The Council of Trent defined contrition as “a sorrow of soul and a hatred of sin committed, with a firm purpose of not sinning in the future.” Contrition is an interior repentance by which, through grace, we radically reorient our whole selves to God.

I am heartily sorry for having offended You,

and I detest all my sins,

because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell;

but most of all because they offend You, my God,

Who are all good and deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace,

to confess my sins, to do penance,

and to amend my life.