Catholics/Act of Contrition

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 3/23/2009


Question
QUESTION: Dear Father Johnson,

I have a 1962 missal that I use at my parish.  A former Catholic asked to see my missal.  She said that the Act of Contrition that she remembers is not the one in the 1962 missal.  Is this possible?  I'm only 23 but she is older and remembers only the Latin Mass.

Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi, Gina:
Thanks for the question.
Perhaps you could rephrase the question, or give some example of the exact "Act of Contrition" you refer to.  Are you possibly referring to the "Confiteor" the "I confess to Almighty God, etc..." Prayer?
If so, yes, that prayer is sadly much changed through considerable alterations in the new Order of Mass.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, Father. No, I was referring to "O, my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and detest all my sins..."

Answer
Hi, again, Gina:

I am not sure what to tell you.  The Act of Contrition strictly speaking is not actually part of the Roman Missal itself, though I am aware of devotional sections of prayers that are inserted into the little Missals people can use to follow the Mass.  I also know that there are a few variant forms of the "Act of Contrition" that are in circulation.
I am suspecting that the question is over the wording of detesting "all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell", rendered "... because of Thy just punishments, etc."
I would sure love to see that former Catholic just go and make a good Confession and get back into being a Catholic right now and into the future, instead of quibbling over the wording of an Act of Contrition.  You can tell her I said that, too...  to go and experience the love and healing forgiveness of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and come to experience the fullness of Communion in the Holy Catholic Church He founded, and just unburden herself of whatever it has been over the years that she allows to keep her away from God and His Church.
How about just going and making a GOOD CONFESSION, and I can recommend the use of the SIMPLEST Act of Contrition in the Rite of Penance book the Priest uses that goes:
"Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."
Thanks, and God bless you.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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