Preparing For Confession

Preparing For Confession: We only fool ourselves and refuse to acknowledge the reality, when we claim that we have no sin. But Jesus is loyal and just to pardon and purge us from every mistake if we confese our sins to him.

The sacrament of confession is a wonderful opportunity for Catholics to find God’s mercy the ministry of the priest.

Confession may seem awkward for many people, but it could be a healing meeting with Jesus in a simple preparation that will make you full of peace.

THESE PRAYER OF CONFESSION WILL PERMANENTLY CHANGE YOU AND YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

De Profundis

Psalm  130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice!

O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?

But with you is found forgiveness; for this we revere you.

My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.

My soul is longing for the Lord,  more than watchmen for daybreak. (Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord.)

Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption,

Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

My God,

Act of Contrition

This prayer is taken from

the revised Rite of Penance, 1974.

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 Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

Amen.

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beatáe Maríae semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Ioánni Baptístae, sanctis apostólis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres: quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.

Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, béatum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Ioánnem Baptístam, sanctos apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dómimum, Deum nostrum.

I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Act of Contrition

St John Chrysostom (adapted)

O God, loose, remit, and forgive my sins against you, whether in word, in deed, or in thought;

and whether they are willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly committed, forgive them all. For you are good and you love all human beings.

And through the prayers of your most holy Mother, or your heavenly servants and holy spirits,

and all the Saints who have found favour with you, enable me to receive without condemnation your holy Body and your Precious Blood.

Let my soul and body be thus healed and my evil imaginings be driven away,

for yours is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen

Prayer of Firm Purpose of Amendment

Prayer of St Benedict of Nursia (480-547)

O Lord, I place myself in your hands and dedicate myself to you. I pledge myself to do your will in all things: To love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength. Not to kill. Not to steal. Not to covet. Not to bear false witness. To honour all persons. Not to do to another what I would not wish done to myself. To chastise the body. Not to seek after pleasures. To love fasting. To

relieve the poor. To clothe the naked. To visit the sick. To bury the dead. To help in trouble. To console the sorrowing. To hold myself aloof from worldly ways. To prefer nothing to the love of Christ. Not to give way to anger. Not to foster a desire for revenge. Not to entertain deceit in the heart. Not to make a false peace. Not to forsake charity. Not to swear, lest I swear falsely. To speak the truth with heart and tongue. Not to return evil for evil. To do no injury: yes, even to bear patiently any injury done to me. To love my enemies. Not to curse those who curse me, but rather to bless them. To bear persecution for justice’s sake. Not to be proud. Not to be given to intoxicating drink. Not to be an over-eater. Not to be lazy. Not to be slothful. Not to be a murmurer. Not to be a detractor. To put my trust in God. To refer the good I see in myself to God. To refer any evil in myself to myself. To fear the day of judgement. To be in dread of hell. To desire eternal life with spiritual longing. To keep death before my eyes daily. To keep constant watch over my actions. To remember that God sees me everywhere. To call upon Christ for defence against evil thoughts that arise in my heart. To guard my tongue against wicked speech. To avoid much speaking. To avoid idle talk. To read only what is good to read. To look at only what is good to see. To pray often. To ask forgiveness daily for my sins, and to seek ways to amend my life. To obey my superiors in all things rightful. Not to desire to be thought holy, but to

seek holiness. To fulfill the commandments of God by good works. To love chastity. To hate no one. Not to be jealous or envious of anyone. Not to love strife. Not to love pride. To honour the aged. To pray for my enemies. To make peace after a quarrel, before the setting of the sun. Never to despair of your mercy, O God of Mercy.

Amen.

Prayer for Divine Mercy

From the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (1905-1938)

O Greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy – to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out: Gracious God, do not reject the prayer of this earth’s exiles! O Lord, Goodness beyond our understanding. Who are acquainted with our misery through and through, and know that by our power we cannot ascend to You, we implore You, anticipate us with Your grace and keep on increasing Your mercy in us, that we may faithfully do Your holy will all through our life and at death’s hour. Let the omnipotence of Your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation’s enemies, that we may with confidence, as Your children, await Your final coming – that day known to You alone. And we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our wretchedness. For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven.