The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/Acts of Contrition, Faith, Hope, and Charity
ACTS OF
Contrition, Faith, Hope, and Charity
A PRAYER BEFORE THE ACTS.
O ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, grant unto us an increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity: and, that we may obtain what thou hast promised, make us love and practise what thou commandest: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
AN ACT OF CONTRITION.
O MY God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee; and I detest my sins most sincerely, because they displease thee, my God, who, for thy infinite goodness and most amiable perfections, art so deserving of all my love; and I firmly purpose, by the assistance of thy holy grace, never more to offend thee.
AN ACT OF FAITH.
O MY God, I firmly believe that thou art one only God, the Creator and Sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, infinitely great and infinitely good. I firmly believe that in thee, one only God, there are three Divine Persons, really distinct and equal in all things, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I firmly believe that Jesus Christ, God the Son, became man; that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and was born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered and died on a cross to redeem and save us; that he arose on the third day from the dead; that he ascended into heaven; that he will come at the end of the world to judge mankind; and that he will reward the good with eternal happiness, and condemn the wicked to the everlasting pains of hell. I believe these, and all other articles which the Holy Roman Catholic Church proposes to our belief, because thou, my God, the Infallible Truth, hast revealed them, and thou hast commanded us “to hear the Church, which is the pillar and the ground of truth.” In this faith I am firmly resolved, by thy holy grace, to live and die. (Matt. xviii. 17; 1 Tim. iii. 15.)
AN ACT OF HOPE.
O MY God, who hast graciously promised every blessing, even heaven itself, through Jesus Christ, to those who keep thy commandments, relying on thy infinite power, goodness, and mercy, and confiding in thy sacred promises, to which thou art always faithful, I confidently hope to obtain pardon of all my sins; grace to serve thee faithfully in this life, by doing the good works thou hast commanded, and which, with thy assistance, I will perform; and eternal happiness in the next: through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
AN ACT OF CHARITY.
O MY God, I love thee with my whole heart and soul, and above all things, because thou art infinitely good and perfect, and most worthy of all my love; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Mercifully grant, O my God, that having loved thee on earth, I may love and enjoy thee for ever in heaven.