of contrition. He said to me obviously your here because your sorry, you don't need to say it. Then he absolved me. It made sense to me.

That doesn't make sense to me! I think that priest was rewriting the rules for confession.

johnthebaptist1 · #21 Oct 25, '12, 3:54 pm

When I go too confession,I too have come upon priest that, only hears your sins,saids he,s words ,absolves yours sins,make the sign of the cross and tell you what to say ,for remission of sin.,and tells you to have a nice day. Than their are others church,were the Priest,says now say your act of Contrition. Well God Bless you.

poche · #22 Oct 26, '12, 3:06 am

If you don't say it before you go to confession and they don't make you say it - then it would be a good idea for you to say it after confession

Cinette · #23 Oct 26, '12, 3:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil Corn

Twice this month two different priests did not make me say the act of contrition after I confessed. Would this affect the validity of the confession? I did whisper it while the priests were saying the prayer of absolution.

Maybe the Priest forgot! I would ask him "So has the Act of Contrition been abolished?"

agnes therese · #24 Oct 26, '12, 3:29 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecil Corn

Twice this month two different priests did not make me say the act of contrition after I confessed. Would this affect the validity of the confession? I did whisper it while the priests were saying the prayer of absolution.

Why should they have to "make" you say it?

johnthebaptist1 · #25 Oct 26, '12, 10:35 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by poche

If you don't say it before you go to confession and they don't make you say it - then it would be a good idea for you to say it after confession

Yes I do agree,because thats what I do after confession,when the priest does ask me.

twf · #26 Oct 26, '12, 8:36 pm

I am 99.9% certain that the "act of contrition" isnot in the rubrics and is not required for a licit confession. I am 100% certain that it is not required for a valid confession. The Church requires us to list our mortal sins in kind and number, and of course we must be contrite (have firm resolve to sin no more), but the Church does not require us to express our contrition through any particular formula. The "act of contrition" has many forms and is a devotional practice. Don't get me wrong, it is a good practice, but simply being present in the confessional and articulating one's sins expressly implies that one is contrite. I have seen different versions of the "act of contrition" posted in different churches - it is not a set formula promulgated by the Church. In my experience, maybe half of the priests I've seen ask me to say an act of contrition - I think it largely depends on the priest and local custom.

Can someone please provide documentation?

Andre1000 · #27 Oct 27, '12, 6:06 am

I was confessing by many priest(diocesan priest, SSPX, and some other) and none of them wanted to hear an act of contrition. Actually on this thread this is the first time I read about it.

snowflakeinlove · #28 Oct 28, '12, 11:15 am

I'm pretty sure that the Act of Contrition isn't mandatory.... a priest told me that not saying it doesn't make my confession invalid or anything.
Back in elementary school we were asked to say the act of contrition before confession, to save time, because so many people had to go to confession.

At my parish, I'm usually asked for an Act of Contrition, but I often get so nervous I forget all the words... so I just say something like "I'm sorry for my sins"

Hoernchen · #29 Oct 28, '12, 1:18 pm

I've said it before but I'll say it again: saying the act of contrition is NOT a mandatory part of confession. It isn't even necessary. There are whole countries where the act of contrition isn't said by default after confession. It's a laudable practise but nothing more.
What IS necessary on the other hand is that you HAVE contrition, or at least attrition.

**JimG** · #30 Oct 28, '12, 1:23 pm

I know of one priest who always includes the act of contrition with the penance. e.g. "Please say 3 Our Fathers and an act of contrition." Then he gives absolution and dismisses you.

Another priest simply asks you to say the act of contrition in your pew.

Of course, the very fact that one presents oneself for the sacrament is evidence of contrition, but the prayer is normally said by the penitent either before or after.