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                                                              EXHIBIT 99.906CERT

                  COMPASS CAPITAL APPRECIATION VARIABLE ACCOUNT

         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

  I, Richard M. Hisey, certify that, to my knowledge:

  1.   The Form N-CSR (the "Report") of Compass Capital Appreciation Variable
       Account (the "Registrant") fully complies with the requirements of
       Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

  2.   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
       respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
       Registrant.

Date: February 23, 2004               RICHARD M. HISEY
      ------------------------        ------------------------------------------
                                      Richard M. Hisey
                                      Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and
                                      Accounting Officer)

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906 HAS BEEN
PROVIDED TO THE REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY THE REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED
TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.

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                  COMPASS CAPITAL APPRECIATION VARIABLE ACCOUNT

         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

  I, Robert J. Manning, certify that, to my knowledge:

  1.   The Form N-CSR (the "Report") of Compass Capital Appreciation Variable
       Account (the "Registrant") fully complies with the requirements of
       Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

  2.   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
       respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
       Registrant.

Date: February 23, 2004                  ROBERT J. MANNING
      ---------------------              ---------------------------------------
                                         Robert J. Manning
                                         President (Principal Executive Officer)

A SIGNED ORIGINAL OF THIS WRITTEN STATEMENT REQUIRED BY SECTION 906 HAS BEEN
PROVIDED TO THE REGISTRANT AND WILL BE RETAINED BY THE REGISTRANT AND FURNISHED
TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ITS STAFF UPON REQUEST.