Confession

I am taking a group of about five young people to confession tomorrow night. It should be interesting to see their reactions since most of them have confided in me that they haven't been to confession since Confirmation some four or more years ago.

In the meantime, I have been putting together an Advent Penitential Service for the parish. I was Googling for some liturgical inspiration -- whatever did we do before Google? Actually read the Bible, maybe? -- when I came across an article by a man explaining communal penance services and noting one of the very amusing takes on the Act of Contrition that he heard one time:

O my God,

I am hardly sorry for having offended Thee,

and I digest all my sins because I dread the lusts of heaven and the pains of hell,

but most of all because I defend Thee, my God,

Who art all good and deserving of all my sins.

I firmly resolve in spite of Thy grace

to confess my sins, to do penance, and to end my life.

Amen.

I do remember one particularly intimidating confessor I went to once who asked me to say an Act of Contrition. It threw me off guard a bit, and I admitted that in that moment, I had forgotten how. He said to just say what was on my heart, and I said, "Jesus, I'm really sorry, and I'll try to do better." He told me it was one of the best Acts of Contrition he had ever heard.

Hopefully I will be able to remember one tomorrow, and I'm working on a little cheat-sheet Act of Contrition for the kids as well.