Sunday, February 6, 2011

New and Old

We are doing sacramental preparation with Patrick. This is a big year for him with first Confession and first Communion. I am so nervous for him, and for myself in hoping that he is prepared for these big sacraments. I know the graces will be there, but I am a bit nervous. He brought home the Act of Contrition that he is learning from school, and I remember seeing it on the wall of his classroom. It is different than the one I learned all those years ago and we have been saying it together at night. The more I listen to it, the more I am moved by the words, especially the last 2 lines.

This is the new one:
My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned
against you whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us.
In His name, my God, have mercy.
Amen.

This is the one I learned:
Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee.
And I detest all my sins, because of thy just punishments.
But most of all, because they offend thee, my God, who art all good
and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace,
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.
Amen.

This is such a big year, with a lot of growing up. As we do our prep, would you add some prayers for my big boy?

1 comment:

Carole in Wales said...

Praying for Patrick and your whole family. That is the same Act of Contrition that I taught my children and the students in our religious education classes. I also meditate on the last two lines. They can move me to tears.