act of contrition
Formal sorrow statement
An act of contrition is a prayer or formal statement expressing sorrow for sins, especially in Catholic practice before confession or absolution.
More broadly, any gesture of remorse or apology: His public apology was an act of contrition meant to salvage his reputation.
The phrase emphasizes the performative nature of repentance—contrition made visible through words or deeds.
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- venial sinLesser Catholic transgression
- sinViolation of divine law
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- guilty conscienceSelf-blame for wrongdoing
confession · confession booth · forgiveness · remorse · Hail Mary · Our Father · prayer · mea culpa · accountability · self-reflection · reconciliation · making amends · atonement · sacrament · regret · redemption · sorrow · humility
- Biblical ExpressionsGarden of Eden, David and Goliath, Good Samaritan, prodigal son, forbidden fruit
- Christian prayerLord's Prayer, Our Father, amen, contemplative prayer, intercession
- confessionconfession, absolution, admission, acknowledgment, declaration
- Penanceconfession booth, penitent, public penance, shrift, confessional
- accountabilityaccountability, responsibility, accountable, take responsibility, answerability
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
act of contritionimpenitence
Lack of contrition
unrepentance · shamelessness · defiance · hardness of heart · brazenness
act of contritionabsolution
Formal clearing of guilt
divine forgiveness · blasphemy · sacrilege · apostasy · mortal sin
act of contritiondenial
Refusal to accept reality
excuse-making · blame-shifting · rationalization · cover-up · recidivism
acting, action, actions, active, actively, activate, activated, activation, actor